2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PHYS5116M Bionanophysics 2: Advanced Bionanophysics Research

15 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Lorna Dougan
Email: l.dougan@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

Passed Level 3 Physics modules

Pre-requisites

PHYS3521

Bionanophysics

This module is mutually exclusive with

PHYS5480M

Advanced Bionanophysics

Module replaces

PHYS5015M

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

This course will provide students with the opportunity to discuss and learn about current research in the area of experimental bionanophysics. It will build on their knowledge from the introduction to bionanophysics obtained in module PHYS3520. The module will have a strong emphasis on the emerging applications of bionanophysics and the development of new tools and technologies for biomedical and biomaterials applications.

Research topics will include:
- Protein based hydrogels for biomedical applications
-Plasmonic Techniques for Single Molecules Analysis
- Advances in high resolution imaging in the study of dynamics in soft matter and biological system.
- DNA bionanotechnology
- Nanoparticles for medical applications


The course will be taught in 5 sections. Each section will focus on a particular topic, beginning with a detailed introduction and discussion of a seminal paper in the area and an accompanying editor’s commentary. In the subsequent week a student group will present a research paper in the same topic. This presentation will include a critical analysis of the paper and wider reading of the topic. The student group will answer questions from the module group (students and lecturers). Students will write a critical analysis (in the style of an Editor’s commentary) about two other research topics in the module, and in doing so learning and exploring the science behind the research.

Learning outcomes
Upon completing this module the students will have:
- an in-depth understanding of some of the most current research in bionanophysics
-The research topics build on the introductions to the fundamentals of bionanophysics delivered in module PHYS3520. In particular, it will focus on the advances in the applications of bionanophysics which have been achieved in recent years, for example in biomedical and biomaterials applications.
- developed the skills of reading and extracting information from research journal articles;
- the ability to critically assess the science presented in research articles;
- developed skills in communicating their review of the research by means of an assessed oral review of the papers and a written critical analysis.

Skills outcomes
- Develop an understanding and contextualisation of applications of bionanophysics research
- Critically analyse research in the field.
-Learn the skills of communicating science and presenting a thorough critical review

Syllabus

Topic 1
Protein based hydrogels for biomedical applications
- Forced protein unfolding to create highly elastic and tough protein hydrogels
- Exploring the scope of protein based biomaterials for hydrogel applications in tissue engineering.

Topic 2
Plasmonic Techniques for Single Molecules Analysis
- Plasmofluidic single-molecule surface-enhanced Raman scattering
- Dynamic assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles

Topic 3
Advances in high resolution imaging in the study of dynamics in soft matter and biological systems
- Developments in spatial and temporal resolution (smaller, faster)
- Application; (i) Organisation of cell membranes: Do Proteins Rule Lipids and (ii) Organisation and Dynamics of Synapse receptors"

Topic 4
DNA bionanotechnology
- Single molecule DNA sequencing using nanopores,
-DNA origami and DNA structural nanotechnology, or investigations into DNA dependent molecular motors.

Topic 5
Nanoparticles for medical applications
-Nanoparticle imaging contrast agents
-In-vitro nanoparticle diagnostics

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminars	5	1.00	5.00
Lecture	17	1.00	17.00
Private study hours			128.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Reading lecture notes and recommended journal articles, as well as sourcing more literature.
The course will make use of original scientific material published in high-profile journals such as:
- Nature
- Science
- PNAS
- and other journals.
All these will be available on the VLE through web-links and PDFs.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Reading lecture notes and recommended journal articles, as well as sourcing more literature.
The course will make use of original scientific material published in high-profile journals such as:
- Nature
- Science
- PNAS
- and other journals.
All these will be available on the VLE through web-links and PDFs.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2 articles- each 1000 words	40.00
Presentation	1 hour group presentation	30.00
Presentation	Q&A session after 2 group presentations	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 24/03/2016

Disclaimer

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