2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PHAS5500M Advanced Bionanophysics Research

15 creditsClass Size: 18

Module manager: Dr Peter G. Adams
Email: P.G.Adams@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

Pre-requisite qualifications

Passed Level 3 Physics modules

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

This course will provide students with the opportunity to learn and discuss about current research topics in experimental bionanophysics. 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:
- Engineering living matrices
- Microfluidics and label-free spectroscopy.
- Biological components from photosynthesis in modern nanotechnology
- 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 2 sections. Each section will focus on 3 specific topics, providing a detailed introduction and discussion of research in each area. At the end of each section, a student group will present a research paper on a 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) and provide a written report for the questions asked. Students will write a mini-dissertation on the other research topics in the module, and in doing so learning and exploring the science behind the research.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will also be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge, understanding and application of current research in bionanophysics.
2. Extract information from research journal articles and critically assess the science presented.
3. Present reviews of scientific concepts, results and methodology in extended formal scientific English with illustrations and figures and references to literature sources as necessary.
4. Deliver presentations as part of a group, including scientific concepts, results and methodology s and answer related questions.
5. Manage Time and deliver work to deadlines.

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

Syllabus

Topic 1
Nanoparticles for medical applications
-Nanoparticle imaging contrast agents
-In-vitro nanoparticle diagnostics

Topic 2
Biological components from photosynthesis in modern nanotechnology
- Biological cells and light-harvesting proteins manipulation into nanodevices involving polymers/ lipids, novel electrode coatings,
- plasmonic enhancement and algae for biotech.

Topic 3
Microfluidics and label-free spectroscopy.
- Fluid dynamics in the micrometer size channel
- Single molecules, single cells and single animal in a microfluidic device
- Label-free spectroscopy and imaging.

Topic 4
Engineering living matrices
-multiscale assembly of colloidal and polymeric networks 
-exploiting responsive biomaterials for medicine and health

Topic 5
DNA bionanotechnology
- DNA structural nanotechnology, including DNA origami
- Emerging biomedical and biophysical applications in DNA bionanotechnology

Topic 6
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"

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Office Hour Discussions	2	2.00	2.00
Lecture	7	2.00	14.00
Seminar	2	2.00	4.00
Private study hours			130.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Reading lecture notes and recommended journal articles, as well as sourcing more literature and reading up on new scientific terminologies.
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 Minerva through web-links and PDFs.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will give a presentation on specific research papers. The presenters will submit a written report to questions asked in the following week. The other students who are not presenting will be required to submit a written document on questions for the presenters. Students will also submit 3000-word mini-dissertation. Both written and informal feedback will also be provided during the lectures and office hours.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	Mini Dissertation	40.00
Presentation	Group Presentation on a research paper	30.00
Essay or Dissertation	Questions on a research paper	10.00
Essay or Dissertation	Report on research paper Q&A	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students must submit a serious attempt at all assessments for this module, in order to pass the module overall.

Reading list

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 08/08/2024 16:49:57

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