THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELING

Course objectives

General Skills. The teaching course will be held with lectures and supplemented by thematic seminars coordinated by the teacher for highly specific topics. The course aims to develop the following skills: -Knowledge of the structure and function of the main classes of nanovectors, the limitation on the formulations and of the production of the nanovectors; -Knowledge the relationship between physical-chemical properties and applications of the nanocarrier; -Knowledge and understanding of the various methodologies to properly characterize the physical-chemical properties of the nanocarrier; -Knowledge and understanding of the various active substances used to functionalize nanocarrier surface to perform active and passive targeting; -Knowledge and understanding of the most appropriate nanocarrier to select on the basis of the nature of active loaded molecules and the field of application. Specific skills. a) knowledge and understanding - Knowledge and understanding of the relationship between structure and function of the main classes of nanocarriers and their physical-chemical properties; - knowledge of the main techniques for their characterization; - knowledge of the active compounds and their surface functionalization for the targeted delivery by using active or passive strategy; - knowledge of the limits depending on the biochemical structure of the active ingredient regarding to its field of application underlying the main properties influencing the choice of the nanocarrier; b) applying knowledge and understanding - ability to select and explain the proper formulation of the nanocarrier depending on the nature of the substance and its field of application; - ability to select appropriate techniques for nanocarrier characterization; c) making judgments - be able to solve delivery problems; - be able to identify biological and biomedical barriers related to the administration route or the field of application and therefore to select the most appropriate carrier; d) communication skills - be able to illustrate and explain the main nanocarriers with appropriate terms and with logical rigor; - be able to explain the main methodologies of characterization in general; - be able to describe targeting strategies and the field of application of the nanocarrier; e) learning skills - acquisition of the fundamentals and cognitive tools to continue independently in the study of nanotechnology; - acquisition of the basic knowledge necessary to progress autonomously in other biological and technological disciplines; - ability to learn quickly and apply nanobiotechnology techniques in various working environments.

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PAOLA BAIOCCO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course includes the classification and description of the fundamental concepts of nanoparticles and their main use in biotechnology. Lessons of this first module aim to present the different types and characteristics of the nanotools that nanotechnology uses in biomedicine and are propaedeutic to the course's second module. FIRST PART: Description of the structural and functional properties of biological interactions for the applications of the main nanocarriers currently used in nanotechnology: carbon nanomaterials metal nanoparticles and Quantum Dots, hydrophobically self-assemble NPs, liposomes, dendritic and micelles. (10 h) SECOND PART: Polymeric nanoparticles of protein origin: functionalization strategies of nanoparticles using genetic engineering and chemical bioconjugation with various functional groups; strategies for protein-drug and peptide-drug chemical conjugation: modifications and role of natural peptides for nanoparticles. Hybrid nanoparticles of synthetic protein polymers for drug delivery: nanoparticles derived from covalently linked polymers and proteins, hydrophobically assembled and self-assembled by electrostatic interactions. (10 h) THIRD PART: short presentation of a scientific paper on nanotechnologies topic: open discussion in the class. (4 h)
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the basic concepts of general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry is essential. It is necessary to know the properties of the main functional groups and their reactivity; knowledge of the main biophysical methods for the characterization of biological small molecules and macromolecules and knowledge of the fundamentals of structural biology is recommended.
Books
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology for Human Health, Edited by Bert Muller and Marcel Van de Voorde, Wiley, 2017 Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology: Protein and peptide Nanoparticles for drug delivery. Edited by Rossen Donev Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine. Edited by Enrico Ferrari e Mickhail Soloviev, Springer Protocols, Humana Press.
Frequency
none
Exam mode
The teaching of nanotechnologies is divided into two modules. The exam, which takes place at the end of the course, is oral and will take place on the same day for the two modules. Each test consists of an interview conducted by the teacher of the module so that all parts of the program are discussed. For the Nanoparticles Application module, the student's preparation will be assessed based on his ability to describe the classes of nanocarriers and their functionalization used for biotechnological purposes in a clear and scientifically rigorous way and demonstrating that he has understood the logic of their applications. For the purposes of the overall assessment of the student's preparation, communication, critical and judgment skills will also be taken into consideration. Each of the teachers, based on the above criteria, expresses a grade of thirty. The final grade is an average of the two votes.
Lesson mode
Lectures of the topics covered by the program through slide projection and audiovisual material. During the lessons, anonymous formative tests will be proposed to evaluate students' learning and to check whether the message has been correctly understood and, if not, to modify and reformulate it more effectively. The active participation of students in the lesson will be performed by dividing into small groups to provide inverted lessons in which each student will be able to present, through a short presentation, a scientific article on the topics of the course to verify the ability to summarize and rigorously present scientific results and develop the student's communication, critical and judgment skills.
PAOLA BAIOCCO Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
The course includes the classification and description of the fundamental concepts of nanoparticles and their main use in biotechnology. Lessons of this first module aim to present the different types and characteristics of the nanotools that nanotechnology uses in biomedicine and are propaedeutic to the course's second module. FIRST PART: Description of the structural and functional properties of biological interactions for the applications of the main nanocarriers currently used in nanotechnology: carbon nanomaterials metal nanoparticles and Quantum Dots, hydrophobically self-assemble NPs, liposomes, dendritic and micelles. (10 h) SECOND PART: Polymeric nanoparticles of protein origin: functionalization strategies of nanoparticles using genetic engineering and chemical bioconjugation with various functional groups; strategies for protein-drug and peptide-drug chemical conjugation: modifications and role of natural peptides for nanoparticles. Hybrid nanoparticles of synthetic protein polymers for drug delivery: nanoparticles derived from covalently linked polymers and proteins, hydrophobically assembled and self-assembled by electrostatic interactions. (10 h) THIRD PART: short presentation of a scientific paper on nanotechnologies topic: open discussion in the class. (4 h)
Prerequisites
Knowledge of the basic concepts of general chemistry, organic chemistry and biochemistry is essential. It is necessary to know the properties of the main functional groups and their reactivity; knowledge of the main biophysical methods for the characterization of biological small molecules and macromolecules and knowledge of the fundamentals of structural biology is recommended.
Books
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology for Human Health, Edited by Bert Muller and Marcel Van de Voorde, Wiley, 2017 Advances in Protein Chemistry and Structural Biology: Protein and peptide Nanoparticles for drug delivery. Edited by Rossen Donev Nanoparticles in Biology and Medicine. Edited by Enrico Ferrari e Mickhail Soloviev, Springer Protocols, Humana Press.
Frequency
none
Exam mode
The teaching of nanotechnologies is divided into two modules. The exam, which takes place at the end of the course, is oral and will take place on the same day for the two modules. Each test consists of an interview conducted by the teacher of the module so that all parts of the program are discussed. For the Nanoparticles Application module, the student's preparation will be assessed based on his ability to describe the classes of nanocarriers and their functionalization used for biotechnological purposes in a clear and scientifically rigorous way and demonstrating that he has understood the logic of their applications. For the purposes of the overall assessment of the student's preparation, communication, critical and judgment skills will also be taken into consideration. Each of the teachers, based on the above criteria, expresses a grade of thirty. The final grade is an average of the two votes.
Lesson mode
Lectures of the topics covered by the program through slide projection and audiovisual material. During the lessons, anonymous formative tests will be proposed to evaluate students' learning and to check whether the message has been correctly understood and, if not, to modify and reformulate it more effectively. The active participation of students in the lesson will be performed by dividing into small groups to provide inverted lessons in which each student will be able to present, through a short presentation, a scientific article on the topics of the course to verify the ability to summarize and rigorously present scientific results and develop the student's communication, critical and judgment skills.
  • Academic year2025/2026
  • CourseNeurobiology
  • CurriculumSingle curriculum
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDBIO/10
  • CFU3