Biomedical Engineering

Part A – FUNDAMENTALS OF CELLULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING The role of chemical engineering in the study of systems of interest to biomedical engineering. Living organisms: characteristics and properties. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms: differences and similarities. Cell growth and characteristics of the growth medium. Viruses and viral infections. Structural characteristics of viruses. Phases and mechanisms of viral infection. Development of antiviral therapies. Structure and chemical-physical properties of amino acids and proteins. Structural levels of proteins and biological function. Denaturing agents and effect on protein stability. Enzymes: structural characteristics and effect on biological activity. Examples of enzymes of biomedical interest. Enzyme biosensors. Fundamentals of genetic engineering: DNA and RNA. The genetic code. Recombinant DNA technology. Cell therapies and gene therapies. Part B – ENGINEERING OF ENZYME REACTIONS Elements of chemical kinetics. Reaction rates and kinetic expressions. Elementary chemical reactions and reaction mechanisms. Derivation of the Michaelis-Menten equation and estimation of the kinetic parameters. Effect of temperature and pH on enzyme kinetics. Enzyme inhibition. Mechanisms of action of inhibitors and identification of the type of inhibition. Inhibitors and drug therapy. Examples of drugs based on the use of enzyme inhibitors. Part C – CELLULAR PROCESS ENGINEERING The phenomenon of cell growth. Effect of temperature and pH on cell growth. The Monod equation. Inhibition of cell growth induced by substrates or products. Cellular metabolism. Primary and secondary metabolites. Endogenous metabolism. Kinetic expressions for cell growth. Yield factors and maintenance coefficient. Cell death. Energy production in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The role of ATP in energy production processes. Lactic fermentation. Bioreactors: operational and functional characteristics. Development of bioreactors for biomedical applications.

Basic knowledge of general chemistry and organic chemistry Fundamentals of differential and integral calculus

Fournier R.L., Basic transport phenomena in biomedical engineering, Taylor and Francis, Philadelphia, 1999 Ratledge C., Kristiansen B., Biotecnologie di base, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2004 Stryer L., Biochimica, Zanichelli, Bologna, 1996 Lecture notes provided by the teacher

The course does not require compulsory attendance but it is strongly recommended

The assessment includes an oral test aimed at assessing the degree of preparation acquired by the student on the topics presented in the course as well as the methodological approach to face problems or situations that are relevant to the development of biochemical processes or technologies related to biomedical engineering

Teaching will take place in the classroom and will consist of lessons also conducted through PowerPoint presentations and seminars held by professionals and teachers in the biotechnology sector

Part A – FUNDAMENTALS OF CELLULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING The role of chemical engineering in the study of systems of interest to biomedical engineering. Living organisms: characteristics and properties. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms: differences and similarities. Cell growth and characteristics of the growth medium. Viruses and viral infections. Structural characteristics of viruses. Phases and mechanisms of viral infection. Development of antiviral therapies. Structure and chemical-physical properties of amino acids and proteins. Structural levels of proteins and biological function. Denaturing agents and effect on protein stability. Enzymes: structural characteristics and effect on biological activity. Examples of enzymes of biomedical interest. Enzyme biosensors. Fundamentals of genetic engineering: DNA and RNA. The genetic code. Recombinant DNA technology. Cell therapies and gene therapies. Part B – ENGINEERING OF ENZYME REACTIONS Elements of chemical kinetics. Reaction rates and kinetic expressions. Elementary chemical reactions and reaction mechanisms. Derivation of the Michaelis-Menten equation and estimation of the kinetic parameters. Effect of temperature and pH on enzyme kinetics. Enzyme inhibition. Mechanisms of action of inhibitors and identification of the type of inhibition. Inhibitors and drug therapy. Examples of drugs based on the use of enzyme inhibitors. Part C – CELLULAR PROCESS ENGINEERING The phenomenon of cell growth. Effect of temperature and pH on cell growth. The Monod equation. Inhibition of cell growth induced by substrates or products. Cellular metabolism. Primary and secondary metabolites. Endogenous metabolism. Kinetic expressions for cell growth. Yield factors and maintenance coefficient. Cell death. Energy production in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The role of ATP in energy production processes. Lactic fermentation. Bioreactors: operational and functional characteristics. Development of bioreactors for biomedical applications.

Basic knowledge of general chemistry and organic chemistry Fundamentals of differential and integral calculus

Fournier R.L., Basic transport phenomena in biomedical engineering, Taylor and Francis, Philadelphia, 1999 Ratledge C., Kristiansen B., Biotecnologie di base, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2004 Stryer L., Biochimica, Zanichelli, Bologna, 1996 Lecture notes provided by the teacher

The course does not require compulsory attendance but it is strongly recommended

The assessment includes an oral test aimed at assessing the degree of preparation acquired by the student on the topics presented in the course as well as the methodological approach to face problems or situations that are relevant to the development of biochemical processes or technologies related to biomedical engineering

Teaching will take place in the classroom and will consist of lessons also conducted through PowerPoint presentations and seminars held by professionals and teachers in the biotechnology sector