ECTS credits:

5 ECTS

 

Course parameters:

Language: English

Level of course: PhD course

Time of year: Spring 2024

No. of contact hours/hours in total incl. preparation, assignment(s) or the like: 5 contact h/week - 7 weeks, in total 9 h/week

Capacity limits: 15 participants

Course fee: No fee for PhD students enrolled at a Danish University.

 

Objectives of the course:

The course aims to provide insight into current topics in electrochemistry of biological systems and electrochemical approaches being used in medicine, biology, nanotechnology and related areas and basic skills in electrochemistry techniques.

 

Learning outcomes and competences:

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

• Account for fundamental aspects of electrochemical methods and kinetic analysis of electrode reactions
• Account for electrochemical processes in biological systems
• Provide examples on how electrochemical methods are used for analysis of biological processes and systems
• Analyze and compare different electrochemical approaches/techniques used for studies of biological systems
• Identify suitable electrochemical techniques for specific studies.
• Describe and critically examine the central content of recent scientific articles on electrochemical analysis of biological systems.

 

Compulsory programme:

Attending lectures, oral presentation of two articles during the course and participation in practical exercises.

 

Course contents:

1. Basic introduction to electrochemistry and electrochemical methods, nano-electrochemical approaches and nano-bioelectrochemitsry
2. Electrochemistry of biological molecules, membranes, proteins, cells, and tissues
3. Electrochemistry of life processes such as nerve impulse, brain function, respiration
4. Psychoelectrochemistry: Electroanalysis of brain activity and state
5. Electroanalysis of cell metabolism; cellular dynamics, exocytosis and cellular adhesion
6. Biological energy conversion. Microbial and enzymatic biofuel cells
7. Applied bioelectrochemistry: Interfacing proteins and DNA, cells and tissues with electronics
8. Bio-analytical electrochemistry: bio-electrodes and drug analysis
9. Electrochemistry of lipid vesicles and biomimetic membranes. Ion channels and transporters in pore-suspended membranes. Nanopore technology
10. Electrochemical design of medical devices: medical implants and bio-functional materials.

2 practical exercises on research equipment will be performed as part of the course: Electrochemical studies of electrode kinetics; Glucose sensors for diabetes management.

 

Prerequisites:

MSc degree in Nanoscience or similar. Students with other backgrounds are welcome on the course, but are recommended to contact the course organizer to clarify if their prerequisites are sufficient (e.g. chemistry or molecular biology or equivalent).

 

Name of lecturers:

Elena Ferapontova (iNANO)

 

Type of course/teaching methods:

Lectures, Seminars, Practical exercise in the lab

 

Literature:

Review articles and book chapters handed out during the course

 

Course homepage:

The course homepage will be available in Brightspace

 

Course assessment:

48 h take-home assignment with 2 questions to answer in the written form; its assessment according to the 7-point grading scale. Prerequisites for examination: Oral presentation of two articles during the course and participation in practical exercises.

 

Provider:

PhD Program in Nanoscience,Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (iNANO)

 

Special comments on this course:

 

Time:

March (week 9) – April (week 18)

 

Place:

iNANO, Aarhus University

 

Registration:

Deadline for registration is 26 February 2024. Information regarding admission will be sent out no later than 28 February.

If you have any questions, please contact Elena Ferapontova, e-mail: elena.ferapontova@inano.au.dk