Bionanotechnology

Code:

Q4087

Acronym:

Q4087

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Chemistry

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Applications in Biotechnology and Synthetic Biology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:ABBS	9	Study plan since academic year 2025/2026	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english
Obs.: English and portuguese

Objectives

This course focus in the basics of bionanotechnology and current applications of bionanotechnology.

Learning outcomes and competences

The students should be able to:

1) Define nanotechnology and bionanotechnology and understand the main physical phenomena at nanoscale;

2) Identify the main types of materials used in bionanotechnology, their properties and advantages and disadvantages of their use;

3) Identify problems where the use of bionanotechnology can be advantegeous and propose nanotechnologicall solutions to those problems;

4) Be able to communicate both orally and writing, using appropriately the language of the area.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

NA

Program

1. Nanotechnology: historical perspective; fundamental concepts; impact in the society.


2. Nanomaterials, properties and uses: carbon nanomaterials; metal nanoparticles; quantum dots; magnetic nanoparticles; composite materials.


3. Interaction of nanomaterials with biological molecules and cells: most common nanomaterials in bionanotechnology and their properties; key factors for the interaction between nanomaterials and cells; chemical modification of nanomaterials for interaction with biological systems; methods to study the interaction between nanomaterials and biomolecules or cells.


4. Selected topics of Bionanotechnology: Biosensors; drug and gene delivery; Nanotheragnostics; Nanotoxicology; Biosurfaces analysis by surface probe microscopy (SPM); Nanomachines; Molecular printing of proteins.

Mandatory literature

Gazit, E.; Mitraki, A; Plenty of Room for Biology at the Bottom: An Introduction to Bionanotechnology. ISBN: 978-1-84816-930-2

Complementary Bibliography

Mirkin, C.A., Niemeyer, C.M; Nanobiotechnology II: More Concepts and Applications

Teaching methods and learning activities

An integrated approach is followed, including theoretical classes about the main concepts, case studies relevant to the syllabus, followed by a component of active learning, in group or individually, that allows that the students explore and apply the concepts learned. These components are 1) Oral presentation of scientific articles about selected subjects; 2) debate about the ethical and societal impact of bionanotechnology; 3) Writing an abstract for a scientific paper; 4) Essay; 5) Oral presentation of an innovative project using bionanotechnology.

keywords

Technological sciences > Technology > Nanotechonology
Technological sciences > Technology > Biotecnology > Nanobiotechnology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Prova oral	60,00
Teste	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	20,00
Estudo autónomo	86,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Elaboração de projeto	20,00
Total:	168,00

Eligibility for exams

NA

Calculation formula of final grade

Evaluation:
1) Oral presentation of scientific articles about selected subjects
2) Oral presentation of an innovative project using bionanotechnology.
3) Written test

The evaluation is based in these components, with the following weights: 1) 30%; 2) 35%; 3) 35%.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with special rights relative to attendance of classes can substitute some of the components by essays or other specific works. This must be agreed with the professor in the begining of classes.

Classification improvement

NA

Observations

Jury:
Eulália Pereira
Clara Pereira