PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF BIOINTERFACES

Physical chemistry of interfaces. Introduction to the concept of biointerface. Definitions and properties of surfaces. Nano-bio-interfaces.

Theoretical and applied aspects of biointerfaces. Biomaterials. Biosensors. Bioelectronics. Tissue engineering. Nanomedicine and theranostics.

Intermolecular forces and self-assembling processes. Structural aspects of dry and wet surfaces (double layer), energy aspects (interface energies, superhydrophobicity). Charged surface and colloid surface chemistry. Elasticity and viscoelasticity of biomolecular systems. Case studies of biomolecular self-assembling systems.

Biomaterials. Preparation of biomaterials and biomedical implants; physico-chemical characterization of their surface properties. The reaction of the outer body and encapsulation system.

Microfabrication and nanofabrication applied to biointerfaces. Structuring of surfaces; Molecular imprinting; self-assembling monolayers; techniques of micro- and nanomaterials synthesis. Influence of topography, mechanical properties and chemical groups on the cellular response.

Examples of biological characterization of surfaces and interfaces. Supported lipid bilayer membranes (SLB). Comparison between acoustic (quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring, QCM-D), optical (surface plasmon resonance SPR; oprical waveguide light spectroscopy, OWLS) and microscopic (atomic force microscopy, AFM; laser scanning confocal microscopy, LSM) techniques

Biointerfaces at the nanoscale. Interaction between cells and their biological environment, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction. Adsorption of proteins from a biological medium. Interaction between proteins and a solid surface. The role of water in the biomolecule adsorption onto a solid surface. The 'Goldilocks' surface. Effects of protein surface concentration, kinetics and conformation on cell behavior.

Laboratory exercises on model biointerface systems of interest in drug delivery, biosensors and imaging.

1. Handouts and lecture slides provided by the teacher

2. P. W. Atkins, J. de Paula- Chimica fisica biologica - Zanichelli

3. P. Atkins- J. DePaula –Chimica Fisica-Zanichelli