The module aims at setting a conceptual framework for undergraduate students who meet nanotechnology for the first time, giving them the theoretical and applicative background necessary to find their way and face further studies in the field.
Nanotechnology is the emerging science of objects that are intermediate in size between the largest molecules and the smallest structures that can be fabricated by current photolithography; that is, the science of objects with dimensions ranging from a few nanometers to hundreds of nanometers.
In chemistry, nanometer sizes have historically been associated with colloids, micelles, polymer molecules, phase-separated regions in block copolymers, and similar structures. In physics, nanoscience is most often associated with the behavior of electrons and photons in nanoscale structures. Biology and biochemistry also have a deep interest in nanostructures, as many of the most interesting structures in biology—from DNA, proteins and viruses to subcellular organelles and gap junctions—can be considered as nanostructures.
Nanotechnology is therefore characterized by a vigorous trade across the borders of physics, chemistry and biology, very often also involving engineering and/or medicine.
Starting from this scene, the module will be focused on biological and translational applications of nanotechnology, where engineering, physics and chemistry offer the tools for synthesis and fabrication of nanosystems, biology offers the window into the most sophisticated collection of functional nanostructures that exists, and medicine offers a wide range of potential, breakthrough applications.
The module is broken down in the following units.
1. Introduction. Nanoscience and nanotechnology – Why should we (and biology) care?
2. Physicochemical background
Chemical bond and intermolecular forces, a review. Condensed matter. Thermodynamic parameters and functions of state. First and second law of thermodynamics. Gibbs free energy and chemical potential. Isothermal equilibria and some of their peculiar applications in biology. Biology by the numbers.
3. Nanoscience concepts
3.1. On the surface of things. Physical chemistry of surfaces and interfaces. Surface curvature. Adsorption at the solid-liquid interface. Chemical equilibrium confined at solid-liquid interfaces. Electrochemistry of interfaces.
3.2. Size. Size and size effects. Physical equilibria. Elements of nanothermodynamics.
3.3. Shape. Zero-dimensional nanostructures: nanoparticles. One-dimensional nanostructures: nanowires and nanorods. Two-dimensional nanostructures: thin films. "Mixed dimensional" nanomaterials.
3.4. Self assembly. Macromolecules and self-assembled structures. The top-down and bottom-up fabrication approaches.
3.5. Nanostructures and defects.
3.6. The bio-nano interface.
A glance at safety, social and economical issues.
4. Key nanomaterials
This is the core unit of the course. We will focus on six materials made nano and illustrate them through the nanoscience concepts laid down in unit 3 to illustrate the physics, chemistry and biology of whole classes of nanomaterials and nanotechnology.
Silica. Gold. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Cadmium selenide. Iron oxide. Carbon.
5. Bionanotechnology case Histories.
Selected applications of nanotechnology in biology including: biological imaging, molecular recognition and diagnostics, therapeutics, biomimetic materials, tissue engineering, far and beyond visions.
6. Nanolab
6.1. Nanoscience diagnostics: major characterization techniques of materials and properties at the nanoscale.
6.2. Synthesis and characterization of gold nanoparticles.
Supporting material will be supplied by the instructor. Possible supporting textbook: Ludovico Cademartiri and Geoffrey A. Ozim. Concepts of Nanochemistry. Wiley-VHC. Weinheim. 2009.
The module will consist in lectures and one tutored lab. experiment. Possibly a seminar on a specific topic given by an expert in the field will complement the module didactical activities.
The exam will consist in the oral presentation and discussion of a state-of-the-art paper published in the word class literature. The paper will be selected by the candidate with the instructor’s tutoring.
During the course, practical examples about sustainability will be also introduced.