PDF versionLeader
Lecturers
Prof A Seshia and Professor E A Hall
Timing and Structure
Lent term. Lectures and coursework. Assessment: 100% coursework.
Aims
The aims of the course are to:
- link engineering principles to understanding of biosystems in sensors and bioelectronics
Objectives
As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:
- extend principles of engineering to the development of bioanalytical devices and the design of biosensors.
- understand the principles of linking cell components and biological pathways with energy transduction, sensing and detection
- appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensor systems.
- demonstrate appreciation for the technical limits of performance.
- make design and selection decisions in response to measurement problems amenable to the use of biosensors.
Content
This course covers the principles, technologies, methods and applications of biosensors and bioinstrumentation. The objective of this course is to link engineering principles to understanding of biosystems in sensors and bioelectronics. It will provide the student with detail of methods and procedures used in the design, fabrication and application of biosensors and bioelectronic devices. The fundamentals of measurement science are applied to optical, electrochemical, mass, and pressure signal transduction. Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to explain biosensing and transduction techniques, as well as design and construct biosensor instrumentation.
Introduction
- Overview of Biosensors
- Fundamental elements of biosensor devices
- Engineering sensor proteins
Electrochemical Biosensors
- Electrochemical principles
- Amperometric biosensors and charge transfer pathways in enzymes
- Glucose biosensors
- Engineering electrochemical biosensors
Optical Biosensors
- Optics for biosensors
- Attenuated total reflection systems
Acoustic Biosensors
- Analytical models
- Acoustic sensor formats
- Quartz crystal microbalance
Micro- and Nano-technologies for biosensors
- Microfluidic interfaces for biosensors
- DNA and protein microarrays
- Microfabricated PCR technology
Diagnostics for the real world
- Communication and tracking in health monitoring
- Detection in resource limited settings
Coursework
The coursework will be assessed on two marked assignments. The first assignment will involve a laboratory session illustrating the functional demonstration of glucose sensor technology. The second assignment will involve a laboratory session illustrating the principle of a quartz crystal microbalance and related acoustic sensor technologies.
| Coursework | Format |
Due date & marks |
|---|---|---|
|
Coursework activity #1 Glucose biosensors Learning objectives:
|
Individual Report anonymously marked |
Mon week 5 [30/60] |
|
[Coursework activity #2 Quartz crystal microbalance] Learning objectives:
|
Individual Report anonymously marked |
Wed week 9 [30/60] |
Booklists
Please see the Booklist for Group G Courses for references for this module.
Examination Guidelines
Please refer to Form & conduct of the examinations.
UK-SPEC
This syllabus contributes to the following areas of the UK-SPEC standard:
Toggle display of UK-SPEC areas.
GT1
Develop transferable skills that will be of value in a wide range of situations. These are exemplified by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Higher Level Key Skills and include problem solving, communication, and working with others, as well as the effective use of general IT facilities and information retrieval skills. They also include planning self-learning and improving performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.
IA1
Apply appropriate quantitative science and engineering tools to the analysis of problems.
IA2
Demonstrate creative and innovative ability in the synthesis of solutions and in formulating designs.
KU1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, theories and principles of their engineering discipline, and its underpinning science and mathematics.
KU2
Have an appreciation of the wider multidisciplinary engineering context and its underlying principles.
D1
Wide knowledge and comprehensive understanding of design processes and methodologies and the ability to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.
D4
Ability to generate an innovative design for products, systems, components or processes to fulfil new needs.
E1
Ability to use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies.
E2
Ability to extract data pertinent to an unfamiliar problem, and apply its solution using computer based engineering tools when appropriate.
P1
A thorough understanding of current practice and its limitations and some appreciation of likely new developments.
P3
Understanding of contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied (e.g. operations and management, technology, development, etc).
US1
A comprehensive understanding of the scientific principles of own specialisation and related disciplines.
US3
An understanding of concepts from a range of areas including some outside engineering, and the ability to apply them effectively in engineering projects.
US4
An awareness of developing technologies related to own specialisation.
Last modified: 17/05/2018 14:26