Undergraduate Teaching 2025-26

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Portfolio link to guidelines for introducing new or revising existing modules

The Teaching Committee has agreed some guidelines for introducing new or making significant revisions to existing modules.  The schedule for making changes is fixed so please ensure that you familiarise yourself with the process in good time and contact the Secretary to the Faculty Board if you have any queries.

Last updated on 23/08/2019 11:57

Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4I14: Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2024-25

Module Leader

Prof G Malliaras

Lecturer

Prof G Malliaras

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 biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Understand the principles of signal transduction between biology and electronics. • appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Demonstrate appreciation for the technical limits of performance.
  • Make design and selection decisions in response to measurement and actuation problems amenable to the use of biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Be able to evaluate novel trends in the field.

Content

This course covers the principles, technologies, methods and applications of biosensors and bioelectronics. The objective of this course is to link engineering principles to understanding these biosystems. 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 electrochemical and optical signal transduction. The fundamentals of electrophysiology are applied to implantable and cutaneous bioelectronic devices. Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to explain biosensing and transduction techniques, design and construct biosensor instrumentation, and explain the techniques of recording and stimulation of electrically active cells and tissues.

Part I: Bioelectronics

Introduction to Bioelectronics

  • Overview of technology (implantable, cutaneous, ex vivo)
  • Anatomy, function of nervous system, other electrically active tissues
  • Principles of electrophysiology
  • Recording and stimulation (intracellular, extracellular, epidural, EEG)
  • Transducers (pipette electrodes, Ag/AgCl, metal electrodes, Michigan and Utah probes, transistors)

Implantable Devices

  • Cardiac pacemaker
  • Cochlear implant, retinal implant
  • DBS (Parkinson’s, dystonia, epilepsy), spinal cord stimulators
  • Brain-Computer Interfaces
  • PNS stimulators, electroceuticals
  • Implantable drug delivery systems
  • Foreign body reaction

Wearable Devices

  • Cutaneous electrophysiology (brain, heart, muscle)
  • Electronic skins (pressure, temperature)
  • Sweat biosensing (glucose, lactate, …)
  • Transdermal drug delivery

In Vitro Devices

  • Electrochemical biosensors
  • Impedance biosensors
  • MEAs and patch clamp
  • Organ-on-a-chip
  • In vitro systems

Regulatory and ethical issues

 

Part II: Biosensors

Introduction to Biosensors

  • 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

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 demonstration of glucose sensor technology. The second assignment will involve an illustration of the principles of electrophysiology applied to bioelectronic devices.

Coursework Format

Due date

& marks

[Coursework activity #1 : Cutaneous electrophysiology]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to sensors employed for the measurement of electrophysiology.
  • To explore different recording configurations.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using cutaneous electrodes.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a sensor for the measurement of biopotentials.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

TBA in Moodle

[30/60]

[Coursework activity #2 : Glucose biosensors]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to electrochemical sensors employed for the measurement of glucose.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using test strip glucose biosensors on a range of samples.
  • To explore the principles of accuracy and precision and their application to clinical measurements and their impact on clinical decision making.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a biosensor for the measurement of lactate.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

TBA in Moodle

[30/60]

 

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

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.

General Learning Outcomes

Graduates with the exemplifying qualifications, irrespective of registration category or qualification level, must satisfy the following criteria:

 
Last modified: 31/05/2024 10:11

Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4I14: Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2023-24

Module Leader

Prof G Malliaras

Lecturer

Prof G Malliaras & Prof S Higson

Timing and Structure

Michaelmas 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 biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Understand the principles of signal transduction between biology and electronics. • appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Demonstrate appreciation for the technical limits of performance.
  • Make design and selection decisions in response to measurement and actuation problems amenable to the use of biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Be able to evaluate novel trends in the field.

Content

This course covers the principles, technologies, methods and applications of biosensors and bioelectronics. The objective of this course is to link engineering principles to understanding these biosystems. 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 electrochemical and optical signal transduction. The fundamentals of electrophysiology are applied to implantable and cutaneous bioelectronic devices. Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to explain biosensing and transduction techniques, design and construct biosensor instrumentation, and explain the techniques of recording and stimulation of electrically active cells and tissues.

Introduction to Biosensors

  • 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

Diagnostics for the real world

  • Communication and tracking in health monitoring
  • Detection in resource limited settings

Introduction to Bioelectronics

  • Overview of technology (implantable, cutaneous, ex vivo)
  • Anatomy, function of nervous system, other electrically active tissues
  • Principles of electrophysiology
  • Recording and stimulation (intracellular, extracellular, epidural, EEG)
  • Transducers (pipette electrodes, Ag/AgCl, metal electrodes, Michigan and Utah probes, transistors)

Implantable devices

  • Cardiac pacemaker
  • Cochlear implant, retinal implant
  • DBS (Parkinson’s, dystonia, epilepsy), spinal cord stimulators
  • Brain-Computer Interfaces
  • PNS stimulators, electroceuticals
  • Implantable drug delivery systems
  • Foreign body reaction

Wearable devices

  • Cutaneous electrophysiology (brain, heart, muscle)
  • Electronic skins (pressure, temperature)
  • Sweat biosensing (glucose, lactate, …)
  • Transdermal drug delivery

Ex vivo devices

  • Electrochemical biosensors
  • Impedance biosensors
  • MEAs and patch clamp
  • Organ-on-a-chip
  • In vitro systems

Regulatory and ethical issues

Coursework

The coursework will be assessed on two marked assignments. The first assignment will involve a demonstration of glucose sensor technology. The second assignment will involve an illustration of the principles of electrophysiology applied to bioelectronic devices.

Coursework Format

Due date

& marks

[Coursework activity #1 : Glucose biosensors]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to electrochemical sensors employed for the measurement of glucose.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using test strip glucose biosensors on a range of samples.
  • To explore the principles of accuracy and precision and their application to clinical measurements and their impact on clinical decision making.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a biosensor for the measurement of lactate.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

TBA in Moodle

[30/60]

[Coursework activity #2 : Cutaneous electrophysiology]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to sensors employed for the measurement of electrophysiology.
  • To explore different recording configurations.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using cutaneous electrodes.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a sensor for the measurement of biopotentials.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

TBA in Moodle

[30/60]

 

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

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.

General Learning Outcomes

Graduates with the exemplifying qualifications, irrespective of registration category or qualification level, must satisfy the following criteria:

 
Last modified: 30/05/2023 15:32

Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4I14: Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2022-23

Module Leader

Prof G Malliaras

Lecturer

Prof G Malliaras & Prof E Hall

Timing and Structure

Michaelmas 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 biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Understand the principles of signal transduction between biology and electronics. • appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Demonstrate appreciation for the technical limits of performance.
  • Make design and selection decisions in response to measurement and actuation problems amenable to the use of biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Be able to evaluate novel trends in the field.

Content

This course covers the principles, technologies, methods and applications of biosensors and bioelectronics. The objective of this course is to link engineering principles to understanding these biosystems. 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 electrochemical and optical signal transduction. The fundamentals of electrophysiology are applied to implantable and cutaneous bioelectronic devices. Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to explain biosensing and transduction techniques, design and construct biosensor instrumentation, and explain the techniques of recording and stimulation of electrically active cells and tissues.

Introduction to Biosensors

  • 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

Diagnostics for the real world

  • Communication and tracking in health monitoring
  • Detection in resource limited settings

Introduction to Bioelectronics

  • Overview of technology (implantable, cutaneous, ex vivo)
  • Anatomy, function of nervous system, other electrically active tissues
  • Principles of electrophysiology
  • Recording and stimulation (intracellular, extracellular, epidural, EEG)
  • Transducers (pipette electrodes, Ag/AgCl, metal electrodes, Michigan and Utah probes, transistors)

Implantable devices

  • Cardiac pacemaker
  • Cochlear implant, retinal implant
  • DBS (Parkinson’s, dystonia, epilepsy), spinal cord stimulators
  • Brain-Computer Interfaces
  • PNS stimulators, electroceuticals
  • Implantable drug delivery systems
  • Foreign body reaction

Wearable devices

  • Cutaneous electrophysiology (brain, heart, muscle)
  • Electronic skins (pressure, temperature)
  • Sweat biosensing (glucose, lactate, …)
  • Transdermal drug delivery

Ex vivo devices

  • Electrochemical biosensors
  • Impedance biosensors
  • MEAs and patch clamp
  • Organ-on-a-chip
  • In vitro systems

Regulatory and ethical issues

Coursework

The coursework will be assessed on two marked assignments. The first assignment will involve a demonstration of glucose sensor technology. The second assignment will involve an illustration of the principles of electrophysiology applied to bioelectronic devices.

Coursework Format

Due date

& marks

[Coursework activity #1 : Glucose biosensors]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to electrochemical sensors employed for the measurement of glucose.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using test strip glucose biosensors on a range of samples.
  • To explore the principles of accuracy and precision and their application to clinical measurements and their impact on clinical decision making.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a biosensor for the measurement of lactate.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

TBA in Moodle

[30/60]

[Coursework activity #2 : Cutaneous electrophysiology]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to sensors employed for the measurement of electrophysiology.
  • To explore different recording configurations.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using cutaneous electrodes.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a sensor for the measurement of biopotentials.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

TBA in Moodle

[30/60]

 

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

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.

General Learning Outcomes

Graduates with the exemplifying qualifications, irrespective of registration category or qualification level, must satisfy the following criteria:

 
Last modified: 24/05/2022 12:57

Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4I14: Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2021-22

Module Leader

Prof G Malliaras

Lecturer

Prof G Malliaras & Prof E 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 biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Understand the principles of signal transduction between biology and electronics. • appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Demonstrate appreciation for the technical limits of performance.
  • Make design and selection decisions in response to measurement and actuation problems amenable to the use of biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Be able to evaluate novel trends in the field.

Content

This course covers the principles, technologies, methods and applications of biosensors and bioelectronics. The objective of this course is to link engineering principles to understanding these biosystems. 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 electrochemical and optical signal transduction. The fundamentals of electrophysiology are applied to implantable and cutaneous bioelectronic devices. Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to explain biosensing and transduction techniques, design and construct biosensor instrumentation, and explain the techniques of recording and stimulation of electrically active cells and tissues.

Introduction to Biosensors

  • 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

Diagnostics for the real world

  • Communication and tracking in health monitoring
  • Detection in resource limited settings

Introduction to Bioelectronics

  • Overview of technology (implantable, cutaneous, ex vivo)
  • Anatomy, function of nervous system, other electrically active tissues
  • Principles of electrophysiology
  • Recording and stimulation (intracellular, extracellular, epidural, EEG)
  • Transducers (pipette electrodes, Ag/AgCl, metal electrodes, Michigan and Utah probes, transistors)

Implantable devices

  • Cardiac pacemaker
  • Cochlear implant, retinal implant
  • DBS (Parkinson’s, dystonia, epilepsy), spinal cord stimulators
  • Brain-Computer Interfaces
  • PNS stimulators, electroceuticals
  • Implantable drug delivery systems
  • Foreign body reaction

Wearable devices

  • Cutaneous electrophysiology (brain, heart, muscle)
  • Electronic skins (pressure, temperature)
  • Sweat biosensing (glucose, lactate, …)
  • Transdermal drug delivery

Ex vivo devices

  • Electrochemical biosensors
  • Impedance biosensors
  • MEAs and patch clamp
  • Organ-on-a-chip
  • In vitro systems

Regulatory and ethical issues

Coursework

The coursework will be assessed on two marked assignments. The first assignment will involve a demonstration of glucose sensor technology. The second assignment will involve an illustration of the principles of electrophysiology applied to bioelectronic devices.

Coursework Format

Due date

& marks

[Coursework activity #1 : Glucose biosensors]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to electrochemical sensors employed for the measurement of glucose.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using test strip glucose biosensors on a range of samples.
  • To explore the principles of accuracy and precision and their application to clinical measurements and their impact on clinical decision making.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a biosensor for the measurement of lactate.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

TBA in Moodle

[30/60]

[Coursework activity #2 : Cutaneous electrophysiology]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to sensors employed for the measurement of electrophysiology.
  • To explore different recording configurations.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using cutaneous electrodes.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a sensor for the measurement of biopotentials.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

TBA in Moodle

[30/60]

 

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

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.

General Learning Outcomes

Graduates with the exemplifying qualifications, irrespective of registration category or qualification level, must satisfy the following criteria:

 
Last modified: 22/05/2021 14:30

Engineering Tripos Part IIB, 4I14: Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2020-21

Module Leader

Prof G Malliaras

Lecturer

Prof G Malliaras & Prof E 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 biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Understand the principles of signal transduction between biology and electronics. • appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Appreciate the basic configuration and distinction among biosensors and bioelectronic systems.
  • Demonstrate appreciation for the technical limits of performance.
  • Make design and selection decisions in response to measurement and actuation problems amenable to the use of biosensors and bioelectronic devices.
  • Be able to evaluate novel trends in the field.

Content

This course covers the principles, technologies, methods and applications of biosensors and bioelectronics. The objective of this course is to link engineering principles to understanding these biosystems. 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 electrochemical and optical signal transduction. The fundamentals of electrophysiology are applied to implantable and cutaneous bioelectronic devices. Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to explain biosensing and transduction techniques, design and construct biosensor instrumentation, and explain the techniques of recording and stimulation of electrically active cells and tissues.

Introduction to Biosensors

  • 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

Diagnostics for the real world

  • Communication and tracking in health monitoring
  • Detection in resource limited settings

Introduction to Bioelectronics

  • Overview of technology (implantable, cutaneous, ex vivo)
  • Anatomy, function of nervous system, other electrically active tissues
  • Principles of electrophysiology
  • Recording and stimulation (intracellular, extracellular, epidural, EEG)
  • Transducers (pipette electrodes, Ag/AgCl, metal electrodes, Michigan and Utah probes, transistors)

Implantable devices

  • Cardiac pacemaker
  • Cochlear implant, retinal implant
  • DBS (Parkinson’s, dystonia, epilepsy), spinal cord stimulators
  • Brain-Computer Interfaces
  • PNS stimulators, electroceuticals
  • Implantable drug delivery systems
  • Foreign body reaction

Wearable devices

  • Cutaneous electrophysiology (brain, heart, muscle)
  • Electronic skins (pressure, temperature)
  • Sweat biosensing (glucose, lactate, …)
  • Transdermal drug delivery

Ex vivo devices

  • Electrochemical biosensors
  • Impedance biosensors
  • MEAs and patch clamp
  • Organ-on-a-chip
  • In vitro systems

Regulatory and ethical issues

Coursework

The coursework will be assessed on two marked assignments. The first assignment will involve a demonstration of glucose sensor technology. The second assignment will involve an illustration of the principles of electrophysiology applied to bioelectronic devices.

Coursework Format

Due date

& marks

[Coursework activity #1 : Glucose biosensors]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to electrochemical sensors employed for the measurement of glucose.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using test strip glucose biosensors on a range of samples.
  • To explore the principles of accuracy and precision and their application to clinical measurements and their impact on clinical decision making.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a biosensor for the measurement of lactate.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

17th Feb 21

[30/60]

[Coursework activity #2 : Cutaneous electrophysiology]

Learning objectives:

  • To introduce students to sensors employed for the measurement of electrophysiology.
  • To explore different recording configurations.
  • To quantitatively analyse measurements conducted using cutaneous electrodes.
  • To extend the principles to the design of a sensor for the measurement of biopotentials.

Individual Report

anonymously marked

17th March 21

[30/60]

 

Booklists

Please refer to the Booklist for Part IIB Courses for references to this module, this can be found on the associated Moodle course.

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.

General Learning Outcomes

Graduates with the exemplifying qualifications, irrespective of registration category or qualification level, must satisfy the following criteria:

 
Last modified: 02/02/2021 10:46

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