Unit ELEMENTS OF MOLECULAR BIOPHYSICS

Course
Molecular and industrial biotechnology
Study-unit Code
55A01506
Curriculum
In all curricula
Teacher
Daniele Fioretto
Teachers
  • Daniele Fioretto
Hours
  • 47 ore - Daniele Fioretto
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2023
Offered
2023/24
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Discipline per le competenze professionali
Academic discipline
FIS/03
Type of study-unit
Obbligatorio (Required)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
English
Contents
Constituents of biological matter and their interactions. Aggregation and self-assembly. The biomacromolecules. Viscoelasticity and bioreology. Phase transitions, glass transition and processes involved in cryopreservation protocols. Elements of wave optics and quantum mechanics to understand the experimental methods of molecular biophysics, such as protein crystallography, photocorrelation spectroscopy and Brillouin spectroscopy, spectroscopic imaging techniques, STM and AFM microscopy.
Reference texts
Lecture notes, articles and chapters of textbooks suggested therein.
Educational objectives
The main objective of the course is to provide students with the basic knowledge to understand the theoretical fundamentals and some experimental methods of molecular biophysics, also in view of their application in cryopreservation.
The main knowledge gained will cover:
- Constituents of matter and their biological interactions. Aggregation and self-assembly. Biomacromolecules. Viscoelasticity and bioreology. Phase transitions and glass transition.
- Principles and potential of some experimental methods of molecular biophysics, such as protein crystallography, spectroscopy photocorrelation and Brillouin spectroscopy, spectroscopic imaging techniques, the STM and AFM microscopy
The main skills that the course aims to convey are:
- To know how to use the fundamental physical laws to interpret some basic aspects of the structure, dynamics and function of biological molecules
- To know how to analyze some spectroscopic experiments typical of molecular biophysics, knowing their potential and limits.
Prerequisites
Baisc Chemistry, Physics and Molecular Biology
Teaching methods
Face-to-face lessons on all topics covered by the course and laboratory experiments regarding photocorrelation spectroscopy, Brillouin, and Raman spectroscopic imaging.
Other information

Learning verification modality
The oral exam is a discussion lasting about 45 minutes aimed at ascertaining the level of knowledge on technical content and methodology of the course (the constituents of matter and their biological interactions. Aggregation and self-assembly. Biomacromolecules. Viscoelasticity and bioreology. Phase trasitions and glass transition. Principles and potential of some experimental methods of molecular biophysics, such as protein crystallography, photocorrelation spectroscopy and Brillouin spectroscopy, spectroscopic imaging techniques, STM and AFM microscopy). The oral exam will also test the student communication skills and his autonomy in the organization and exposure of the theoretical topics.
Extended program
Elements of biological soft matter physics.
Constituents of biological matter and their interactions. Aggregation and self-assembly. Biomacromolecules. Viscoelasticity and bioreology. Phase transitions, glass transition and processes involved in cryopreservation protocols.
Elements of wave optics.
Electromagnetic waves. Interference, and diffraction. Bragg's law.
Experimental methods: Protein crystallography. Photocorrelation spectroscopy and Brillouin spectroscopy.
Elements of quantum mechanics
Solution of the Schrödinger equation in some notable cases: potential barrier, potential well, harmonic oscillator.
Experimental methods: STM and AFM for biological applications. Vibrational spectroscopies and their biophysical applications.
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