ORC-31806 Bio-organic Chemistry at Surfaces: Tuning the Outermost Nanometer

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Assumed knowledge on:

ORC-20306 Bio-organic Chemistry.

Contents:

The majority of biological interactions with the external world takes place at a surface. Similarly, in medical diagnostics, analyses typically react at a surface with immobilized receptor molecules, while in e.g. solar energy conversion the overall yield is often determined by the definition of the surface. These examples indicate that the chemical and physical properties of surfaces are vitally important. In upcoming technologies like nanotechnology, the properties of surfaces are only becoming more important, due to the increasingly high surface area-to-volume ratio.
This course deals with the (bio-organic) chemistry of surfaces: attaching molecules onto a surface, showing that this is the case, and doing something highly useful with it. In this course, the formation and properties of special surfaces that are formed through covalent and non-covalent interactions are treated. Subjects that will be treated in this course are:
- supramolecular interactions, with a focus on such interactions towards a surface. We will address the concept of multivalency and cooperativity; both of which are often observed in natural systems to enhance the strength and specificity of binding;
- polymerization reactions, with a focus on controlled radical polymerization. These type of reactions are very useful for covalent modification of surfaces and for the preparation of nano and microstructures with defined and controlled surface properties (as used in drug delivery);
- chemical modification of surfaces and biofunctionalisation through modern 'click' reactions;
- analytical methods for characterization of surfaces through techniques like contact angle measurements, AFM, STM, XPS;
- preparation and characterization of inorganic, polymeric and dendritic nanoparticles, with an eye to their applications in diagnostics, medicine, drug delivery, etc.;
- in the practical course illustrative experiments are performed with controlled polymer synthesis, (bio-)chemically modified surfaces, nanoparticles. Furthermore, dendrimers, will be prepared by 'click' reactions and investigated with different advanced techniques and instruments. The theoretical background of these experimental techniques will also be treated.

Learning outcomes:

After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- understand how (bio-)organic molecules interact in a non-covalent manner and can form functional aggregates, and how structural variation in the molecules influences the macroscopic properties of these aggregates;
- apply different chemical methods to modify surfaces either covalently or non-covalently;
- analyse the conjugation of biomolecules to surfaces;
- characterise modified surfaces by several (micro)spectroscopic techniques and interpret the data;
- evaluate literature on modification of surfaces with (bio)organic molecules;
- perform simple experiments related to surface modification, aggregation behaviour and nanoparticle preparation;
- investigate (bio)nanostructures and surfaces and interpret the findings using advanced experimental techniques and instruments;
- prepare a critical report in which experimental results and theory on this subject are combined.

Activities:

- attend lectures;
- study the course material (reader);
- make exercises.
Perform illustrative experiments and write a critical report in which the relation between theory and practice is adequately described.

Examination:

- the final mark is determined by the exam (67%);
- the performance during the practical course and the quality of the report (33%).
The minimum mark for each part is 5.50. The marks for the individual parts of the course will remain valid for 3 years.

Literature:

A study guide and the study material will be made available in the form of a reader.