No formal prerequisites are required with respect to other courses. However, basic knowledge of general physics, physical chemistry and general physiology is recommended. This knowledge is normally acquired in the Bachelor’s degrees that give access to the Master’s degree in Medical Biotechnology and Nanobiotechnology.

Lectures

Molecular foundations of biophysics

 • the subject matter of molecular biophysics

 • molecular recognition

 • molecule-molecule interaction

 • reception

 • intercellular interactions

The thermodynamics of non-equilibrium systems

 • the dissipation function

 • the coupling of chemical reactions

 • the steady-state of a linear system

 • the coupling of chemical reactions with diffusion processes

 • processes remote from equilibrium

 • entropy

 • entropy and information in biology

Membrane transport

 • cell membranes

 • the thermodynamics of passive membrane transport

 • the thermodynamics of active membrane transport

 • the thermodynamic model of the sodium-potassium pump

 • the model theory of passive membrane transport

 • the model theory of active membrane transport

 • the structure of membranes

 • the conformational properties of membranes

 • induced ion transport

Nerve impulses

 • axons and nerve impulses

 • propagation of the nerve impulse

 • generation of the impulse

 • activation and inactivation of sodium conductivity

 • synaptic transmission

 

Labs

 • Methods, protocols and equations to study membrane biophysics and membrane protein functioning

 • Protein databank querying and consulting

This course aims at providing students with an in-depth knowledge of the current view of membrane biophysics, the role as a barrier played by the membrane and the roles played by channels, carriers and receptors in the membrane physiology. The course also aims at highlighting the spatial organization of membrane proteins, their structures and how their major structural elements make them work efficiently. Major methodological approaches to membrane biophysics including their powers and limitations will be also discussed.

Learning methods consist of formal lectures and integrative lectures held using slides and hypertext links to specific Web sites (5 credits = 40 hours), followed by practical laboratory classes (1 credit = 10 hours). Outside these activities, the students are expected to read assigned papers from the scientific literature.

Oral examination. It is aimed at ascertaining, in proportion:

- the level of theoretical knowledge through the presentation of the program topics (50%)

- the level of practical abilities through description of methods and methodologies (20%)

- the ability to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills to solve simple problems (30%)

FISIOLOGIA GENERALE. PRINCIPI. Autore: D. Cremaschi. Edi. Ermes

AN INTRODUCTION TO BIOLOGICAL MEMBRANES. FROM BILAYERS TO RAFTS. Author: W. Stillwell. Elsevier Science

ESSENTIALS OF MEMBRANE BIOPHYSICS. Author: N. Sperelakis. Academic Press