Brief Description: This course introduces students to various physical, chemical, and biological methods of characterizing biointerfaces, broadly defined. Studies are presented in an integrative manner, i.e. integration across size scales of biomolecular organization and across the composition of the interface. Biointerfaces considered include conventional interfaces of biomolecules (e.g., proteins) on artificial substrates, as well as interfaces of submicroscopic and nanoscale particles with biomolecules and living cells.

Instructor: Professor Prabhas V. Moghe
Office: C-230 Engineering
Phone: 445-4951
Email: moghe@rci.rutgers.edu
Office hours: TBA
Integrative Faculty Experts: Professors Nada Boustany; Edward Castner; Yves Chabal; Theodore Madey; David Shreiber; Charles Roth

Prerequisites: Background in undergraduate chemistry, general biology, physics, and interest in integrative studies of biological interfaces. Students concerned about their preparation should contact the instructor for guidance.

Course Outline:

Lecture	Topics
1,2	Definition of Biointerfaces; Overview of Problems and Applications
3,4,5	Spectroscopy – Electron Spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, Single Molecule Fluorescence Spectroscopy, Interfacial Second Harmonic and Sum Frequency Generation Spectroscopy
6,7	Surface Energetics: Contact Angle Measurement; Topography Measurements
8,9,10	Morphology Measurements – Optics & Imaging – Confocal, 2-Photon Microscopy;
11,12	Electron Microscopy; X-ray and Optical Coherence Tomography
13,14	Scale Specific Characterization of Microscopic, Submicroscopic & Nanoscale Substrates, Micelles/Macromolecules – Light Scattering; Atomic Force Microscopy
15	Mechanical Compliance Characterization
16	Proteins at Surfaces; Proteomics
17	Gene Expression and Characterization
18,19	Cellular Growth, Adhesion, Migration; Material Biocompatibility and Toxicity
20,21	Cellular Signaling and Intracellular Processes
22,23,24	Integrative Case Study

Textbooks: None required

Course Project (Case Study): Students will be assigned an integrative case study requiring the application of various biointerfacial characterization techniques (structural, chemical, biological).
The case study will integrate course material by describing: a) a relevant biomedical problem, b) fundamental biological principles, c) the role of interfacial science in the problem or its potential
solution, d)an engineering approach to its solution.

Course Lab: The course will not have a formal laboratory period. However, two to three laboratory demonstrations will be arranged during the course of the semester, the concepts from
which will be reinforced via background reading and a homework assignment.

Grading Policy: Homework 20%; Tests 40%; Case Study:40%

Objectives: To provide students with fundamental principles and applications related to the characterization of biological interfaces that are commonly encountered in biotechnology and
biomedicine. Specifically, students will learn: To assimilate the principles and practical overview of the tools applied to biology, materials science, and engineering for deeper understanding and integrative design and development of technologies for emerging applications.

Relationship of Course to Program Objectives: This is among the core courses of the IGERT Training Program on Integratively Engineered Biointerfaces. As such, there is an emphasis on
interdisciplinary and integrative approaches to the development of biomedical technologies.