Bioimaging

Module 1 (C: Lenardi)
Module 1 of the course provides a description of the imaging techniques applied to biology. Some basic notions of geometrical optics are functional to the detailed description of optical microscopes. Confocal microscopy and related techniques (FRAP, FRET, FLIM) will be extensively treated together with more recent developments in super-resolution techniques, in particular SIM, PALM, STORM, STED. Electron microscopies (SEM, TEM, Cryo-TEM) will be presented underlying the different investigations on biological samples that can be carried out. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) will be also presented as a versatile approach for measuring mechanical properties of biological samples.

Module 2 (T. Santaniello)
Module 2 of the course deals with Lab-On-a-Chip (LOC), that are laboratory functionalities integrated into miniaturized devices and with Cell-On-a-Chip (COC) systems, that are miniaturized platforms for cell biology applications. Related microfluidics solutions and microfabrication technologies will be presented together with various read-out methods. Some examples of LOC and COC applications will be given such as PCR chips and Organ on Chips.

The course also includes visits to the imaging facilities, in particular:
a) for the optical and electron microscopy at NOLIMITS platform (UNITECH)
b) for the Atomic Force Microscopy at Department of Physics
c) for Lab-On-a-Chip systems at the microfluidics laboratory, Department of Physics, where some experiments will be carried out on micro-devices.