Postgraduate Course: Introduction to Bioelectronics (MSc) (PGEE11220)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Bioelectronics involves the application of electronic engineering principles to biology, medicine, and the health sciences. An important part of this is the development of the communication interface between biological materials (cells, tissue and organs) and electronic components. This Course introduces the biochemical, biophysical and physiological concepts that are of relevance to bioelectronics, and will also serve to provide introductory material that will be extended in other courses of the Bioelectronics MSc Degree (namely the courses on BioSensors, Biosensors and Instrumentation, and Lab-on-Chip Technologies. |
| Course description |
This course introduces the biochemical, biophysical and physiological concepts that are of relevance to bioelectronics, it also provides instruction in the basic science and engineering concepts required to understand the design and application of biosensors.
Biosensors are defined as self-contained integrated devices capable of providing analytical information, using a biological recognition element in conjunction with a secondary transduction element. Different biosensor systems are explored, ranging from electrochemical devices, through to optical or thermal systems. Instruction is also given in the general principles of sampling and analysis, statistical presentation and manipulation of data acquired by biosensors.
Finally this course examines the methods used to interface sensors for biological and biomedical applications with electronics. One focus will be on transducers, meaning devices which convert information from one form of energy to another. In this course the final form for the information will be an electrical signal but the transducers themselves could be optical, mechanical, etc., and operate in a number of different ways (eg., capacitive, potentiometric, photonic).
This introductory course provides background that will be of particular use for the Semester 2 lab-on-chip technologies course.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 44,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 9,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
141 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
20 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Exam 80%
Coursework 20%
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the industrial and socioeconomic context of bioelectronics and biosensor development and their markets. Understand the basic physico-chemical properties of proteins and DNA, and the physiological properties of membranes, cells, tissues and some organs, together with an appreciation of the relationship between structure and function.
- Understand the distinction between the passive and active electrical properties of membranes, along with the origins of electrical signals emanating from the brain (electroencephalography) and heart (electrocardiogram). Design and use bioelectrodes, and understand the concept of transduction and methods of extracting information from bioelectronic-sensors and electrochemical biosensors.
- Understand the basic principles of biosensing in terms of biological, chemical and optical/photonic responses. Demonstrate knowledge of the general principles of sampling and analysis, statistical presentation and manipulation of data generated by biosensors.
- Demonstrate familiarity with the literature on bioelectronics and biosensors, including up to date knowledge of the state of the art and the direction of future developments. Understand and integrate knowledge from other engineering disciplines, particularly EEE and biomedical engineering.
- Analyse sensor outputs through the use of analogue circuit concepts. Understand typical electronic instrumentation for biosensors and important concepts such as calibration and references.
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Reading List
Recommended:
'Introductory Bioelectronics: for Engineers and Physical Scientists', R. Pethig and S. Smith, Wiley, 2012, ISBN: 978-1119970873 |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Amperometry,bacteria,bioelectrodes,biomolecules,biosensors,cells,DNA,electrocardiography |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Adam Stokes
Tel: (0131 6)50 5611
Email: Adam.Stokes@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Megan Inch-Kellingray
Tel: (0131 6)51 7079
Email: M.Inch@ed.ac.uk |
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