Biosensores and Biomedical Signals

Recommended Prerequisites

General Chemistry; Physics I and II, Analytical Chemistry; Organic Chemistry.

Teaching Methods

Oral presentation of theoretical concepts in powerpoint. Classes for implementing and/or exemplification of techniques and analyzes, tutorials, and even occasional guest speakers. Laboratory classes for running assemblies of biomedical instrumentation.

Monitoring the literature research work to explore a topic as exhaustive and thoroughly as possible, leading to a written report and an oral presentation.

Promote critical and collaborative participation of students in a process of active learning, based on case studies, in business information, or studies still at the research stage.

Learning Outcomes

To get insight about the equipment for detection, analysis and diagnosis, for specific compounds identification, in important areas of application, e.g. health, environment, food industry and pharmaceutical industry. To realize the interdisciplinary of several knowledge to achieve that goal mainly chemistry, physics, electronics and different branches of engineering. To get skills in the understanding and in the proposal of alternatives,methodologies and strategies to conciliate the bio recognition with the translation of signals, for application both to new detection equipment and to the optimization of the existing ones.  Students get knowledge about the characteristics of the main transducers, used for physiological and environmental applications, contacting directly with some of them in laboratorial works. They get knowledge on methods of detection, measurement and registration of biomedical signals. They realize which main biomedical applications are actually already in practice.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Biosensor concept – components and requisites. Application of biosensors to health, in process control, in military area, in environment. The biological recognition elements. Immobilization of biological compounds. Characterization and modification of surfaces. Transducers: electrochemical, optical, calorimetric and piezoelectric ones. Stability of biosensors. Several types of biosensors. Physiological and environment transducers/sensors. Principles and general concepts. Study and application of some sensors: temperature sensors and photo detectors. Electrical circuits associated with readout, conditioning and amplification of the signal at sensors output. Operational amplifiers, comparators. Biomedical signal characteristics. Electrocardiography, Electromyography, electroencephalography. Interference and noise. Passive and active analog filters.  Analog and digital signals. The digitalization process: concepts, procedures and limitations.

Head Lecturer(s)

Arménio Coimbra Serra

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam (50-100%); Synthesis work (0-40%); Fieldwork or laboratory work (0-20%): 100.0%

Bibliography

- Cass, A.E.G. Ed., Biosensors – A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Oxford University Press, 1990  (J4.31)

- Twork, J.V. & Yacynych, A.M. Ed., Sensors in Bioprocess Control, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1990  (J4.32)

- Wise, D.L., Applied Biosensors, Butterworths, 1989  (J4.33)

- Blum, L.J. & Coulet, P.R. Ed., Biosensor Principles and Applications, Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1991  (J4.48)

- Bioanalysis and Biosensors for Bioprocess Monitoring, vol 66 of Advances in Biochem. Eng. Biotech., Spring, 2000 (J5.66)

- Miller, C.A. e Neogi, P., Interfacial Phenomena – Equilibrium and Dynamic Effects, 2nd ed., CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Surfactant science series, vol. 139, 2008 (G3.3)

- Dunn I.J. et al., Biological Reaction Engineering, Willey, 2003  (J4.65)

- Webster, J.G. Ed., The Measurement, Instrumentation and Sensors Handbook, CRC Press, 1999

- Bruce, E.N., Biomedical Signal Processing and Signal Modeling, Wiley, 2001

- Sinclair, I., Sensors and Tranducers A Guide for technicians, 2nd ed. 1998