This course introduces the main concepts related to the design, the fabrication and the utilization of microsystems for molecular analysis in complex environments, liquid or gaseous. Such systems include sensors and biosensors, i.e., systems for the detection of certain chemical species, as well as biochips, which are devices for simultaneous multi-factor analysis,
The course shows how the fundamental notions in the relevant scientific domains (physical chemistry of interfaces, biochemistry, physical measurements, ...) must be articulated in a consistent way, from the conception of biochips and their fabrication, to the interpretation of the resulting data, in order to achieve an analytical performance that is best adapted to the issue under investigation. We will discuss examples from the domain of academic research as well as commercialized systems, for applications related to health and environment.
Outline of the lectures:
• Chemical sensors & biosensors : definitions, notions of analytical performances
• Influence of surface functionalization on sensors and biochips performances. The case of Surface Plasmon Resonance biosensors.
• Electrochemical sensors for in vitro & in vivo analysis.
• Electronic nose. Lectures given by the Scientific Director of Aryballe Technology, Grenoble.
• Fluorescence measurements and biochips
• A panoramic comparison of high tech and low tech bionalysis technologies: biochips, DNA sequencing and others
• Particle based bioassays
Outline of work groups:
• Transducer work group: studying by group a scientific article about a transducing technology, and explain it to the class
• Biochips cases studies : investigations performed by students groups to understand malfunctioning biochips.
