Nano-Introduction; in Life, Plant and AgroFood

Nanomaterials, whether man-made or naturally occurring, are found everywhere in our society and in nature. They find a plethora of roles in health, plant, and agrofood applications, such as colorants, diagnostics, catalysis, delivery vehicles, etc.. In this course an introduction will be provided to the different classes of nanomaterials that we know so far, which go from metallic (e.g. gold and silver) nanoparticles, to magnetic particles and luminescent quantum dots , and from organic (bio)macromolecular constructs (e.g. bucky balls and viral-like particles) to supramolecular assemblies (e.g. micelles and liposomes).

The introduction to different nanomaterials will be complemented by laboratory classes in which nanoparticles will be synthesized and characterized. An introduction to key technologies for investigating nanomaterials will be provided, including optical and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, as well as optical, fluorescence, electron, and atomic force microscopy. Additionally, you will exploit and challenge your own imagination and creativity in designing new (classes of) nanomaterials and will (try to) make them in the lab. Such experiments are obviously likely to fail, but that is not considered 'failure' at all. On the contrary, it is most informative and formative to get acquainted with the reality of trying to make materials that have never been made before and develop research skills such as realism, reflection, responsibility, and resilience! In an excursion you will get in touch with commercial applications of nanotechnology.

Explicit attention is paid in this course to ethical aspects of research and development in the various fields of bionanotechnology, whether in Plant, Life, or Agrotechnology. Finally, considering the huge amount of (novel) literature piling up day-by-day, it is of paramount importance to learn how to efficiently scan and read scientific literature. This will be practiced weekly.

• Recognise and discriminate between different classes of nanomaterials

• Distinguish the difference between top-down and bottom-up nanofabrication

• Synthesise and characterise metallic, organic, and hybrid nanomaterials

• Validate the similarities and differences of nanomaterials and their applications in Agrofood, Plant & Life

• Judge the difference between various modification strategies of nanomaterials

• Critically evaluate scientific literature about applications of nanotechnology in AgroFood, Plant & Life, and discuss the use of schemes, cartoons, and figures.

• Reflect on the ethical aspects of nanotechnology in AgroFood, Plant & Life

• Recognise different length scales in nanomaterials and cartoons

• Written test with open and closed questions (50%)
• Performance (10%) Performance during the laboratory classes.
• Assignment report (40%) Quality of the report on the experiments, literature assignments and excursions. Group size between 3 and 5 students. Failed or late submissions of the report results in handing in at the next re-sit.

ZSS06100 Laboratory Safety

• Life Sciences Background:
• Bio-organic Chemistry for Life Sciences (ORC13803)
• General Chemistry for the Life Sciences (PCC12803)
• Or
• Organic Chemistry BAT (BCT10302)
• General Chemistry BAT (PCC14303)
• Or
• General Chemistry 1 (PCC12303)
• General Chemistry 2 (PCC12403)

• Ljiljana Fruk \& Antonina Kerbs (2021) BioNanoTechnology; Concepts and Applications. 438p. ISBN: 978-1-108-45290-8