Course content

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the use of nanomaterials in the health sector, spanning fundamental principles to clinical applications. It introduces molecular engineering concepts for the design, synthesis, and characterization of nanomaterials, along with their transport, interaction, and fate in biological systems, studied using chemical engineering fundamentals. Students will explore stochastic and transport modelling approaches to predict nanoparticle behavior in complex biological systems and apply theoretical knowledge to validate experimental data. Special emphasis is placed on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), including ethical, social, political, and economic considerations, as well as safety and risk assessment frameworks. Through case studies and hands-on learning, students will connect basic research to practical applications, fostering a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the field of nanomedicine.

Learning outcome

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Explain principles of molecular engineering for the design and fabrication of nanomaterials.
• Correlate nanomaterial synthesis, functionalization and characterization to chosen applications in nanomedicine
• Analyze nanoparticle interactions in complex biological systems.
• Apply fundamentals of transport phenomena in understanding behavior of nanoparticles in biological systems.
• Understand and investigate nanomaterial properties on response mechanisms in human body
• Evaluate safety risks, regulatory frameworks, and risk mitigation strategies for nanomaterials.
• Apply Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) principles to assess ethical, societal, and economic implications of nanomedicine.
• Critically reflect on the balance between basic research, application, and societal needs in the health sector.

Learning methods and activities

Group activities, final presentations and final individual or group reports.

Recommended previous knowledge

Admission to the course requires the candidates to be enrolled in either a PhD program or MSc/MS/MTech/ME or equivalent graduate programs within Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Chemistry or allied fields.

Course materials

Reading materials provided before and during lectures.