Modern experimental and computational methods have provided us with unprecedented insight into the marvels of engineering at the scales ranging from nanometers to microns and beyond that characterize the structure and function of the building blocks of biological cells, tissue and organs. By incorporating concepts and methods from biophysics, biochemistry, bioengineering, structural engineering, materials science and biology, modeling methodologies and theoretical concepts allows us to gain better understanding of biological materials designed by nature, how they are organized and how they function separately and integrated into a unit such as the living cell and higher hierarchical levels such as tissue and organs.

The course provides fundamentals of biomechanical engineering applying a multiscale/multiphysics vision, from molecules to organs and beyond. It offers a concise physical description of the organization of the cell and multi-cellular organisms and provides examples of the applications of biomolecular modeling at all levels of organization. Practical cases will be the objective of specific hands-on tutorials. The student will gain competencies in the areas of biophysics and biomechanics characterizing subcellular, cellular and tissue-level biological systems. At the end of the course the student will be able to: understand and characterize the biomechanics of subcellular structures such as proteins, protein aggregates, membranes, polymers filament networks; understand and characterize the physical, chemical and mechanical behavior of cells, tissues and organs in physiological and pathological conditions. The course will also provide information on the mechanisms responsible for emerging properties of living systems, such as biological information processing and consciousness. This course will help students to develop their independent thinking through self-assessment tests. The course will help to improve both written and oral communication skills through classroom exercises, group and individual tutorials. The ability to learn is stimulated by a training program that alternates, in an organized schedule, methodological principles, application examples, and exercises.

Basic knowledge of the basics of engineering with particular attention to physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, mechanics, materials science. The lecturer will fill specific background gaps by ad hoc lectures if needed.

The course will cover the following topics: • Introduction to living systems and Key Life Processes • Biophysics and Biomechanics of subcellular structures o Mechanics of Biopolymers o Mechanics of Membranes o Molecular and Biological Motors and Machines • Biophysics and Biomechanics of the whole Cell o Structure, Mechanics and Dynamics of Biological Cells o Cell motility: cilia and flagella, beats and strokes. o Cell communication, cell intelligence • Tissue and Organ Biophysics and Biomechanics o Energy Management in the human body o Multiscale features of the nervous system o Models of the immune system o The biophysics of vision o The biomechanics of sound perception • Beyond Organs o The emerging physics of consciousness

Lectures, classroom exercises

The teacher will provide all the course material (slides and lecture notes). Suggested textbooks: • Tuszynski, J.A., 2008. Molecular and cellular biophysics. Chapman & Hall/CRC. • Boal, D., 2001. Mechanics of the Cell. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511810954

Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula);

Exam: Written test;

... Written Test (20 questions: 15 multiple choice, 5 open questions). Each multiple question:1 point; each open question:4 points. Total max score=35. Over 32 the grade will be 30L.

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.