- Knowledge of the physical behavior of surfaces at the nanoscale - Knowledge of advanced techniques for the characterization of nanostructured surfaces and nano-dimensional systems - Knowledge of advanced techniques for the modification of surfaces at nanoscale - Knowledge of advanced techniques for the synthesis of nano-dimensional systems - Knowledge of advanced applications of nano-dimensional systems to the biomedical field - Ability to characterize surfaces and nanostructures - Ability to modify the physical properties of surfaces at the nanoscale - Ability to synthesize nano-dimensional systems - Ability to apply nano-dimensional systems to some specific biomedical fields

- Elementary physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, wave optics, elements of the structure of matter) - Elements of quantum mechanics - Elements of statistical mechanics - Elements of solid state physics

The theoretical lectures will deal with these topics: - Physical properties of surfaces and nanostructures and their interactions with the ambient at the nanoscale: gas/surface interaction, growth modes, gas/surface energy exchanges, ion/surface interaction. - Techniques for the physical characterization of surfaces and nanostructures at the nanoscale: compositional analysis, structural analysis of mono/poly-crystalline materials, structural analysis of amorphous materials, morphological and surface energy analysis. - Advanced techniques for the modification of surfaces at the nanoscale and the synthesis of nano-dimensional systems: vapor-based processes, low-pressure cold-plasma processes, atmospheric-pressure cold-plasma processes, thermal-plasma processes. - Application of nanostructured surfaces and nanodimensional systems to the biomedical field, with a special focus on nanomedicine and “theranostic” nanomaterials. The laboratory lectures will deal with one or more of these topics: - modification of surfaces at the nanoscale - morphological analysis of nanostructured surfaces and nanosystems - compositional analysis of nanostructured surfaces and nanosystems - analysis of the surface energy of nanostructured surfaces and nanosystems

The course involves class lectures, as well as laboratory lectures. The theoretical lectures will be delivered in class, making use of slides as well as of the blackboard. The laboratory lectures will be delivered in research laboratories, and may include the following activities: - visits to laboratory facilities for surface characterization and/or modification, during which one of more experimental apparatuses will be shown and described in detail; - practical activity inside a laboratory, during which characterization or surface modification techniques will be performed, under the supervision of the teacher and/or a laboratory technician. The students will be allowed to write a report, containing a description of the experimental procedure and an analysis of the experimental results, which will provide an additional evaluation. The laboratory lectures are not mandatory, and students may achieve the maximum grade without attending to them. Students wishing to attend the laboratory lectures will have to subscribe to them by compiling an online form.

- Teaching material distributed by the teachers. - H. Luth, "Solid Surfaces, Interfaces and Thin Films", Springer, 2010. - H. Busse and B.E. Koel, “Surface processes”, in: "Digital Encyclopedia of Applied Physics Condensed Matter F: Surfaces and Interfaces", Wiley, 2014. Other references about specific topics may be communicated by the teachers during the lectures.

Lecture slides;

Exam: Written test; Optional oral exam; Group essay;

The assessment criteria involve: - the student's knowledge of the main properties of nano-structured surfaces and nano-dimensional systems, of the main methods for nano-synthesis, surface modification and characterization; - the student's ability to describe, either in written or oral form, methods for the nano-synthesis, surface modification or characterization at the nanoscale, using the technical language correctly; - the student's ability to apply methods for the nano-synthesis, surface modification or characterization at the nanoscale in a laboratory environment and/or to analyse the corresponding experimental results. The exam involves a mandatory written part and an optional oral part. The mandatory written part consists of some questions concerning the topics discussed during the course. The total allotted time to answer the questions is 2 hr and a mark of 18/30 is required to pass the exam. It is not allowed to use any kind of didactic material (such as textbooks or notes) during the exam. The optional oral part consists in delivering an original student's presentation, of 10-15 min duration, which critically describes the content of a recent scientific paper chosen by the student among a set provided by the teacher. It is strictly forbidden the use of any kind of artificial intelligence (AI) system, or automated writing system, to produce any part of the presentation. If the use of AI will be detected, a negative mark may be given. After the presentation, the student will be required to answer some questions related to the paper and the course topics. As a result of the oral exam evaluation, the written exam mark may be increased or reduced of maximum 3 points, considering the presentation quality and the answers given to the teacher's questions. The students who have attended at least 50% of the laboratory lessons may deliver a report to the teacher, consisting in the description of the laboratory activities and a data analysis of their result. It must be original and must be delivered (by uploading it on the didactic portal) before the date of the first written exam. Its evaluation may increase the written exam mark of 2 points at maximum. Each report may be provided by a single student or by a group of 3 students at maximum. It is strictly forbidden the use of any kind of artificial intelligence (AI) system, or automated writing system, to produce any part of the report. If the use of AI will be detected, the report will not give any bonus. If the written exam mark is below 18/30, it cannot be increased by the optional oral part or by the laboratory reports: the exam is not passed and it must be repeated. In order to get the laude, a total mark of al least 33 must be achieved by adding all the marks of the mandatory and optional examination parts.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.