Overall objectives:

1 - Application at the laboratory level, of the knowledge acquired in the curricular units Nanochemistry II, Analysis and Characterization of Nanomaterials II and Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications.
2 - Development of the capacity of understanding and solving problems in new situations and/or multi and interdisciplinary settings.
3 - Development of capacities at the laboratory level, including in the use of advanced scientific equipment.
4 - Development of the capacity to search and interpret the scientific information.
5 - Development of the ability to design study/experimental strategies, interpret results and communicate those results in written and oral forms.
6 - Development of capacities for working in an autonomous way, in a team and towards the achievement of pre-set objectives.
7 - Development of the capacity of critical thinking.

Syllabus:

1 - This curricular unit comprises the development of laboratory mini-projects in articulation with the courses Nanochemistry II, Analysis and Characterization of Nanomaterials II and Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications. The work to be done may involve: the synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles (eg. gold, silver, quantum dots, iron oxide, etc.); hybrid (organic/inorganic) nanoparticles; nanofibers (eg. using the electrospinning technique); synthesis and characterization of dendrimers; preparations o liposomes and micelles; basic self-assembly processes (eg. using the ?Layer-by-Layer? technique). For the characterization of the prepared nanomaterials, various techniques will be explored, such as microscopy (eg. electronic microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, atomic force microscopy), dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurement, X-ray diffraction, Tunable Resistive Pulse Sensing.

Literature/Sources:

Assesssment methods and criteria:

Classification Type: Quantitativa (0-20)

Evaluation Methodology:
This course comprises the development of mini-projects of experimental nature. These works will be done in groups and involve several activities such as bibliographic research, programming of experimental work, execution of experiments, analysis of data and results, writing of reports and their oral presentation/discussion. Students develop work towards a pre-defined goal by the teacher. Students' work is closely supervised by the teacher who also teach them chemical synthesis techniques, nanoparticle surface modification/functionalization techniques and characterization techniques (instrumental techniques). The assessment of the curricular unit has the following components: a) Student/group performance evaluation in the laboratory (continuous assessment) - 30% for the final grade; b) Written reports - 40% for the final grade; c) Oral presentations and discussion of the reports - 30% for the final grade.