Basics in bioinstrumentation

Summary

This combined practical and theoretical course will provide the basics in bioinstrumentation, including the construction of a droplet-microfluidic workstation for high-throughput, single-cell analysis. Many of the learned concepts are equally applicable to other widely used lab instruments.

Content

Keywords

• High throughput fluorescence analysis
• Single-cell assays
• Microfluidics
• System engineering
• Hands-on practice
• LabVIEW control software

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

none

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Design an instrument converting a cellular feature (e.g. an enzymatic activity or the presence of a surface receptor) into an electric signal that can be quantified and processed to provide active feedback loops (e.g. to trigger cell sorting)
• Conduct microfluidic experiments
• Construct a prototype and characterize the performance
• Have basic knowledge about other types of lab equipment
• Describe the basic working principles of other lab equipment

Transversal skills

• Collect data.
• Make an oral presentation.
• Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
• Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.
• Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
• Write a scientific or technical report.

Teaching methods

• Teaching is done through interactive lectures, including case studies presented by the students
• In parallel, the students go through a hands-on practical session every week ("learning by doing"), comprising the construction of a fully functional bioinstrument

Expected student activities

Prepare a blueprint for a droplet microfluidic workstation, based on a comprehensive protocol

Present a bioinstrument of your choice (to be approved), based on comprehensive literature search

Construct a functional bioinstrument, collect data, present results in oral and written form

Assessment methods

Presentation of a bioinstrument of your choice (to be approved; Group activity, 30%)

Construction of a fully functional microfluidic instrument, presentation of experimental results (Group activity; 30%), submission of a written report (Group activity, 20%)

Q & A sessions with individual students at the very end of the course (Individual activity, 20%)

Supervision

Resources

Notes/Handbook

Protocols, slides and literature will be made available on Moodle