Microphysiometry

The dynamic activity of the cellular core metabolism is a key functional parameter for the assessment of living cells. The course gives an introduction into cell physiological aspects and continues with the engineering and analytical approaches that are used to record cell metabolism on a microscale. In this context, the complete system engineering background needed to comprehend the function of microphysiometric devices (including microsensing, microfluidics, electronics, cell culture maintenance systems, firmware, software for data evaluation) is outlined.
The exercises are given problems to be solved, demonstrations and experimental group work. Moreover, the students have the opportunity to contribute with an own presentation about a selected topic of microphysiometry, prepared in homework.

After completion of the module the students are able to
• understand the basic principles of cellular energy metabolism;
• to understand and to apply important system engineering methods needed for microphysiometry;
• to analyse and to evaluate the specific requirements of live cell assays in settings of diagnostics, pharmaceutical or toxicological research.

none

The preferred teaching method is frontal class, writing board and slide presentation.
In addition to the individual learning methods used by the students, an enhanced acquirement of skills is pursued by active problem solving in exercises. The common discussion of selected research and development papers contributes to a deeper understanding of typical system engineering approaches and to increased familiarity with scientific writing.

presentations (power point), whiteboard

selected textbooks or scientific research papers (recommendations given in the lecture)

The learning achievements will be examined in an oral test. The students have to answer questions in verbal form, in graphical form or by calculations. An active participation in the exercises by voluntary, own presentation is examined, the weight of that exercise grade is 1/5 of the module grade. Without own presentation the grade is based exclusively on the oral examination.