Biotechnology

Code	13508
Year	1
Semester	S1
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	TP(60H)
Scientific area	Biomedical Sciences
Entry requirements	Not applicable.
Mode of delivery	Face to face.
Work placements	Not applicable
Learning outcomes	The unit of Biotechnology aims to provide students with a global perspective of biotechnological processes, with emphasis on the production and purification of biomolecules for therapeutic application. At the end of this course the student should be able to: -Describe the importance of Biotechnology in the current context and explain their applications, focusing on health. -Demonstrate an integrated view of bioprocesses, including the processes of production in bioreactors, isolation and purification of biomolecules and apply the techniques / unit operations used in different stages to obtain bioproducts for therapeutic applications with high yield and purity. -Demonstrate strategy and autonomy in making decisions regarding the resolution of concrete problems in Biotechnology, based on the scientific and technical capacity and critical thinking.
Syllabus	A-Theoretical 1- Introduction to Biotechnology. Recombinant DNA technology. Expression systems in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. 2- Biological Reactors Main state variables to be controlled in a bioreactor. Fermentation general concepts. Introduction to biological systems mass balances. Growth, consumption, and production kinetics. 3- Recovery and Separation of Biological Products 4- Separation and Purification of Biological Products Solid-liquid. Liquid-liquid. Cell desintegration. Membrane processes. Chromatographic processes used in the purification of biological products. Overview of the steps of a biotechnological process. 5- Applications of Biotechnology: Gene Therapy and DNA Vaccines B-Experimental Production and purification of plasmid DNA for therapeutic applications: 1 – Plating, selection and batch production; 2 – Cell disintegration and recovery; 3 - Purification by chromatography; 4 - Encapsulation of plasmid DNA
Main Bibliography	- Crommelin D.J. A., Sindelar, R D., Meibohm “Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: Fundamentals and Applications”, 3rd Edition, CRC Press, 2016. - Ho R. J. Y., Gibaldi, M “Biopharmaceutical Technologies and Processes in Drug Development”, Wiley, 2003. -Lima N, Mota M. (Eds) “Biotecnologia: Fundamentos e Aplicações”. Lidel, Lisboa, 2003. - Stanbury P., Whitaker, A. Hall, S. “Principles of Fermentation Technology” 3rd Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2016. -Fonseca M M, Teixeira JA (Eds) “Reactores Biológicos-Fundamentos e Aplicações”, Lidel, 2007. -Nicholl, D “An Introduction to Genetic Engineering”, 3ª Ed., Cambridge, 2008, Pg. 51-89 e pg 202-225. -Blankenstein T, “Gene Therapy: Principles and Applications”, Birkhäuser Verlag, 2003. -Selected scientific papers
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria	A.1- The evaluation of Learning Modules (TP) is 65% of the final mark and includes 3 tests (30% + 16% + 19%), where it will be necessary to obtain average minimum grade of 9.5 (Val) for approval to this component: 1st test: Mod 1: 10% (3 Val) for nf TP. Mod 2: 20% (6 Val) for nf TP. 2nd test: Mod 3: 16% (5 Val) for nf TP. 3rd Test: Mod 4: 16% (5 Val) for nf TP. Mod 5: 3% (1 Val) for nf TP A.2 -Assessment of the practice (20%): 1st test (5 Val), 2nd test (5 Val), 3rd test (5 + 5 Val) A.3- The evaluation of the Seminar component (15%) will be done through the presentation and oral discussion of a scientific article before a jury constituted by the professors of the UC, respecting an evaluation grid previously presented to the students. It is necessary to obtain a minimum grade of 9,5 Val for approval to this component Examination (65% Mod TP + 20% Mod PL) + Seminar Note (15%)
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.