Nanotechnology is a multidescripancy field and its use in the area of Health Sciences has led to innovative applications in diagnosis and treatment of living beings as well as in agricultural process. The current e-learning programme focused on the basic applications of nanotechnology in Health Sciences, in clinical and research level.
The present programme provides a detailed description concerning the types of nanotools used in Health Sciences, the mechanism of their action, the route and the behavior of each nanotool inside a biological system.
Recent advances in nanotechnology offer the potential for early detection of several diseases as well increased therapeutic efficacy. In this context, the programme gives
a thorough overview of nanoparticles current applications in diagnosis (including MRI, CT, PET, SPECT and Biophotonic modalities), therapy (including radiotherapy, treatment with radionuclides, photodynamic and photothermal therapy) and theranostics.
Following the applications of nanotechnology in human medicine, the programme describes the potential of applying nanotechnology in veterinary medicine regarding animal health, animal breeding and animal food safety.
Nowadays, nanotechnology has expanded its role in Agriculture and Food products. The course summarizes the applications of nanoparticles to the agro-food section, food packaging and supply chain. Moreover, relevant environmental, health and toxicological issues are highlighted.
Participant Profile
MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO NANOTECHNOLOGY
LESSON 1. BASIC TERMS AND HISTORICAL EVOLUTION
Unit 1: Basic Terms
Unit 2: Historical evolution of nanotechnology
This lesson describes the basic terminology of nanotechnology and present the historical evolution of this rapidly evolving domain.
LESSON 2. INSTRUMENTATION IN NANOMEDICINE
Unit 1: Laboratory characterization methods
Unit 2: Short overview of in vivo imaging methods
This lesson introduces the basic technologies that are used for nanoparticles characterization as well the main imaging modalities (magnetic resonance, optical imaging and nuclear medicine techniques) that are used in nanomedicine.
MODULE 2: NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN MEDICINE
LESSON 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE NANOTOOLS FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Unit 1: Nanoshells
Unit 2: Magnetic nanoparticles
Unit 3: Quantum dots
Unit 4: Carbon nanotubes
Unit 5: Polymer nanoparticles
Unit 6: Dendrimers
Unit 7: Liposomes
Unit 8: Nanobiosensors
The aim of this lesson is to present the different types and characteristics of the nanotools that nanotechnology uses in medicine, pharmacy and medical physics.
LESSON 2. BASIC APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DIAGNOSIS
Unit 1: Applications in Radiology
Unit 2: Applications in Nuclear Medicine
Unit 3: Applications in Biophotonic Imaging
This lesson provides an overview of nanoparticles current applications in diagnosis including radiology, nuclear medicine and biophotonic imaging.
LESSON 3. BASIC APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THERAPY
Unit 1: Applications in Radiotherapy
Unit 2: Applications in Nuclear Therapy
Unit 3: Applications in Biophotonic Therapy
Nanotechnology inserts a revolution in therapy field by changing the scale and the methods in cells targeting and drug delivery. This lesson demonstrates the potentials of the nanosystems in radiotherapy, nuclear therapy and biophotonic therapy.
LESSON 4. NANOTECHNOLOGY-BASED THERANOSTICS
Unit 1: Theranostics
Unit 2: Combinational delivery approaches
The vision of combining diagnostics and therapeutics, now being referred to as theranostics, was considered futuristic only a few years ago. The current lesson aims to introduce principles of theranostics and in vivo applications of theranostic and combinational nanotechnologies in biomedicine.
MODULE 3: NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
LESSON 1. ANIMAL HEALTH AND PHARMACEUTICALS
Unit 1: Nanomedicine and nanotherapeutics
Unit 2: Drug delivery
Unit 3: Vaccination
The current lesson defines the context of nanotechnology that can be considered applicable in connection to animal health and pharmaceuticals, drug delivery and vaccination.
LESSON 2. ANIMAL DIAGNOSTICS, BREEDING AND ANIMAL FOOD SAFETY
Unit 1: Diagnostics
Unit 2: Animal Breeding and Animal Food Safety
The lesson describes the context of nanotechnology that can be considered applicable in connection to diagnostics, animal breeding and animal food safety.
MODULE 4. NANOTECHNOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE THE FOOD PROCESSING AND SUPPLY SECTOR
LESSON 1. APPLICATIONS OF NANOSCIENCE TO THE AGRO-FOOD SECTOR
Unit 1: Nano-nature
Unit 2: Nanotechnological applications in agricultural practices
Unit 3: Nanotechnology in food industry
Unit 4. Food nanomaterials
This lesson summarizes agricultural applications of nanomaterials and highlights some of the most promising and important nanotechnology applications in agriculture. Moreover, it recommends several strategies for advancing the best scientific and technological knowledge presently being examined.
LESSON 2. NANOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN FOOD PACKAGING AND SUPPLY CHAIN
Unit 1: Food packaging
Unit 2: Challenges of Nanotechnology for the Food and Bioprocessing Industries
The current lesson provides an overview of the nanotechnology and its applications in food business. It also discusses relevant environmental, health and toxicology issues raised nowadays as well the nanotechnology ethics in foods.
Assessement Method
At the end of each lesson, the participant should submit an evaluation test. The test includes several types of exercises such as list-matching, upload, pick-one, boolean and fill the blanks. The successful completion of the program requires grade of 50% or higher for all courses.
Training Methodology
Online and distance learning at National and Kapodistrian University of Athens offers a new way of combining innovative learning and teaching techniques with interaction with your tutor and fellow students from around the world.
The e-learning programme is implemented via a user-friendly educational platform adjusted to the Distance Learning Principles. Programmes are structured as weekly online meetings; interaction with the programme tutor and other students takes place in a virtual learning environment. The programmes are designed to fit around your schedule; you access the programme whenever it is convenient for you.
The whole world becomes your classroom as e-learning can be done on laptops, tablets and phones – it is a very mobile method.
The educational platform is a portal that offers access to electronic classrooms based on modern distance learning technologies. The computer based nature of training means new technology is being introduced all the time to help students engage and learn in a tailored way that will meet their needs. Each e-classroom is similar to a traditional teaching classroom. Students have access to e-classrooms with their personal code number in order to browse the teaching material, to being informed about the latest news/updates and interact with their instructors. Moreover, through own personal e-mail account through which they can contact directly their mentors or the administration office of the programme and share any concerns or anxieties related to the programme and make the most form their experience.
In each programme, learners submit the corresponding tests, within the deadline given by their instructors. Final mark fluctuates from 0 to 100%. The overall grade in each programme is calculated based on the student’s marks on assessment exercises that follow each unit while their instructor might also assign them with a final assessment at the end of the programme. Finally, if the total score on one or more lessons of the programme does not exceed 50%, students can ask for reassessment.
During the programme students will be attending lectures and group seminars presented by academics and speakers from the National University of Athens as well as from other Universities, Research Institutes and Cultural organizations around Greece. In addition, when you study with us, you have online access to first-class resources relevant to your programme – plus you can browse material in other subject areas.
Every week e-learners are provided with the relevant material , either video-lectures or typed notes and relevant resources or a combination of both.
Interactivity, lower costs and our long experience guarantees that studying with us will offer a successful and rewarding experience. Finally, the access to a large variety of material and online resources available in each unit aims to excite your curiosity and guide you in studying further on your favourite topic will the online material which can be downloaded will give you the opportunity to quickly refresh your memory after the completion of the programme.