MEDICAL UNIVERSITY-SOFIA

FACULTY OF MEDICINE
DEPARTMENT MEDICAL PHYSICS AND BIOPHYSICS
2 Zdrave st., Sofia-1431

SYLLABUS of the LECTURES in BIOPHYSICS

for students in MEDICINE for 2015/2016 academic year
Lectures - 30 hours
Third semester (2 hours weekly)
I. BIOTHERMODYNAMICS AND BIOMECHANICS
1. Basics of thermodynamics
Subject and basic concepts of thermodynamics. First law of thermodynamics, internal energy.
Second law of thermodynamics, entropy.
2. Entropy and thermodynamic potentials
Thermodynamic probability and Boltzmann formula about entropy. Entropy as a measure of
disorder. Thermodynamic potentials definitions and properties.
3. Basics of non-equilibrium thermodynamics
Free energy and entropy of closed and open systems. Steady states and thermodynamic equilibrium.
Linear nonequilibrium thermodynamics Onsager relations between fluxes and driving forces.
Dissipative function and Prigogine's theorem.
4. Thermodynamics of living systems
Living organisms as open thermodynamic systems. Basic applications of thermodynamics to living
systems. Thermodynamic restrictions on life processes. Limits of the thermodynamic approach.
5. Bioenergetics
Energy sources and transformations in living systems. Chemiosmotic mechanism. Electrochemical
gradient. Proton pump and ATP-synthase. Efficiency of the energy transfer from glucose to ATP.
Bioenergetics and evolution.
6. Thermodynamics of biopolymers
Temperature stability and denaturation of proteins. Conformational unfolding transition "globulecoil". Protein misfolding. Denaturation and hybridization of nucleic acids. Thermal injuries.
7. Biomechanics 1
Subject and importance of biomechanics. Rheology of solid biomaterials. Viscoelastic properties of
bones and muscles. Biomechanics of the chewing apparatus.
8. Biomechanics 2
Passive mechanical properties of blood vessels Lames equation, volume-pressure dependence,
pulse wave. Mechanics of breathing. Role of Laplace pressure and lung surfactant.
9. Biomechanics 3
Haemorheology rheology characteristics of blood. Dependence of blood viscosity on the
haemtocrite, deformability and aggregation of red blood cells.
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II. BIOLOGICAL AND ARTIFICIAL MEMBRANES

10. Biomembranes functions, types, composition. Membrane lipids
Subject of membranology. Functions, types and chemical composition of the biological membranes.
Membrane phospholipids, glycolipids and cholesterol.
11. Biomembranes role of membrane proteins. Fluid-mosaic model
Membrane proteins and glycoproteins localization, functions and structure. Methods for
investigation of biomembranes. Fluid-mosaic model of membrane structure, lipid rafts.
12. Model membranes
Hydrophobic effect and formation of lipid aggregates. Model membranes types, preparation
methods, properties and applications. Liposomes as drug carriers.
13. Molecular mobility in membranes. Phase transitions
Mobility of the membrane components rotation, lateral diffusion and flip-flop. Gel-to-liquid
crystal phase transition in lipid bilayers. Lamellar and non-lamellar liquid crystalline phases.
14. Free radicals
Free radical in biological systems generation, types, basic reactions and properties. Reactive
oxygen species (ROS). Methods for registration and investigation of ROS.
15. Biomembrane oxidation
Oxidation of the membrane components, consequences. Molecular mechanisms of the oxidative
stress caused by various physico-chemical factors. Antioxidant defense systems of organisms.
Oxidation of pharmaceutical preparations.
III. MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
16. Passive membrane transport
Nature and importance of membrane transport. Types of transport (classification). Free diffusion of
non-charged particles - first and second Ficks laws. The Stokes-Einstein equation.
17. Diffusion of ions
Free diffusion of ions Nernst-Plank equation, dimensionless potential. Hindered diffusion across a
porous membrane.
18. Transport of water solutions across membranes
Osmosis and filtration. Dialysis and hemodialysis. Water exchange across membranes and between
blood and tissues.
19. Facilitated transport
Facilitated diffusion. Ionophores mobile carriers (valinomycin) and channel-forming carriers
(gramicidin A). Principles of action, molecular structure and selectivity.
20. Active transport
Active transport. Sodium-potassium pump and calcium pump importance, role of ATP, molecular
structure and model of action.
IV. ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF CELLS AND TISSUES
21. Membrane potentials
Diffusion, equilibrium (Nernst) and Donnan potentials conditions and mechanisms of generation,
dependencies on concentration and time.

22. Resting potential

Origin of the resting potential - theories. Goldmann equation. The effect of electrogenic pump.
Resting potential components.
23. Action potential
Action potential - origin, generation, propagation. Hodgkin-Huxley model. Structure of the ion
channels. Effect of toxins and drugs on ion channel properties.
24. Surface electric charge of cells. Electrophoresis
Origin of the surface electric charge of cells. Electric double layer electric charge and potential
distribution in the vicinity of charged membranes. Zeta potential. Electrophoretic mobility
dependence on pH and ionic strength of the medium. Types of electrophoresis.
25. Passive electrical properties of cells and tissues
Electrical conductivity of cells and tissues for direct (DC) and alternating (AC) current. Types of
polarization of dielectrics and heterogeneous systems. Electroporation and electrofusion. Impedance
and dispersion of the dielectric permittivity. Applications in medicine.
V. NANOTECHNOLOGIES IN MEDICINE
26. Nanotechnologies in medicine 1
Basic concepts and terminology. Characteristics of nanomaterials. Nanoparticles and nanocapsules
as drug carriers. Targeting and controlled release of drugs. Interaction with cells.
27. Nanotechnologies in medic 2
Nanotechnologies in medical diagnostics. Early diagnostics in vitro. Nanosensors detection
mechanisms and types. Nanoparticle applications in imaging diagnostics. Nanotechnologies in
tissue engineering and production of new biocompatible materials.
Lecture notes

Department Head:
(Professor B. Tenchov)