BIOPHYSICS

Khon Huynh, PhD

School of Biomedical Engineering
Research Center for Infectious Diseases
International University – VNUHCM
[email protected]

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Who am I?
Huynh Chan Khon, PhD
Lab on a chip & Biosensor (A1.210)
Lecturer – School of Biomedical Engineering
Research Center for Infectious Diseases
International University – VNUHCM
Office: A1-405
Contact: [email protected]
Office hour: by appointment via email

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 Current research projects
Automated POCD Vessel on a chip for Arterial Sars-CoV2 rapid Ag
device, sample-to-result Thrombosis modeling detection from Saliva

We are recruiting researchers,

under-,gra-, post-gradute students
Email to [email protected] 3
Co-Lecturers
A/Prof. Phạm Thị Thu Hiền Dr. Nguyễn Minh Nam
School of Biomedical Eng -IU Dept. of Biomedical Eng – Med VNU

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Course implementation and assessment
 Time: 2 weeks for theory (16 periods per week),
practical classes (see class schedule)
 Classroom activities: Lectures, discussions, …
 Self-learning: Reading, seminar preparation…
 Teamwork: Group assignment, Group presentation
 Grading
 Midterm exam (Seminar presentation): 20%
 Final exam (MCQ): 50%
 Progress (Lab activities, class attendance + activities): 30%
 Learning materials: lecture notes, textbook…
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 RULES OF CLASS

Subject of email: LYSINHYRHM2022-

NAME/GROUP
([email protected])
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 Zalo group
 Contact person?
 Khôn – 0902 884 865 – [email protected]

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Content
 Introduction to our Biophysics course
 Introduction to Biophysics
◼ Biophysics?
◼ Classification of biophysics
◼ Application of biophysics
 Molecule and Fluid in living system (Physical and
Colloidal Chemistry in Living system)
 Thermodynamics (Dr. Nguyen Minh Nam, from
1pm)

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What is Biophysics?
 Has a long history (1892), but still new “biophysics”
or “biological physics”

 Biophysics is a bridge between biology and physics

 Biophysics is the study that applies physical

principles and methods to study of biologically
interesting phenomenon (from atoms and molecules
to cells, organisms, biological processes…)
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Goals of Biophysics
Study on the laws of physics that happen and
govern the processes of life
 Study on effect of physical agents on life

Applying study results of biophysics in biology and

medicine

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Classification
 Biophysics can be classified based on the relative size
of biological subjects, or which technique and
application is employed
◼ Based on relative size of subject:
Molecular and subcellular biophysics
Physiological and anatomical biophysics
Environmental biophysics
◼ Based on techniques and application
Imaging biophysics
Spectroscopic biophysics
Medical biophysics 11
How essential is biophysics in progress in biology

• Biophysics discovers how atoms are arranged to work in

DNA and proteins.
• Biophysics revealed the structure of DNA
• Discoveries about DNA and proteins structures, how
they work in preventing and curing disease.
• Variations in proteins make people respond to drugs
differently. Understanding these differences opens new
possibilities in drug design, diagnosis, and disease
control (Personalized medicine)
 What do biophysicists study?

Study biological systems and processes at every

level, from atoms and molecules to cells,
organisms, and environments.
What do biophysicists study?

Cytoskeleton
Biophysicists answer questions:

How do protein machines work?

Even though they are millions of
times smaller than everyday
machines, molecular machines
work on the same principles. They
use energy to do work. The kinesin
machine shown here is
carrying a load as it walks along a
track. Biophysics reveals how each
step is powered forward.
 Biophysicists answer questions:
How do systems of nerve cells communicate?

Biophysicists invented colored

protein tags for the chemicals
used by cells. Each cell takes
on a different color as it uses
the tagged chemicals, making
it possible to trace its many
pathways

Biophysical Society
What are the applications of biophysics?
Depend on society’s needs
➢ Provides medical imaging technologies for
diagnosing diseases: MRI, CT scan, PET, SPECT,
sonograms…
➢ Provides the life-saving treatment methods: kidney
dialysis, radiation therapy, cardiac defibrillators,
and pacemakers…
➢ Invents instruments for detecting, purifying,
imaging, and manipulating chemicals and materials:
Flow cytometer, microscope, artificial uterus… 17
Microscope
 Light microscope use for magnification and resolving
power
➢ Magnification: increase object’s apparent size
➢ Resolving power: resolution

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Enhanced microscopes
Brightfield
Brightfield
(unstained specimen) (stained specimen)

 Electron microscope – greatly

expanded knowledge of cell interior
and exterior
 Reveals organelles
◼ Scanning EM
◼ Transmission EM
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Scanning electron microscope (SEM)

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Determining 3D structure of proteins
Classical structural biology

RTG crystallography NMR Cryo EM

+ single atom resolution

- Sample consumption
Size limitations
Heterogeneity
Static information
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Matthies, Doreen, et al. Elife 7
Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
Spectroscopic Ruler for measuring nm-scale distances, binding

1.0
1
0.8 E=
1 + ( R / R0 ) 6
0.6
E
0.4
0.2 Ro  50 Å
Energy
Transfer 0.0

Donor Acceptor 0 25 50 75 100

R (Å)
D A

Time
R0
D A

Dipole-Dipole distant-dependent
D A
energy transfer
Time
 Native MS
Landscape of masses and non-covalent interactions

Dülfer, Kadek, Kopicki, Krichel and Uetrecht, Adv.Vir.Res. (2019) 24

 Viral “lifecycle”

23-09-2019 Dynamics of viral Structures 25

C. Uetrecht & A. Heck, Angew Chem 2011
 Example I - Norovirus assembly and stability
Approximately one-fifth of all acute gastroenteritis outbreaks are caused by human
noroviruses (NoV)

VLPs of GII.17 Kawasaki virus (A)

and of GI.1 West Chester virus (B)
in increasing pH solutions 26
1958
“Encourage development and dissemination of knowledge
in biophysics”
Over 9000 members
US

1960
“Apply of physical and chemical concepts to
biological systems”
UK

1960
“provide a place for exchanging knowledge,
methods and techniques and is to promote
biological sciences for further understanding of
biological phenomena

1965
1984
” to advance and disseminate knowledge of the principles,
recent developments and applications of biophysics, and to
foster the exchange of scientific information among European
biophysicists and biophysicists in general ”
Members: Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France,
Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lithuania, The Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation,
Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom

1985
Course content
 See course syllabus

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