Preface

This book is written for engineering and physical science students studying courses in bioelectronics, biomedical engineering and micro/nano-engineering, at either an undergraduate or postgraduate level, as well as for researchers entering PhD programmes or working on projects in these subject areas. It aims to teach key topics in biology, chemistry, electrochemistry, biophysics, biosensors and microfluidics of relevance to bioelectronics, and also to place this subject into the context of modern biomedical engineering by examining the state of the art in research and commercial applications. Graduates and researchers wishing to bridge the interface between engineering and the life sciences may also find this book helpful.

The book content is derived from selected background material, lecture notes and tutorials provided to postgraduate students studying for the MSc Degree in Bioelectronics at the University of Edinburgh, and to undergraduates studying for the MEng Degree in Electronics with Bioelectronics. PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from different scientific and engineering backgrounds, working on various aspects of biosensors and lab-on-chip devices, also attend some of the lecture courses. Bioelectronics, as introduced to the students and in this textbook, involves the application of electronic engineering and biophysical principles to biology and medicine. An important aspect of this is the development of a communication interface between electronic components and biological materials such as cells, tissue, and organs. The interdisciplinary nature of the subject means that students and researchers will enter bioelectronics courses from different backgrounds, and to accommodate this some of the chapters cover material delivered to the Bioelectronics MSc students as either background revision notes or introductory material. The first two chapters cover basic chemical, biochemical, biological and thermodynamic concepts that are required for an understanding of the content of subsequent chapters. Condensing subjects that normally merit separate textbooks of their own into two chapters certainly risks the content appearing to be too shallow for readers having good background knowledge in chemistry and biology. We have learnt, however, not to underestimate the extent to which engineering graduates appreciate being reminded of such basic concepts as chemical bonds, pH and Avogadro's number, for example, and their background in biological subjects is often not extensive. Some electronic engineers even find it useful to be reminded of how operational amplifiers function, and we do this in Chapter, not only as an aid to them but also as introductory background to those having little background in electronics. To provide access to more basic or more extensive treatments of the book content, most chapters contain suggestions for further reading and other reference material.

Bioelectronics is an exciting and growing field of endeavour that will provide important advances for bioengineering and biomedicine. We hope that this textbook will help students and young researchers to become leading lights for such advances.