This textbook provides an introduction to the fundamental and applied aspects of biophysics for
advanced undergraduate and graduate students of physics, chemistry, and biology.
The application of physics principles and techniques in exploring biological systems has long
been a tradition in scientific research. Biological systems hold naturally inbuilt physical principles
and processes which are popularly explored. Systematic discoveries help us understand the structures
and functions of individual biomolecules, biomolecular systems, cells, organelles, tissues, and even
the physiological systems of animals and plants. Utilizing a physics- based scientific understanding
of biological systems to explore disease is at the forefront of applied scientific research.
This textbook covers key breakthroughs in biophysics whilst looking ahead to future horizons
and directions of research. It contains models based on both classical and quantum mechanical
treatments of biological systems. It explores diseases related to physical alterations in biomolecular
structures and organizations alongside drug discovery strategies. It also discusses the cutting- edge
applications of nanotechnologies in manipulating nanoprocesses in biological systems.
Key Features:
• Presents an accessible introduction to how physics principles and techniques can be used to
understand biological and biochemical systems.
• Addresses natural processes, mutations, and their purposeful manipulation.
• Lays the groundwork for vitally important natural scientific, technological, and medical
advances.
Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, a biophysicist and condensed matter scientist, is passionate about
investigating biological and biochemical processes utilizing physics principles and techniques. He
is a professor of biophysics at King Saud University’s Biochemistry Department in the College of
Science, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; the co- founder of MDT Canada Inc., and the founder of Child Life
Development Institute, Edmonton, Canada. He has authored Biophysics and Nanotechnology of
Ion Channels, Nanoscale Biophysics of the Cell, and Membrane Biophysics. He has also published
about 50 peer- reviewed articles and several patents, edited two books, and has been serving
on the editorial boards of Elsevier and Bentham Science journals. Dr. Ashrafuzzaman has held
research and academic ranks at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, University
of Neuchatel (Switzerland), Helsinki University of Technology (Finland), Weill Medical College of
Cornell University (USA), and University of Alberta (Canada). During 2013– 2018 he also served as
a Visiting Professor at the Departments of Oncology, and Medical Microbiology and Immunology,
of the University of Alberta. Dr. Ashrafuzzaman earned his highest academic degree, Doctor of
Science (D.Sc.) in condensed matter physics from the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland in 2004.
Chapter 1: Physical Understanding of Biological Systems: Past, Present, and the Future. Chapter 2: Biophysics of Life. Chapter 3: Stochasticity in Biological Systems. Chapter 4: Biological Energetics. Chapter 5: Biochemical Energetics. Chapter 6: Biomolecular Machines. Chapter 7: Forces and Motion in Biological Systems. Chapter 8: Surface Biophysics. Chapter 9: Biochemical Thermodynamics. Chapter 10: Nucleic Acid Structure and Stability. Chapter 11: Biophysics of Proteins and Proteomics. Chapter 12: Physics Tools and Techniques in Bioimaging. Chapter 13: Quantum Biophysics. Chapter 14: Computational Biomodeling. Chapter 15: Biophysics Tools in Bioinformatics and Genomics. Chapter 16: Biophysical Economics. Epilogue.
Biography
Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman, a biophysicist and condensed matter scientist, is passionate about investigating biological and biochemical processes utilizing physics principles and techniques. He is a professor of Biophysics at King Saud University’s Biochemistry Department of College of Science, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the co-founder of MDT Canada Inc., and the founder of Child Life Development Institute, Edmonton, Canada. He authored Biophysics and Nanotechnology of Ion channels, Nanoscale Biophysics of the Cell, and Membrane Biophysics. He also published around 50 peer-reviewed articles, edited two books, and has been serving on editorial boards of Elsevier and Bentham Science journals. Dr. Ashrafuzzaman has had held research and academic ranks at Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology, University of Neuchatel (Switzerland), Helsinki University of Technology (Finland), Weill Medical College of Cornell University (USA), and University of Alberta (Canada). Dr. Ashrafuzzaman obtained his highest academic degree, Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in condensed matter physics from the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland in 2004.
