NE 487Microfluidic and Nanobiotechnological Systems

Units: 0.50
Faculty: Engineering
Subject: Nanotechnology Engineering

When it runs

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Principles, design, and fabrication methods for biomedical devices. Techniques for disease diagnosis, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, current state-of-the-art technologies, lab-on-a-chip devices and biosensors. Microfluidic device design and fabrication. Cleanroom fabrication, soft lithography, hot embossing, micro-milling, and testing.

Prerequisites

Complete all of the following
- Students must be in level 4A or higher
- Complete 1 of the following
  - Complete all of the following
    - Must have completed the following:
      - NE381 - Introduction to Nanoscale Biosystems (0.50)
    - Enrolled in H-Nanotechnology Engineering
  - Enrolled in H-Biomedical Engineering, or H-Chemical Engineering

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
Section	Class	Enrolled	Meets
LEC 001	4975	0 / 50	MW 08:30–09:50
LEC 701	2005	52 / 9999	Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

100% liked it100% easy25% useful

From 2 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

Really good mark boost. Possibly lightest course in NE, on part with NE 486. Mid-90s very achieveable. Useful if you're interested in grad school in microfluidics or biosensors, particularly for biomedical applications. Course has only one assignment (doable in 3h), one presentation, and one lit review paper. Content can be fairly dry and unengaging. Highly recommend writing the review paper earlier in the term since the amount of papers at the end of term piles up.

Apr 2023 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Undergraduate Calendar, 2026–27The official entry
Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
UW FlowStudent ratings and reviews
WClassesPast sections back to 2004, and who taught them