Biomedical Applications of Biomaterials

Code

MMME4058

School

Mechanical, Materials & Manufacturing Engineering

Level

4

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK

Summary

This module is concerned with the biomedical application of materials. It addresses three key areas:



1. The clinical need for materials in medicine. An outline of cases where disease and trauma can be treated using materials and the tissues involved.

2. The biological responses to materials in the body. Specifically the effect of the biological environment on materials and the effect of implantation of materials on the body.

3. The application of materials in medicine. The material requirements, surgical procedures and expected biological performance of biomaterials. The advantages and disadvantages of using different types of materials and the importance of the design of medical implants.

Re-assessment
Students who fail this module overall and are required to complete a re-assessment will be re-assessed by exam. The re-assessment exam mark alone will be used to determine whether students satisfy progression requirements.
 

Target Students

Students registered for full-time MSc Bioengineering degrees and Mechanical Engineering BEng, MEng and MSc.

Assessment

• 25% Coursework 1: Cw1-Virtual Laboratory 25% (passmark 50%)
• 25% Coursework 2: Cw2 - Clinical Observation 25%(passmark50%)
• 50% Exam 1 (2-hour)

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

•  LO1 – Outline, and describe examples from, the range of biomaterial applications both in established use and developing fields. Describe the concept biocompatibility and implementation of biocompatibility testing with respect to the range of biomaterials applications. (Knowledge and comprehension).

•  LO2 – Describe and give examples of interfacial responses between cells and tissues and biomaterials/medical devices and relate to the implications for biomaterial/medical device design. Describe and give examples of current approaches to optimising biomaterial structures for specific functions. Critically apply knowledge to suggest surface modifications that facilitate desired tissue responses (Knowledge, comprehension, application, evaluation).

•  LO3 – Describe the structure, function, biochemistry and biomechanics of a range of human tissues and explain ECM – tissue/cell function relationships. Relate this knowledge to medical device design/tissue regeneration. (Knowledge, comprehension and application).

•  LO4 – Construct and appraise relevant strategies for engineering biomaterial structures for tissue repair or regeneration (Application and evaluation).

•  LO5 – Analyse information derived from characterisation techniques used on biomaterials and rank, relate and assign the relative importance (Analysis and evaluation)

Conveners

• Dr Colin Scotchford