MTE4596 · Biomaterials 2

Overview

Biocompatibility is explored and is related to the foreign body response. The importance of the interfacial properties of biomaterials is covered and includes factors affecting cellular response and protein adsorption. Polymers and ceramics used in medicine are reviewed with examples including the total hip joint replacement (TFJR), heart valves, catheters and vascular grafts and hydrogels used in ophthalmology. Drug delivery devices are reviewed and include degradation mechanisms and kinetics. Biomaterials with biological recognition and smart biomaterials will be studied. Biosensors and examples in bionanotechnology will be investigated. Tissue engineering and scaffold manufacture are covered and the use of stem cells for regenerative medicine reviewed.

Areas of study: E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) - Specialisation: Biomedical engineering E6011 Master of Professional Engineering - Specialisation: Materials engineering Minor: Medical technology

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Continuous assessment: 50% Final assessment: 50% This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Have a basic understanding of the processes involved in the foreign body response and biocompatibility
2. Appreciate some factors that affect protein adsorption
3. Understand the different classes of polymeric biomaterials used in the body.
4. Be familiar with some of the degradation processes of polymers
5. Describe some methods of drug delivery
6. Describe the action and use of smart materials
7. Be familiar with ceramic materials used in body and some aspects of thermal spraying
8. Understand some techniques used in tissue engineering including some methods of scaffold manufacture
9. Understand some techniques commonly used to characterise biomaterial surfaces.
10. Be able to review a journal article and provide a detailed assessment.
11. Have an ability to communicate within a team, and submit a group assignment.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-8 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.