Course Meeting Times
Lectures: 2 sessions / week, 1.5 hours / session
Course Objective
The goal of this subject is to teach the physical and biological principles that serve as the scientific basis for understanding the interactions of biological molecules and cells with biomaterials employed for the fabrication of permanent implantable prostheses and as matrices for tissue engineering.
- “Unit cell processes” are used to describe wound healing and tissue remodeling in the absence and presence of implants.
- Emphasis on the molecular and cellular interactions between standardized biomaterials surfaces and model biological environments.
- Principles of tissue engineering.
- Critical characteristics of biomaterials surfaces and methods of analysis.
- Comparative analysis of permanent and biodegradable implants by reference to case studies.
Prerequisites
Chemistry GIR (3.091, 5.111, or 5.112)
Thermal-Fluids Engineering I (2.005) or Thermodynamics and Kinetics (5.60)
Biology GIR (7.012, 7.013, or 7.014)
Textbook and Readings
Readings from the literature will be assigned for many classes. Selected readings will also be assigned from the course textbook:
Yannas, I. V. Tissue and Organ Regeneration in Adults. New York, NY: Springer, 2001. ISBN: 9780387952147.
Homework Sets
Most of the homework questions are quiz questions from prior years. Homework sets will be graded on a scale of 0-3.
Grading
The final grade will be based principally on 3 quizzes. Performance on the homework sets and class participation may also be taken into consideration, particularly for borderline grades.
Calendar
| LEC # | TOPICS | LECTURERS | KEY DATES |
|---|---|---|---|
| I. Tissue environment of the implanted biomaterial: unit cell processes | |||
| 1 | Survey of clinical cases of biomaterials-tissue interactions | Spector, Yannas | |
| 2 |
Tissue structures and unit cell processes Integrins and adhesion proteins |
Spector | |
| 3 | Unit cell processes comprising the healing response | Spector | Homework 1 due |
| 4 | Unit cell processes underlying tissue engineering | Spector | Homework 2 and 3 due |
| 5 | Structure and function of naturally occurring ECMs | Yannas | |
| 6 | ECM does not regenerate spontaneously | Yannas | Homework 4 due |
| 7 | Quiz 1 | ||
| II. Cell-surface interactions | |||
| 8 | Analysis of surfaces of biomaterials and protein adsorption | Spector | |
| 9 | Phenotype changes following adhesion on biomaterials | Yannas | |
| 10 | Structural determinants of biologically active materials | Yannas | Homework 5 and 6 due |
| 11 | Methodology for cell-surface interactions | Yannas | |
| 12 | Cell-scaffold interactions during regeneration | Yannas | |
| 13 | Noncooperative cell-surface interactions | Yannas | |
| 14 | From randomness to cooperativity | Yannas | Homework 7 and 8 due |
| 15 | Quiz 2 | ||
| III. In vivo and clinical case studies | |||
| 16 | Tissue response to implants; biocompatibility | Spector | |
| 17 | Epithelialization (epidermal regeneration) and endothelialization of vascular prostheses | Spector | |
| 18 | In vivo synthesis of skin | Yannas | |
| 19 | In vivo synthesis of peripheral nerve | Yannas | |
| 20 | Rules for synthesis of tissues and organs | Yannas | |
| 21 | Joints and dental tissues: prosthetic replacement | Spector | Homework 9 due |
| 22 | Implants for bone regeneration | Spector | |
| 23 | Regeneration of soft musculoskeletal tissues | Spector | |
| 24 | Biomaterial applications in the heart and other organs | Spector | |
| 25 | Quiz 3 | ||
