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MEEN40630

Academic Year 2024/2025

Biomaterials (MEEN40630)

Subject:
Mechanical Engineering
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Mechanical & Materials Eng
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor Dimitrios Zevgolis
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

At the end of this module, it is anticipated that students will have obtained a detailed understanding the major classes of biomaterials (e.g. metals / alloys, ceramics / glasses, natural / synthetic / stimuli responsive polymers and composites thereof), including tissue grafts, cell-derived matrices and advanced therapy medicinal products that are used in medical device, pharmaceutical, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cell culture technologies and cellular agriculture sectors. It is also expected that the students will have obtained a detailed understanding of different biomaterial fabrication and characterisation methods, specific to a cell type and/or clinical indication. It is also expected that the students will have obtained a detailed understanding of biocompatibility, host response and implant failure mechanisms, as well as ethical considerations related to medical device development and characterisation. Further, it is expected that the students will have developed the ability to put together an experimental design to fully characterise an implantable device.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the module, the student will be able to:
 Describe the use of the major classes of materials (e.g. metals / alloys, ceramics / glasses, natural / synthetic / stimuli responsive polymers and composites thereof) in medical device, pharmaceutical, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, cell culture technologies sectors.
 Select appropriate biomaterial(s) and processing method(s) for the development of devices for a specific cell type and/or clinical indication.
 Specify suitable methods for biophysical, biochemical and biological characterisation of implantable medical devices / advanced therapy medicinal products / cell culture technologies products for a specific clinical indication.
 Understand cytotoxicity and biocompatibility issues relating to implantable medical devices.
 Appreciate regulatory requirements in the development of medical devices.
 Appreciate important ethical, equality, diversity and inclusion considerations in different areas of biomaterials / medical device / tissue engineering / regenerative medicine sectors.
 Appreciate innovation, commercialisation and clinical translation in medical device development.
 Appreciate sustainability concepts (e.g. environmental impact, resource efficiency, circular economy, life-cycle cost) in the biomaterials / medical device / tissue engineering / regenerative medicine sectors.
 Appreciate UN Sustainable Development Goals relevant to biomaterials / medical device / tissue engineering / regenerative medicine sectors.
 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the mathematics, sciences, data science, analytics and other technologies underpinning biomedical engineering.
 Appreciate and demonstrate knowledge of engineering management principles (e.g. ability to put together an appropriate experimental design for a medical device / advanced therapy medicinal product / cell culture substrate, taking into consideration relevant regulatory requirements, financial implications, sustainability considerations, ethical aspects, etc.)
 Report scientific findings.

Indicative Module Content:

 Definitions of biomaterials, biocompatibility, advanced therapy medicinal products.
 Introduction to different classes of biomaterials.
 Introduction to bottom-up or top-down and nano or micro biomaterial processing methods.
 Introduction to biomaterials characterisation.
 Discussion on implant failure.
 Introduction to cellular systems and discussion on how we can control cell fate.
 Introduction to commercialisation, clinical translation and regulatory requirements.
 Discussion on ethical issues associated with biomaterials development.
 Designing biomaterials and advanced therapy medicinal products for specific indications.
 Designing clinical-indication specific experiments.
 Data analysis and report writing.
 Invited talks.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

5

Autonomous Student Learning

100

Lectures

18

Seminar (or Webinar)

4

Computer Aided Lab

4

Total

131


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The content is delivered via lectures, case studies, demonstrations, computer-based experiments and invited talks. The assessment is based on group laboratory report, individual short assignments and an in class written exam.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Biomaterials (EEME40490)


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): A closed book exam. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
50
No
Group Work Assignment: A group-based laboratory report Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
40
No
Participation in Learning Activities: Four short Individual reports (2.5 % each) related to invited talks. Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
10
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Letter grades and brief comments related to the two written assignments will be provided to students within three weeks of submission deadlines.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Computer Aided Lab Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 2, 5, 8, 9 Tues 15:00 - 15:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 13:00 - 13:50