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.