Biomaterials

Interactions between (synthetic) biomaterials and tissues play a key role when a part of the body is replaced by an implant. At the surface of these implants (e.g. stents, sutures, hip prostheses, heart valves, blood vessels) molecular and microscopic processes determine their fate, so whether the implants ultimately fail or are successful.
This course will introduce you to different classes of biomaterials and will show you which processes play a role at the molecular level at the biomaterial-tissue interface.

Different subjects will be discussed which are listed below:

1. History of biomaterials

2. Classes of materials used in medicine; Polymers, Ceramics, Metals, Biopolymer

3. The extracellular matrix; ECM-derived materials

4. Biomaterial properties; Mechanical properties

5. Biocompatibility & host reaction to biomaterials; In-vitro/in-vivo testing, Foreign Body Response - tissue response, Immune response, Inflammation, Wound healing, Complement system, Blood coagulation and blood-materials interactions, Biofilm formation and infections

6. Processing of materials; Electro-spinning, FDM, Gelation/cryo-gelation, Surface patterning

7. Protein-biomaterial interactions; Non-fouling surfaces

8. Biomaterials for regenerative medicine/tissue engineering

9. Cell/tissue-biomaterial interactions

10. Bioactivation of biomaterials

11. Self-assembled biomaterials; Supramolecular chemistry

12. Implants and devices

For Student Mobility Alliance students:
This course requires basic knowledge of tissue engineering, basic knowledge of materials science (mechanical properties, polymers); and knowledge of polymer structures and chemistry.
The course will be delivered fully on TU/e Campus.
The final examination is a written exam on TU/campus.

After passing the course, the student is able to: 1 Define the terms ‘biomaterials’ and ‘materiomics’. 2 Understand the difference between different kind of biomaterials, such as hydrogels and thermoplastic elastomers. 3 Name and understand the different biomaterials properties that are important in the field of regenerative medicine, but also more in general as an implant. 4 Understand how biomaterials properties can be regulated using various chemical structures. 5 Name and understand techniques that can be used to study biomaterials properties, both bulk and surface properties. 6 Name various morphologies/scaffold types in which biomaterials can be applied. 7 Describe different processing techniques to make different biomaterial scaffolds/morphologies. 8 Explain ‘supramolecular chemistry’ and ‘supramolecular polymers’. 9 Name and understand different supramolecular biomaterials. 10 Describe the order of reactions that happen after implantation of a biomaterial in vivo. 11 Understand different kind of biomaterials (e.g. ceramics, metals, polymers, biopolymers). 12 Understand the difference between bulk and surface erosion. 13 Explain the properties of anti-fouling biomaterials. 14 Understand the process of protein adsorption on biomaterials. 15 Explain the process of biofilm formation.

In this course you will be introduced to the field of Biomaterials Science. You will learn what happens when biomaterials (i.e. foreign bodies) are brought into contact with cells, tissues and organs. The reaction that is elicited by these biomaterials in vivo is called the tissue response / foreign body response.

You must meet the following requirements

• Completed Final examination Bsc program

• Besides the book Biomaterials Science, by Ratner et al. Several scientific publications from recent literature will be discussed.
• Articles covering recent literature.
• Biomaterials Science - An Introduction to Materials in Medicine by Buddy D. Ratner, Allan S. Hoffman, Frederick J. Schoen, Jack E. Lemons, Third Edition, Elsevier, 2013 (preferred)