Tissue Engineering

Recommended Prerequisites

Biomaterials.

Teaching Methods

Theoretical classes: oral exposition, using audiovisual support materials and internet access. Theoretical concepts will be accompanied and supported by application examples and case studies.

Laboratorial classes: activities pre-preparation, teaching supervision on laboratorial tasks/procedures. Students organized in groups.

Laboratorial demonstrations on some selected issues, to be performed by teachers with the help of research students. Tutorial supervision for other tasks and projects (if proposed). Special Seminars will be scheduled which will be presented by specialist guest lecturers.

Learning Outcomes

This course serves as an introductory description and as a critical assessment of the major issues related to Tissue Engineering (TE). Students will acquire the required theoretical knowledge to understand all the involved multidisciplinary issues (including Engineering) on the improvement, regeneration or replacement of existing/damaged/malfunctioning biological tissues and human organs. A employed perspective considers the mutual interactions between the 3 main pillars of TE: cells, biomaterials and signaling/bioactive substances. Other recent approaches will be covered such as surface nanotechnology, nanotechnology on the fabrication of TE scaffolds, cell culture and TE bioreactors will be also covered. Laboratorial skills will be improved by carrying out of several specific laboratorial activities and by the attendance/participation to other Lab demonstrations. Experts in several TE areas will be invited to present special Seminars.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Theoretical component: introduction to Tissue Engineering (TE): introduction; history and scope; applications; new perspectives and trends. Fundamentals of TE: biomaterials, cells and signaling; extracellular matrices’ structures and functions; cell/biomaterial interactions, cell adhesion; biocompatibility; inflammatory/immune responses. TE scaffolds: chemical, physical and biological properties; delivery of signaling substances; polymeric, inorganic and composite scaffolds: scaffolds fabrication methods and nanotechnologies. TE bioreactors: introduction; cell culture; bioreactors for TE; examples/applications.

Laboratorial component: experimental lab works on different course themes will be performed. A mini-research project will be carried out (during the semester). Laboratorial demonstrations will be also performed (by teachers and with the help from research students).

Experts in several TE areas will be invited to present several specific Seminars.

Head Lecturer(s)

Hermínio José Cipriano de Sousa

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Evaluation test (laboratorial activitivities): 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

Lanza, R. Langer, J. Vacanti, (Eds), Principles of Tissue Engineering, 3rd Ed, Academic Press, Elsevier, The Netherlands, 2007

J.P. Fisher, A.G. Mikos, J.D. Bronzino, (Eds), Tissue Engineering, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2007

C.T. Laurencin, L.S. Nair, (Eds), Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 2008

A. Atala, R. Lanza, J.A. Thomson, R.M. Nerem, (Eds), Principles of Regenerative Medicine, Academic Press, Elsevier, The Netherlands, 2008

R. Barbucci (Ed), Integrated Biomaterials Science, Kluwer Academic Publishers, NY, USA, 2002

B.D. Ratner, A.S. Hoffman, F.J. Schoen, J.E. Lemons, (Eds), Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine, 2nd Ed, Academic Press, Elsevier, The Netherlands, 2004

J. Park, R.S. Lakes, Biomaterials. An Introduction, 3rd Ed, Springer Science, NY, USA, 2007

Outra bibliografia poderá ser indicada/fornecida durante as aulas da disciplina