Tissue Engineering

Recommended Prerequisites

Polymer Science and Technology, Biomaterials/Introduction to Biomaterials, Nanobiomaterials

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 propoesed tasks and projects. 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 inter- and multidisciplinary issues (including Engineering) on the improvement, regeneration or replacement of existing/damaged/malfunctioning biological tissues and human organs. The employed perspective considers the mutual interactions between the 3 main pillars of TE: cells, biomaterials and signaling/bioactive substances. Other topics will be also covered such as: relevance of nanotechnology in TE, fabrication of TE scaffolds, advanced release systems, and bioreactors for TE. 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 on innovative TE topics

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 stem cells, signalling; extracellular matrices: structures and functions, cell-biomaterial interactions, cell growth/adhesion/migration, biocompatibility, inflammatory/immune responses); TE scaffolds (required chemical, physical and biological properties, degradation, delivery of signalling/bioactive substances, polymeric, inorganic and composite scaffolds); TE scaffolds fabrication (polymeric, inorganic and composite, nanotechnology on scaffold fabrication); bioreactors in TE, application examples.

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/or other researchers).

Experts in several distinct TE areas will be invited.

Head Lecturer(s)

Ana Clotilde Amaral Loureiro da Fonseca

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Laboratory work or Field work: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

Lanza, R. Langer, J. Vacanti, (Eds), Principles of Tissue Engineering, 4th Ed., Academic Press, Elsevier, The Netherlands, 2013

A.K Gaharwar, S. Sant, M.J Hancock, S.A. Hacking (Eds), Nanomaterials in Tissue Engineering: Fabrication and Applications, Woodhead Publishing, 2013