MTE5596 - Biomaterials

Leader: J Forsythe

Offered

Clayton Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

Biocompatibility is explored and is related to the foreign body response. The importance of the interfacial properties of biomaterials is covered and includes factors affecting cellular response and protein adsorption. Polymers and ceramics used in medicine are reviewed with examples including the total hip joint replacement (TFJR), heart valves, catheters and vascular grafts and hydrogels used in ophthalomology. Drug delivery devices are reviewed and include degradation mechanisms and kinetics. Biomaterials with biological recognition and smart biomaterials will be studied. Tissue engineering and scaffold manufacture is covered and the use of stem cells for regenerative medicine reviewed.

Objectives

Have a basic understanding of the processes involved in the foreign body response and biocompatibility

Appreciate some factors that affect protein adsorption

Understand the different classes of polymeric biomaterials used in the body.

Be familiar with some of the degradation processes of polymers

Describe some methods of drug delivery

Describe the action and use of smart materials

Be familiar with ceramic materials used in body and some aspects of thermal spraying

Understand some techniques used in tissue engineering including some methods of scaffold manufacture

Understand some techniques commonly used to characterise biomaterial surfaces.

Be able to review a journal article and provide a detailed assessment.

Assessment

Examination (2 hours): 50%
Two assignments: 40%
Two laboratory reports: 10%

Contact hours

Two 1-hour lectures, one 1hr tutorial/problem solving class and 8.5hrs of private study per week per week and two 3-hour laboratory classes per semester

Prohibitions

MTE4539, MTE4596