Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Tissue Engineering
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
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Introduction
Tissue Engineering (TE) is a discipline in the field of regenerative medicine, which applies the principles of engineering and life sciences to develop biological replacements that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function.
Pre-course requirements
The student must have passed the following subjects: Biomaterials and Anatomy (first year), and Cellular Biology I and II.
Objectives
- Learn the basic concepts of TE.
- Understand the different processes of cellular signaling and cell-material interactions.
- Learn the different scaffold fabrication techniques for TE.
- Understand and apply the TE principles for developing new devices for different target tissues.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CB1 - Students must demonstrate that they have and understand knowledge in an area of study based on general secondary education. This knowledge should be of a level that, although based on advanced textbooks, also includes some of the cutting-edge elements from their field of study.
- CB2 - Students must know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and have the competences that are demonstrated through the creation and defence of arguments and the resolution of problems within their field of study.
- CB4 - Students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- CB5 - Students have developed the necessary learning skills to undertake subsequent studies with a high degree of autonomy.
- CE16 - To apply specific Bioengineering terminology both verbally and in writing in a foreign language.
- CG10 - To know how to work in a multilingual and multidisciplinary environment.
- CG3 - To be able to learn new methods and theories and be versatile so as to adapt to new situations.
- CG4 - To resolve problems based on initiative, be good at decision-making, creativity, critical reasoning and communication, as well as the transmission of knowledge, skills and prowess in the field of Bioengineering
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Know the TE principles.
- Know and apply the different cell signaling mechanisms to develop new TE therapies.
- Know the scaffold fabrication techniques, paying special attention to the both biological and physical-chemical properties of the biomaterial.
- Know the limitations of TE, in terms of vascularisation of the engineered constructs, and how to improve these limitations.
- Know and understand TE globally to develop new TE strategies for different target tissues.
- Able to interpret and reason scientific literature.
- Know and put into practice the mode and and dynamics of group work.
- Able to work in a scientific environment.
Syllabus
1. Tissue Engineering: An introduction
2. Stem Cells
3. Tissue Formation during Embryogenesis
4. Cellular Signaling
5. Extracellular Matrix as a Bioscaffold for Tissue Engineering
6. Degradation of Biomaterials
7. Cell-Material Interactions
8. Microfabrication Technology in Tissue Engineering
9. Scaffold Design and Fabrication
10. Controlled-Release Strategies in Tissue Engineering
11. Bioreactors: Enabling Technologies for Research and Manufacturing
12. Vascularization, Survival, and Functionality of Tissue-Engineered Constructs
13. Skin Engineering and Keratinocyte Stem Cell Therapy
14. Cartilage and Bone Regeneration
15. Tissue Engineering of the Nervous System
16. Principles of Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering
17. Tissue Engineering of Organ Systems
18. Organs-on-a-Chip
19. Product and Process Design: Toward Industrial TE Manufacturing
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The subject is divided in lessons, which introduce the basic concepts (L1-12), and the application of these concepts in the development of TE therapies for different tissues (L13-18). Finally, there is a lesson about the transfer of TE to the industry (L19).
The subject will be divided in theoric classes and student oral presentations on TE literature (2-3 oral presentations), and written assignments over the different lessons of the subject.
The classes will be taught in English, even though the student questions will be answered in the their preferred language (Spanish, Catalan or English). However, the assignments, presentations and exams must be in English. All the class material will be mainly in English with some excptions (graphs, tables, etc.).
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
First Call Exam:
1) Class presentations and assignments: 30%
2) Mid-term exam: 20%
3) Final exam: 50%
Second Call Exam: only the mark of this exam will be taken into account. Moreover, there will be no option for honors distinction.
Important considerations
1. Plagiarism, copying or any other action that may be considered cheating will receive a zero in that evaluation section. Any such action during exams will lead to immediate failure of the subject.
2. The minimum mark to pass the exam must be higher than 4.5.
3. Changes in the calendar, exam dates or the evaluation system will not be accepted.
Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the students.
Bibliography and resources
Clemens A. Van Blitterswijk and Jan De Boer, Tissue Engineering 2015, Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Buddy D. Ratner, Allan S. Hoffman, Frederick J. Schoen, Jack E. Lemons, Biomaterials Science An Introduction to Materials in Medicine (2nd Edition), Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Scientific papers (to be determined)
Evaluation period
- E1 11/01/2023 P2A01 10:00h
- E2 16/06/2023 P2A03 14:00h