Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Biology Materials and Biomaterials Laboratory
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Please send an email to set up a meeting
Jenifer Olmos: jolmos@uic.es (coordinator)
Blanca Molins: bmolinsm@uic.es
David Esporrín: desporrin@uic.es
Introduction
The use of biologic materials and biomaterials in the field of bioengineering has become a useful tool for the regeneration and/or functional repair of tissues. Therefore, the design and synthesis of biomaterials as well as their characterization are of importance when obtaining certain properties needed for their application in order to favor those regenerative processes and so, reestablish tissue functionality.
Pre-course requirements
The student must have successfully passed the Biomaterials and Biocompatibility subject (2nd semester)
Objectives
- Design biomaterials based on target tissue and perform basic operations
- Develop biomaterials through the most significant techniques
- Characterize the properties of these biomaterials
- Graph and analyze the results
- Write laboratory reports
- Presentation of subject and discuss about results with other students
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN04 - Integrate the fundamentals of materials science and technology taking into account the relationship between microstructure, synthesis or processing and material properties.
- CP01 - Interpret relevant data (normally within their area of study) and issue judgements that include a reflection on relevant issues of a social, scientific and ethical nature.
- CP02 - Work proactively within a multidisciplinary team, being aware of the role that needs to be performed.
- CP06 - Apply basic knowledge principles of general chemistry, organic and inorganic chemistry, and their applications in bioengineering.
- CP07 - Interpret material properties along with electrical, magnetic, mechanical and chemical behaviour to investigate new materials for different applications.
- CP08 - Apply biotechnological methodologies and tools for research, development and production of products and services.
- HB01 - Convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- HB02 - Differentiate new methods and theories to enhance versatility, have the ability to adapt to new situations and solve problems by using critical reasoning.
- HB03 - Validate calculations, valuations, appraisals, assessments, studies, reports, work plans and other similar works.
- HB04 - Assess the social and environmental impact of technical solutions through the analysis and application of quality principles and methods.
- HB05 - Integrate a third language, usually English, in a multilingual and multidisciplinary environment, with an adequate oral and written level and applying the terminology of bioengineering
- HB08 - Manage the acquisition, structuring, analysis and visualisation of data and information in the field of the speciality for a subsequent critical assessment of the results of this management.
- HB11 - Apply the fundamentals of elasticity and resistance of materials to the behaviour of real solids.
- HB12 - Evaluate manufacturing systems and processes, metrology and quality control.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Safely use chemical products and assess the risks involved in laboratory and industrial procedures.
- Solve problems related to manufacturing process engineering based on the materials that make up the component.
- Use computational tools for calculation and design in manufacturing process engineering.
- Recognize the manufacturing processes of components.
- Validate the control and verification of produced items.
Syllabus
- Protein extraction and purification
- Films
- Particles
- Cements
- Hydrogels
- Scaffolds
- Surface modification
- Injectable materials
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The course has a practical and experimental approach and is structured around various topics related to biomaterials. Each topic may be developed over one or several laboratory sessions and will include the following components:
- Theoretical introduction
- Experimental work in the laboratory
- Results analysis
- Group discussion
During practical sessions, students will use a laboratory notebook in which they must record all calculations, observations, experimental data, and relevant notes. The instructor will periodically verify its proper use; however, it is the student's sole responsibility to keep it up to date.
The sessions will also include the presentation of results and conclusions through oral presentations supported by slides. These presentations will encourage active participation and critical discussion within the group.
In addition to collaborative work, each student will be required to prepare and submit an individual lab report, as instructed. The purpose of this report is to reinforce autonomous learning and develop analytical and scientific writing skills.
The Moodle platform may be used as a complementary resource, and may include forms, exercises, multimedia materials, and other educational resources. Participation in these activities will be necessary to successfully complete the course.
Classes will be taught entirely in English. The instructional material will also be provided in English, except for specific exceptions such as graphs, tables, or other technical resources that may appear in another language for practical or comprehension reasons.
During exams or evaluation sessions, the use of a scientific calculator will be mandatory.
The course follows the ECTS credit system. Each ECTS credit corresponds to 25 hours of total student workload.
- Of these 25 hours, approximately 10 hours will be dedicated to teacher-led sessions (lectures, lab sessions, and tutorials).
- The remaining 15 hours correspond to guided and autonomous student work, including the completion of reports, preparation of presentations, individual study, and participation in activities via the Moodle platform.
These activities are designed to ensure that the student achieves the learning outcomes established for the course.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
First call (ordinary assessment period)
The evaluation of the course in the first call is distributed as follows:
- Active participation and class attendance: 20%
- Assessed coursework/activities: 30%
- Final exam: 50%
Mandatory conditions:
- Students must obtain a minimum grade of 5.0 (out of 10) in the final exam in order to average it with the other components.
Failure to reach this minimum mark will result in automatic failure of the course, regardless of performance in the other assessment components. - Failure to complete any of the assessed activities will result in automatic failure of the course in the first call.
- Assessed activities submitted after the deadline will be penalised with a 30% reduction on the grade obtained.
- The minimum final grade required to pass the course is 5.0 out of 10.
Second call (resit examination)
- In the second call, grades from previously submitted coursework or activities will not be considered.
- Evaluation will be based on a single final exam, covering both the final exam content and the content of the assessed activities carried out during the course.
- It will not be possible to obtain an honours distinction (matrícula d’honor) in this call.
- If the student has exceeded the limit of permitted absences (see attendance section), they will be required to take an additional practical exam in order to be eligible to pass the course.
Attendance to laboratory sessions
- Attendance to laboratory sessions is mandatory and will be recorded at the beginning of each session.
- A minimum of 90% attendance is required to pass the course.
A maximum of 2 absences is allowed, regardless of whether they are justified or not. - Arriving more than 10 minutes late will be considered an absence.
- Access to the practical session will not be allowed once the first 30 minutes have elapsed. Likewise, students will be required to complete the entire practice session. Both entry and exit will be recorded for each session
- Absences must be justified via the academic office, by sending an email to: lalastruey@uic.es.
- All assessed activities must be completed, regardless of whether the student attended class on the day they were conducted; failure to do so will result in a grade of zero for the activity.
Important considerations
- Plagiarism, copying or any other form of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the corresponding component.
- If academic dishonesty is detected during an exam, it will result in the immediate failure of the course, with no chance of resitting.
- The use of artificial intelligence tools for the completion of assessment activities is strictly prohibited, except where their use is expressly authorized by the lecturer as part of the activity.
- The use or possession of electronic devices (mobile phones, smartwatches, earbuds, etc.) during exams is strictly prohibited.
Mere possession, even if the device is turned off, will be considered an attempt to cheat.- If this occurs during the first call, it will result in the automatic failure of the exam, and the student will be required to attend the second call.
- If it occurs during the second call, it will result in the definitive failure of the course, and the student must re-enrol in the next academic year.
- No changes to the academic calendar, exam dates or evaluation system will be accepted under any circumstances.
- Exchange students (Erasmus or others) and repeaters are subject to the same evaluation and attendance conditions as all other students.
- The minimum 90% attendance requirement is mandatory to pass the course. Failure to meet this condition will prevent the student from passing, regardless of their academic performance.
Bibliography and resources
Johnna S. Temenoff & Antonios G. Mikos. Biomaterials: The intersection of Biology and Materials Science. Pearson, 2009
William R Wagner, Shelly E. Sakiyama-Elbert, Guigen Zhang. Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine. Elsevier (2020)
An Introduction to Rheology: Vol 3 (Rheology Series) : Barnes, H. A., Hutton, J.F., Walters, K.