Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Tissue Engineering
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Make appointments via e-mail.
Introduction
Tissue Engineering (TE) is an interdisciplinary field that applies the principles of engineering and the life sciences toward the development of biological substitutes that restore, maintain, or improve tissue function.
Pre-course requirements
The student should have passed the following subjects: Biomaterials and Anatomy (1st Course), and Cellular Biology I and II.
Objectives
- To learn the basic concepts of TE
- To understand the different processes of cellular signaling and cell-material interactions
- To learn the different fabrication methods of scaffolds for TE
- To nderstand and apply the TE principles for the development of new devices for different target tissues
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01 - Describe aspects related to bioengineering based on subject-specific books together with scientific publications at the forefront of knowledge.
- CN02 - Associate the assessments and implantable materials with the variability in the expression of diseases and biological differences between sexes.
- CN06 - Define the fundamental principles of the technologies used in the design and manufacture of micro- and nanosensors in biotechnology areas.
- CP04 - Produce fixed and removable structures in medical device 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.
- 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
- HB15 - Identify how bioengineering issues affect the specific needs or characteristics of men and women, in biological, social and cultural aspects, respecting the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, and the promotion of human rights as well as the values of a culture of peace and democratic values that include the promotion of inclusive, non-discriminatory and stereotyped language.
Learning outcomes of the subject
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Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
• Describe the different cell types and their culture on substrates for tissue regeneration.
• Define the basic principles of tissue engineering and the combination of biologically active molecules, cells, and scaffolds for tissue regeneration.
• Apply techniques for culturing cells on biomaterials and evaluate results using molecular biology methods.
• Identify cell therapies as a tool to stimulate tissue regeneration.
• Investigate the combination of cell therapies with biomaterials to regenerate tissues.
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. Tissue Engineering of Organ Systems
14. Organs-on-a-Chip
15. Product and Process Design: Toward Industrial TE Manufacturing
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The subject is divided into topics, presenting the subject from the basic concepts (T1-10) to the most advanced and cutting-edge concepts (T11-14). Finally, a topic on the transfer of IT to industry is included (T15).
The subject will be divided in theoric lessons and students’ presentation about TE bibliography (2-3 presentations), and written assignments over the different theoric lessons.
The lessons will be in English, even though the students’ doubts can be answered in the language they preferred (Spanish, English, Catalan). However, the assignments, presentations and exams must be in English. All the class material (presentations, literature, …) will be mainly in English (some graphs, pictures might be in Spanish or Catalan).
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1st Call:
1) Class presentations: 30%
2) Mid-term exam: 20%
3) Final Exam: 60%
2nd Call: Only the note of the 2nd call exam will be taken into account. In addition, there will be no option for honors distinction.
Important considerations
1. More than a 5 in all the items are needed to pass the subject. If 5 is not exceeded, that grade will be counted as the overall grade for the subject.
2. Plagiarism, copying or any other action that may be considered cheating will be zero in that evaluation section. Besides, in exams it will mean the immediate failing of the whole subject.
3. Changes of the calendar, exam dates or the evaluation system will not be accepted. Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subjected to the same
conditions as the rest of the students.
Bibliography and resources
Blitterswijk CA van, Boer J de, editors. Tissue engineering. 3rd ed. London, England: Academic Press; 2023.
Buddy D. Ratner, Allan S. Hoffman, Frederick J. Schoen, Jack E. Lemons, Biomaterials Science An Introduction to Materials in Medicine (4th Edition), Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Scientific papers (to be determined)
Evaluation period
- E1 14/01/2026 P2A02 12:00h