Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Biomaterials and Biocompatibility
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
You can arrange a face-to-face meeting with the teacher by writing them via email.
Introduction
Currently, biomaterials play a fundamental role in reparative medicine. A biomaterial is any material that interacts with biological systems and whose purpose is to replace or restore some function of the human body. They can be bioinert, bioactive, permanent, or reabsorbable. Ideally, the design or selection of a biomaterial should be guided by objective knowledge of the mechanisms of interaction between the implanted material and the biophysical system of the receptor. These mechanisms involve multiphysical, chemical, and biological phenomena, whose scope requires multiple disciplinary qualities and teamwork. The subject theory will focus on multiphysical and biological aspects. Current examples of biomaterials applied to research or industry will be covered through seminars. A practical project will serve to integrate the knowledge acquired throughout the course for resolving specific cases.
Pre-course requirements
Subject: Materials.
Objectives
The general objective of the subject is to have the basic knowledge of the types of biomaterials that exist and their applications, in addition to how a biomaterial should be designed to be biocompatible with the human body, understanding the interactions between the material and the living tissues surrounding it once implanted.
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.
- CN04 - Integrate the fundamentals of materials science and technology taking into account the relationship between microstructure, synthesis or processing and material properties.
- CP07 - Interpret material properties along with electrical, magnetic, mechanical and chemical behaviour to investigate new materials for different applications.
- HB03 - Validate calculations, valuations, appraisals, assessments, studies, reports, work plans and other similar works.
- 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:
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Demonstrate knowledge of biomaterials, including their definition, classification, and historical evolution.
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Explain the structure–property–function relationships in biomaterials.
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Describe metallic, ceramic, polymeric, and hydrogel biomaterials and their biomedical applications.
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Understand biological materials, extracellular matrix components, and tissue properties.
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Analyze biocompatibility, bioactivity, cell–biomaterial interactions, and relevant characterization techniques.
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Design a biomaterial for a specific target biomedical application.
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Conduct a related research topic, present it orally, and defend it scientifically.
Syllabus
- Definition of Biomaterial
- Classification of Biomaterials
- Definition of Biocompatibility
- Social and economic impact
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Besides the theory necessary to acquire the basic concepts of biomaterials, the students will also do small group jobs focused on the working concepts given in class as read scientidic articles or dissemination or scientic debates.
Students will also do a project in this subject. Each student will be assigned a biomaterial and must use it for their project, showing its most important aspects, new designs and future applications.
The Biomaterials chosen for the project will include:
- Metals (titanium, Cr-Co, stainless steel, magnesium among others)
- Bioinert ceramics (alumina, zirconia)
- Bioactive ceramics (hidroxiapatite, calcium phosphate, etc.)
- Non-biodegradable polimers: (poliethylene, tetrafluoroethylene, PDMS, etc.)
- Biodegradable Polimers: caprolactone, polilactic acid, poliglicolic acid, among others.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The student's markwill be:
First call
Final mark = 0.3 Final exam + 0.25 partial exam + 0.2 Final course project and seminar summaries + 0.25 Class participation and assignment
Second call
Final mark = 0.65 second call exam + 0.3 final course project + 0,05% continuous evaluation.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS:
- The minimum mark of the partial exam will be 4 to average it with the rest of the continuous evaluation.
- The minimum mark of the final exam will be 4.5 (both the first and second calls) to average it with the rest of the continuous assessment.
- The minimum mark of the course project will be 4 in order to be considered for the fnal evaluation of the subject.
- El course project may not be repeated in a second exam call. The course project mark will be the mark obtained in the first exam call (always a minimum of 4).
- Repeating students will have to do all the activities again.
- Foreign and exchange students (Erasmus and others) will be subject to the same conditions as the rest of the students. This is especially important with regard to the calendar, exam dates and the evaluation system.
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.
Bibliography and resources
[1] Ratner, Buddy D. [et al.]. Biomaterials Science – An Introduction to Materials in Medicine. Academic Press, 2004.
[2] Carter, C. B.; Norton, M. G. Ceramic Materials: Science and Engineering. Springer Science & Business Media, 2007.
[3] Bandyopadhyay, A.; Narayan, R.; Bose, S. Biomaterials Science: Processing, Properties and Applications V. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2015.
[4] Mas-Moruno, C. [et al.]. “Bioactive Ceramic and Metallic Surfaces for Bone Engineering”. A: Taubert, A.; Mano, J. F.; Rodríguez-Cabello, J. C. Biomaterials Surface Science. Alemanya: Wiley-VCH, p. 1-37, 2013.
[5] Mahyudin, F.; Hermawan, H. Biomaterials and Medical Devices – A Perspective from an Emerging Country, vol. 58, 2016.
[6] Martínez Cruz, O.; Mora Iter, X. Biomaterials: ciments ossis, ceràmiques i el seu ús en cirurgia protètica. Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries Catalunya, 2017.
Evaluation period
- E1 18/05/2026 A12 10:00h