MSE-471 / 5 crédits

Enseignant: Bastings Maartje Martina Cornelia

Langue: Anglais

Withdrawal: It is not allowed to withdraw from this subject after the registration deadline.


Summary

This course introduces the principles governing biomaterials and their interactions with biological systems. Topics include material properties, biointerfaces, mechanobiology, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and immune engineering, with emphasis on design, performance, and clinical translation.

Content

BLOCK 1: Foundations: Structure, Properties, and Biointeractions

Lecture 1. Introduction to Biomaterials

  • Historical perspective and definition of biomaterials
  • Major classes of biomaterials
  • Clinical needs and biomedical applications
  • Overview of modern biomaterials research

Lecture 2. Biomaterial Properties and Design Principles

  • Natural versus synthetic biomaterials
  • Mechanical, chemical, and structural properties
  • Degradation and stability
  • Transport and diffusion
  • Responsive and dynamic materials
  • Design tradeoffs in biomaterials

Lecture 3. Biointerfaces and Mechanobiology

  • Surface versus bulk properties
  • Protein adsorption and biofouling
  • Cell-material interactions
  • Ligand presentation and receptor engagement
  • Mechanotransduction and stiffness sensing
  • Viscoelasticity and matrix mechanics
  • Cell adhesion and force transmission

Lecture 4. Biomaterial Platforms

  • Polymers and hydrogels
  • Nanoparticles and lipid systems
  • Fibrous and scaffold materials
  • Bioinspired and self-assembled materials
  • Emerging biomaterial platforms

Exercise Session 1

  • Biomaterial selection and design challenge
  • Analysis of literature case study
  • Material property comparison exercises

BLOCK 2 : Biomaterials in Medicine

Lecture 5. Biomaterials for Drug and Gene Delivery

  • Controlled release systems
  • Nanomedicine and targeting
  • Gene and RNA delivery
  • Intracellular delivery barriers
  • Bioavailability and pharmacokinetics

Lecture 6. Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

  • Extracellular matrix-inspired materials
  • Cell adhesion and scaffold design
  • Stem cell niches and mechanobiology
  • Dynamic and adaptive matrices
  • Organoids and biofabrication

Lecture 7. Biomaterials and the Immune System

  • Foreign body response
  • Inflammation and immune modulation
  • Vaccine materials and adjuvants
  • Biomaterials for cancer immunotherapy
  • Immunoengineering strategies

Exercise Session 2

  • Translational biomaterial case study
  • Design of a biomaterial for a biomedical application
  • Critical discussion of recent research papers

BLOCK 3 : Evaluation, Translation, and Future Directions

Lecture 8. Characterization and Performance of Biomaterials

  • Mechanical and physicochemical characterization
  • Microscopy and spectroscopy techniques
  • In vitro and in vivo evaluation
  • Biocompatibility assessment
  • Failure mechanisms and performance analysis

Lecture 9. Translation of Biomaterials

  • Manufacturing and scale-up
  • Intellectual property and patents
  • Startups and spin-offs
  • Clinical needs and commercialization
  • Case studies of successful biomaterial translation

Lecture 10. Regulatory and Clinical Translation

  • Regulatory frameworks (FDA/EMA/ISO)
  • Preclinical and clinical studies
  • Ethics and safety considerations
  • Combination products and advanced therapies

Lecture 11. Emerging Directions and Course Synthesis

  • Personalized biomaterials
  • AI-guided material discovery
  • Living and adaptive biomaterials
  • Sustainability in biomaterials
  • Future challenges and opportunities
  • Course review and integration

Keywords

Biomaterials, biocompatibility, biofunctionality, implants, nanotechnology, tissue engineering, drug-delivery, nanoparticles. 

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Introduction to materials science

Biology for engineers

Recommended courses

Materials, metallurgy, polymer, ceramics, soft matter

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Estimate a biomaterial in function of the application
  • Compare developments of new biomaterials
  • Describe the interactions with biological environment
  • Describe the translation of a biomaterial to commercial use
  • Design a nanoparticle for targeting/drug delivery
  • Compare biocompatibility of various materials
  • Describe requirements to limit toxicity

Transversal skills

  • Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
  • Respect relevant legal guidelines and ethical codes for the profession.
  • Collect data.
  • Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra and invited speakers

Practicum at DLL laboratories: development and characterization of a soft biomaterial as scaffold for cell proliferation.

Expected student activities

Attendance at lectures.

Presence at DLL sessions.

Assessment methods

Written exam in exam period (75%)

Laboratory poster session (25%)

Conference style poster session will be held in het last week of the semester. 1 poster per group, with a 2-3 min pitch and 10 min presentation.

Supervision

Office hours Yes
Assistant.e.s Yes
Forum No

Resources

Notes/Handbook

All necessary documentation will be made available in the Moodle of this course

Moodle Link

Videos

Dans les plans d'études

  • Semestre: Automne
  • Nombre de places: 32
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'hiver)
  • Matière examinée: Biomaterials (pour MX)
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Exercices: 1 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • TP: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel
  • Semestre: Automne
  • Nombre de places: 32
  • Forme de l'examen: Ecrit (session d'hiver)
  • Matière examinée: Biomaterials (pour MX)
  • Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Exercices: 1 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • TP: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
  • Type: optionnel

Semaine de référence

Mercredi, 9h - 11h: Cours MEB331

Mercredi, 11h - 12h: Exercice, TP MEB331

Jeudi, 8h - 10h: Exercice, TP MED31519
MED22423

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