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
- 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
- To know the TE principles
- To know and apply the different cellular signaling mechanisms to develop new TE therapies
- To know the scaffolds fabrication methods, paying particular attention to the biomaterial properties, both biological and physic-chemical
- To know the main limitations of TE, in terms of vascularization of the engineered constructs, and how to improve these limitations
- To know and understand TE globally to develop new TE strategies for different target tissues
- To be able to understand and be critic about the scientific bibliography
- To know and use group working
- To be 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. 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 and assignments: 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. 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.
2. The minimum grade for the final exam and each of the other sections (class presentations and exercises, and partial exam) must be higher than 4.5 to pass the 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 16/01/2025 A14 12:00h