Biomaterials

Teacher(s)

Demoustier Sophie; Dupont Christine;

Language

French

Prerequisites

Students need to master the following skills, basic concepts in general chemistry and chemical physics, organic chemistry and biochemistry, and biology and cellular physiology taught during the Bachelor's degree (e.g. in the following courses : LFSAB1301 or LCHM1111, LBIR1220A, and LGBIO1111 or LBIR1150)

Main themes

General introduction to main classes of biomaterials: structure of natural and synthetic materials (polymers, ceramics and glasses, metals and composites).
Properties of biomaterials: mechanical properties, surface vs bulk properties, physical and chemical properties, degradability, etc. This includes the study of living organism-material interactions: protein adsorption, cell adhesion, inflammatory and immune reactions, coagulation, etc.
Examples of application of different classes of biomaterials in medicine: cardiovascular and orthopedic devices, dental materials, tissue engineering, etc.

Content

Part 1 : General introduction to main classes of biomaterials

• 1.1 Polymers
• 1.2 Metals
• 1.3 Ceramics
• 1.4 Compositifs
• 1.5 Hydrogels
• 1.6 Natural Materials

Part 2 : Properties of biomaterials

• 2.1 Mechanicals properties
• 2.2 Surface vs bulk properties
• 2.3 Living organism-biomaterial interactions

Part 3 : applications of biomaterials in medicine

Teaching methods

The first part of the teaching unit consists in lectures covering three axes: (i) principles of biology related to host-biomaterial interactions; (ii) general introduction to main classes of biomaterials: structure of natural and synthetic materials (polymers, ceramics and glasses, metals and composites); (iii) properties of biomaterials: mechanical properties, physical and chemical properties, surface properties, and relation between these properties and host-material interactions.
The second part  of the teaching unit includes a series of application of different classes of biomaterials in medicine, biology and artificial organs: biomaterials for cardiovascular applications, orthopedic prostheses, dental materials, drug delivery systems, biosensors, tissue engineering, etc. This part of the course is illustrated through presentations by experts from research and industry. Moreover, the visit of a company active in the field of biomaterials may be proposed.
The third part of the teaching unit consists in a project, prepared by teams of four to five students. On the basis of at least a dozen of scientific papers or book chapters, the students will discuss a current issue in biomaterials science. Regular mentoring session with the teachers are organized, to orient students in their search of appropriate literature, and to help them structuring and writing the report. At the end of the semester, the work is presented to the other students following the same teaching unit.

Evaluation methods

• Final oral or written exam during the session (50 % of final grade). The exact modalities will be communicated at the latest in week 4 when the number of students attending the course will be known.
• Project evaluation (50 % of final grade): the written report is taken into account, as well as the oral presentation in front of the students participating to the course.
• For students registered for a partim (LGBIO2030A, 3 ECTS), the final grade is solely based on the final examination.

Other information

The course can be taken as a partim [LGBIO2030A] (3 ECTS, 30 h + 10 h). In such case, the student does not prepare a project, but participates to project presentation by other student.

Online resources

Moodle
http://moodleucl.uclouvain.be/course/view.php?id=7830

Bibliography

Livre de référence e-textbook :
Biomaterials Science – An Introduction to Materials in Medicine (Eds BD Ratner, AS Hoffman, JE Lemons, FJ Schoen,), third edition, Elsevier Academic Press, San Diego, 2012.
The full text book is available online on Ebook Central (when you are logged on the UCLouvain network)

Faculty or entity

GBIO