Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• Develop an understanding of the materials issues associated with man-made and naturally-derived materials for medical purposes. Specific case studies will be considered in addition to the general framework.

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

• Identify the mechanism by which medical devices and implants come to market.
• Know about the classes of materials used in medical materials and the associated reasons.
• Understand the requirements for materials used in the body and assess potential for implant-body interactions.
• Understand the mechanisms and strategies of drug delivery.
• Identify appropriate implants and tissue engineering approaches for tissue and body function replacements.
• Understand bioethics and safety regulations associated with medical devices and implants.

Content

Introductory concepts (1L)

Synthetic polymers for tissue engineering applications (2L)

• Introduction to polymers
• Synthetic biodegradable polymers 

Host response to implants (1L)

• Wound repair
• Innate immunity
• The biological response to biomaterials

Using cells in tissue engineering (1L)

• What happens when biomaterials fail
• Cell therapy
• Combining cells with scaffolds
• Working with biology - implant integration and vascularisation

Naturally derived polymers for tissue engineering application (1L)

Drug delivery and diffusion (2L)

• Drug delivery systems
• Diffusion controlled systems in drug delivery

Orthopaedic Implants - Hip Replacement (2L)

• Types of implant fixation
• Materials in hip implants
• Surface engineering approaches
• In vivo loading of hip joint

Cardiovascular Stents (2L)

• Balloon expandable & self expanding stents
• Materials in ​stents
• Stent mechanics and design

Biomaterials as integral parts of medical devices (1L)

Biocompatibility; sterilisation techniques (1L)

• Sterilisation techniques
• Choosing a technique

Sector analysis and regulatory affairs (1.5L)

• Market analysis
• Role of standards
• EU and US approval process

Advanced medical devices and biomaterials of the future (0.5L, non-examinable)