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.
• Perform quantitative evaluations 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

Course overview with introduction to biomaterials and medical devices (1L)

Bioethics and Material Sterilisation (1L)

• Origins of bioethics and contemporary challenges
• Definitions, techniques and metrology

Sector Analysis and Regulatory Affairs (1L)

• Areas of growth, market values
• Market trends
• Role of standards
• Approval process

Personalised Medicine and Future Technologies (1L)

• Personalised medinine
• Basic introduction to tissue engineering
• Advanced nanotechnology

Synthetic polymers for biomedical applications (2L)

• Introduction to polymers
• Synthetic biodegradable polymers 

Naturally derived polymers and hydrogels (1L)

• Naturally derived polymers
• Hydrogels

Tissue engineering (1L)

• General concepts of tissue engineering
• Combining cells with scaffolds
• Implant integration and vascularisation

Drug delivery and diffusion (2L)

• Drug delivery systems
• Diffusion controlled systems in drug delivery
• General strategies for drug delivery

Biological response to implants (2L+Q&A)

• Wound healing
• Biological response to biomaterials

Orthopaedic Implants - Hip Replacement (1.5L)

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

Cardiovascular Stents (2.5L)

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