42026 Biomedical Polymers
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Subject handbook information prior to 2020 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 65111 Chemistry 1
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
Cutting edge technologies such as stem cells and 3D bioprinting for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are based on the use of biomedical polymers. These polymers are mixed with specific cells to generate a bioengineered tissue, which can be used for drug testing, toxicology studies and regeneration in humans. This subject aims at providing students with knowledge to: 1) discern the different polymers based on their chemical structure and how this relates to their biological function; 2) engineer tissue constructs that are 3D bioprinted with tissue-specific features; and 3) validate 3D bioprinted tissue with mammalian cells.
The first seven lectures will be divided into polymer specific applications, while the remaining lectures will feature guest speakers doing research in the field of biomedical polymers from both industry and academia. These series of lectures will have talks from Inventia Lifesciences and STEMCELL Technologies. This will be consolidated with research talks using biopolymers for spinal repair, joint regeneration and stem cell technologies.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Acquire knowledge in the latest developments in the field of biomaterials, stem cells, bioprinting and nanotechnology using biomedical polymers. |
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| 2. | Identify the differences between natural and synthetic biomedical polymers currently used for in vitro and in vivo applications. |
| 3. | Apply and develop engineering skills to independently use biomedical polymers for research and clinical applications. |
| 4. | Develop communication skills to work independently and within a team. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
- Reflective: FEIT graduates critically self-review their performance to improve themselves, their teams, and the broader community and society. (F.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
In a weekly delivery mode, there are 1 hour lectures followed by 2 hours of practical activities. Lectures will be delivered by full-time staff and guest lecturers. Face-to-face classes, which take place in a collaborative classroom, will encourage interactive learning and understanding, as in-depth synthetic mechanisms can be explained to the class using different methods and illustrations. Students will gain first-hand information during the lectures. A critical literature review part of the final project where the students will need to develop an engineering approach to apply biomedical polymers for medical application and presentations will provide students the opportunity to conceptualise and present their investigations to the class. Student learning is supported by the following approach: before each class, pre-reading of lecture notes will be required. These classes will provide students (in groups) with opportunities to work collaboratively in the following two hours (lab activity) to solve problems relating to the lecture content. During each group presentation in week 12, students will be provided with opportunities to share their knowledge relating to novel biomedical engineering research while developing their own 3D bioprinted tissue using mammalian cells and bioinks. Group presentation will include a literature review together with a detailed description of how the student engineered their tissue in the lab. This will require each group to strategically allocate responsibilities among themselves and work collectively to present the work to the class.
Content (topics)
Topic 1: Introduction to Biomedical Polymers.
Topic 2: Foundations of Biomedical Polymers.
Topic 3 Polymers - Implants.
Topic 4: Polymers - Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Topic 5: Polymers - Bioprinting.
Topic 6: Biomedical Polymers for Spinal Regeneration
Topic 7: Silk Fibroin as a Natural Polymer for Tissue Engineering
Topic 8: 3D Bioprinting of in vitro disease models
Topic 9: Biomedical polymers for Stem Cells
Topic 10: Polymers for mesenchymal stem cells
Topic 11: Polymers for Neural Regeneration
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Lab notes
| Intent: | This assessment assesses your ability to take notes on LabArchives during your lab activity in the SuperLab between Week 2 and 6 (part A) and between Week 7 and 11 (part B). |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | No limit. |
Assessment task 2: Group presentation
| Intent: | This assessment develops your ability to present your project that you will work on as a group from week 2 until week 11. During these weeks you will "engineer" and test new tissues using biomedical polymers, cells and 3D bioprinters. Each group will be required to present their project developed in the SuperLab in a professional presentation manner for the class. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1, D.1, E.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 15 minutes |
Assessment task 3: Project report
| Intent: | Promote students' critical thinking towards the subject content and cutting-edge research. Assessing the student's ability to critically appraise published research findings and applying what they have learnt in class in creating a solution to a biomedical polymer application. Students will be assessed based on the solution they have provided and will be assessed not only on the functionality of the solution but also the human centric design of the solution. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1, D.1, E.1 and F.1 |
| Type: | Project |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | Maximum 8 pages |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Required texts
Students will be provided with lecture notes during lectures. Notes on important concepts will also be separately provided to student during class.
Recommended texts
Matyjaszewski K., Davis T. P., 2003, Handbook of Radical Polymerization, John Wiley and Sons.
Odian G., 2004, Principles of Polymerization, Wiley.
Ratner B. D., Hoffman A. S., Schoen F. J., Lemons J. E., 2013, Biomaterials Science, Elsevier.
References
Student’s lecture notes and recommended textbooks.