OVERVIEW

The course introduces to the student the main plants and processes for the production, characterization, and engineering of innovative tools for biomedical applications, such as biomaterials, nanoparticles, and biosensors, to their structural and applicative properties, to their interaction mechanisms with molecules or whole living organisms.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching is intended to provide theoretical and practical tools for understanding and solving problems in the fabrication and engineering of structures able to replace or regenerate human tissues. In particular, fundamental knowledge will be provided relating to the main classes of biomolecules and their use in the bioengineering, to cell biology and biochemistry, to synthetic and natural polymers used as tissue substitutes and the evaluation of their biocompatibility, to rapid prototyping techniques and bioreactors used in bioengineering.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to describe in detail, after an introduction to biomolecules and cell engineering, the plants and processes for the production and characterization of biomaterials, nanosystems, and biosensors. Attendance and participation to the activities (classes and laboratory activities) and individual study will allow the student to:

1) have an in-depth knowledge of the main classes of natural or synthetic molecules of interest for bioengineering applications;

2) know the structural and functional organization at cellular and tissue level;

3) have knowledge of biomaterials, nanosystems, and biosensors manufacturing plants;

4) have knowledge on the manufacturing processes of biomaterials, nanosystems, and biosensors;

5) have knowledge on the characterization activities on biomaterials, nanosystems, and biosensors;

6) have basic knowledge on bioreactors used in bioengineering;

7) acquire the technical language of bioengineering to communicate effectively with specialist interlocutors and within a specific context;

8) develop a capacity for understanding and solving bioengineering problems;

9) develop the ability to learn the subject that allows the student to independently investigate the main issues, considering the essential need for continuous updating that the discipline requires;

10) process and critically evaluate information from various sources.

PREREQUISITES

Students should have basic notions of inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and material science technology.

TEACHING METHODS

The course consists of 20 classes that are held in the classroom by using presentations, for a total of 40 hours (4 CFU). Part of the course includes three laboratory activities in which students can actively participate, for a total of 10 hours (1 CFU). At the end of the class of the module on biomaterials, nanosystems, and biosensors the related laboratory activity will be done. During the activities, case studies will be presented in which the students will need to identify the problem to be solved and propose suitable solutions. The dates of the laboratory activities will be communicated by the teacher at the beginning of the course. Attendance to classes and laboratory activities is recommended. It is necessary that working students and students with certifications of learning disabilities or other special educational needs contact the teacher at the beginning of the course to arrange teaching and examination methods that, while respecting the course's objectives, take into account individual learning methods.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course will deal with the following topics:

• natural molecules (complex polysaccharides, proteins, complex lipids, and nucleic acids) and synthetic molecules (polymers) that find application in bioengineering;
• the structure and function of the main cellular components;
• the complexity of the structural and functional organization of biological tissues;
• an overview on biosignaling;
• plants for the production of biomaterials, nanosystems, and biosensors;
• processes for the production of biomaterials, nanosystems, and biosensors;
• techniques for the characterization of biomaterials, nanosystems, and biosensors;
• bioreactors for biomedical applications.

As part of the course, there are three laboratory experiences that will concern the production of biomaterials through the electrospinning and 3D printing technique, the production and characterization of nanosystems (nanoliposomes and polymeric nanoparticles), and the production and validation of biosensors.

The course will provide the skills to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development objective number 3 ("Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages") of the UN Agenda 2030.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The material presented during classes will be provided to students through AulaWeb and this will be sufficient for preparing and passing the exam. The text books, listed below, can be a good support for the preparation of the exam:

• "Introduction to bioengineering", Y.C. Fung;
• "Biomaterials and bionanotechnology", R.K. Tekade;
• "Nanostructures and nanomaterials: Synthesis, properties and applications", G. Cao and Y. Wang.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PIER FRANCESCO FERRARI (President)

LAURA PASTORINO (President)

ROBERTO RAITERI

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/10376/studenti-orario

Class schedule

L'orario di tutti gli insegnamenti è consultabile all'indirizzo EasyAcademy.

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam consists of an oral exam which includes a series of questions that may be related to the entire program showed during classes and laboratory activities.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The preparation of the students is validated by passing the exam. Student ability to critically discuss the most important plants and processes in the bioengineering sector will be evaluated. The assessment will include, in addition to the contents, also the language properties and the ability of critical discussion, thus demonstrating not only mnemonic learning but a more mature assimilation of the different topics.

Exam schedule