ENGI46215: Tissue Engineering

• None

• As specified in programme regulations.

• As specified in programme regulations.

• To introduce tissue engineering and regenerative medicine principles.
• To present the engineering methods contributing to the interdisciplinary area of tissue engineering.
• To explore the significant of microenvironmental factors in tissue development.
• To allow for identifying suitable tissue engineering appraoches for specific applications.

• Overview of various tissue engineering techniques and applications.
• The role of microenvironmental factors and mechanical forces in cell behaviour.
• Cell and tissue culture approaches in tissue engineering.
• Bioreactors for tissue engineering; fluid flow, mass, and heat transport phenomena.
• Biocompatible materials and cell-material interactions.
• Tissue scaffolds and fabrication techniques in tissue engineering.
• Delivery strategies in regenerative medicine.
• Mathematical and computational modelling in tissue engineering.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• A knowledge of the status of tissue engineering, its challenges, limitations, and prospects.
• An understanding of the importance of the biophysical microenvironment in cell behaviour, and how this knowledge can be applied to tissue engineering.
• An understanding of the design principles for designing scaffolds and bioreactors.
• An appreciation of the challenges of regenerative medicine.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Ability to apply fundamental engineering concepts in the field of tissue engineering.
• Capacity to quantify the key biophysical parameters pertaining to cells and tissues.
• Determination of the forces and transport phenomena in engineered biological systems.
• Awareness of future developments in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Key Skills:

• Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
• Mathematical and numerical skills appropriate for an engineer.
• Skills to combine interdisciplinary biological and engineering concepts relevant to the application of advanced tissue engineering problems.
• Develop skills to critically analyse the scientific literature of tissue engineering and formulate informed opinions that can be communicated effectively.

• The module content is delivered in lectures and is reinforced by self-learning sessions and formative problem sheets, equipping students with the required problem-solving capability.
• Students can make use of staff "office hours" to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis. These are sign-up sessions available for one hour per week per lecture course.
• Students will be required to submit formative problem sheets throughout the academic year into the virtual learning environment to check their understanding as the course progresses.
• Students will be formed into study groups and will attend timetabled self-learning sessions (up to a maximum of two) during the Michalemas and Epiphany terms.
• A benchmark test will take place at the start of the academic year. This will be used to guage students understanding and direct them to further study as appropriate.
• A mock exam will take place in the Epiphany term. This will be used to provide students with an exam type experience in a formative setting and allow them to discuss their performance with a member of academic staff.
• Written timed expaminations are appropriate because of the range of topics covered in this module and allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and analysis of bioengineering scenerios independently.

If you have a question about Durham's modular degree programmes, please visit our Help page. If you have a question about modular programmes that is not covered by the Help page, or a query about the on-line Postgraduate Module Handbook, please contact us.

Prospective Students: If you have a query about a specific module or degree programme, please Ask Us.

Current Students: Please contact your department.