ENGI4647: Tissue Engineering 4

• 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 approaches 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 Michaelmas and Epiphany terms.
• A benchmark test will take place at the start of the academic year. This will be used to gauge 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 examinations are appropriate because of the range of topics covered in this module and allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and analysis of bioengineering scenarios independently.

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