Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering

Definition of Biomaterials from BMES: Biomaterials includes both living tissue and artificial materials used for implantation. Understanding the properties and behavior of living material is vital in the design of implant materials. The selection of an appropriate material to place in the human body may be one of the most difficult tasks faced by the biomedical engineer. Certain metal alloys, ceramics, polymers, and composites have been used as implantable materials. Biomaterials must be non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, chemically inert, stable, and mechanically strong enough to withstand the repeated forces of a lifetime. Newer biomaterials even incorporate living cells in order to provide a true biological and mechanical match for the living tissue. From <http://www.bmes.org/content.asp?contentid=140>

Key faculty: Sakthikumar Ambady, Kristen Billiar, Jeannine Coburn, Solomon Mensah, Raymond Page, George Pins, Zoe Reidinger, Marsha Rolle, Catherine Whittington

Courses:

• BME 2001- Introduction To Biomaterials
• BME 2610- Introduction To Bioprocess Engineering
• BME 3811- Biomaterials Lab
• BME 3813- Cellular Engineering Lab
• BME 4814- Biomaterials
• BME 4828- Biomaterial – Tissue Interactions
• BME 4701- Cell And Molecular Bioengineering
• BME 4831- Drug Delivery

Examples:

• Biomaterials fabrication and characterization
• Cell-biomaterial interactions
• Enhancing tissue regeneration
• Cell and tissue bio manufacturing
• In-vitro disease modeling
• Drug delivery
• Mechnobiology

Sub-specialties:

• Drug Delivery
• Tissue Engineering