Credit Hours: 3-0-3
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor, graduate standing.
Catalog Description: Biological, engineering, and medical issues in developing tissue engineered constructs. Emphasis is given on the integration of these disciplines at a basic molecular and cell biology level. Crosslisted with BMED and CHE 6794.
Textbooks: Notes will be provided.
Topics:
  • Introduction
  1. Historical perspective of tissue engineering; industry and products
  • Cell Technology
    1. Cells as a core functional element of a bioartificial construct; required cell function in constructs; sources of cells for tissue engineering applications
    2. Influences of cell function: culturing mode, chemical environment
    3. Influences of cell function: extracellular matrix, mechanical environment; structure/function relationships
    4. Cell procurement of auto-, allo-, and xenogeneic cells; genetic engineering of cells for tissue engineering applications; cell amplification in culture; stem cells
  • Biomaterials Technology
    1. Biomaterials in tissue engineering: definitions; functional requirements of biomaterials in tissue engineering applications
    2. Polymeric materials in tissue engineering; modifications for eliciting specific cellular/tissue responses
    3. Biomimetic materials; biological substrates
  • Bioartificial Construct Technology
    1. Introduction; design considerations; three-dimensional structure; multi-cellular systems
    2. Diffusion-based and vascularized constructs; transport of nutrients and metabolites
    3. Immunoacceptance of transplanted cells: immunocompatibility, immunomodulation, immunoisolation
    4. Scale up of manufacturing processes
    5. Preservation of tissue engineered constructs
    6. Regulation of tissue-engineered products by FDA
    7. Methodology of pre-clinical trials; safety, efficacy, clinical end-points
    8. Integration of constructs into living systems; interface/connection with surrounding tissue; chronic adaptation/remodeling in vivo
  • Products in the Early Stages of Development: Critical Issues Being Faced
    1. Cartilage tissue engineering
    2. Bone tissue engineering: materials, architecture, and mechanical properties; repair and remodeling; cells and growth factors
    3. Cardiovascular substitutes
    4. Neural tissue engineering: synthetic guidance systems; neurotrophic molecules; functionalized three-dimensional gels; schwann cell seeding
  • Products Now Approaching the Market Place: Lessons for the Next Generation of Products
    1. Skin substitutes
    2. Encapsulated cell therapies
    Grading Scheme:

    Midterm Exam

    Term Project (written and oral)