Lecturer: Marcella Bini   Piercarlo Mustarelli  

Course name: Biomaterials
Course code: 503202
Degree course: Bioingegneria
Disciplinary field of science: CHIM/02
The course relates to:
University credits: ECTS 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The course aims to present the main classes of biomaterials and to provide the skills necessary for their design, synthesis and functional characterization. Teaching is organized in two modules of 3 CFU. MODULE A – At the end of the course, the student should know (i) the definition of biomaterial and biocompatibility; (ii) the definition of the solid state, the classification of the main classes of solids and their main defects; (iii) the main mechanical and plastic properties of materials; (iv) the main techniques for the study and the surface modification of biomaterials, in order to assess and correct their biocompatibility. MODULE B – At the end of the course, the student should know in detail the major classes of materials for biomedical applications: Polymers (classification according to the physico-chemical properties and mechanical properties, polymerization, the main classes of interest); Ceramic and glass-ceramic (traditional and advanced materials, synthesis methods, the main classes of interest); Metals (crystal structures, metals and alloys, phase diagrams, the main classes of interest), as well as the phenomena of corrosion in a biological environment and the relevant problems.

Course programme

Programme
The course aims to enable the student to understand the fundamental aspects of materials science, particularly the synthesis, fabrication and characterization of polymeric materials, metallic and ceramic, also as composites. Module A: Definition of biomaterial and biocompatibility. The chemical bond, the definition of solid state and classification of the main classes of solids and their major defects. Mechanical properties of the materials. Main techniques for the study of surfaces of biomaterials (spectroscopic thermal and microscopic techniques, contact angle measurements). Techniques for surface modification of biomaterials (silanization, chemical reactions, plasma or laser techniques, self-assembled monolayers or Langmuir-Blodgett etc. ..). Module B: Polymeric Materials, Ceramic Materials, Metallic materials, (Nano) composites materials. The different classes will be investigated chiefly form the point of view of the technological applications in the fiel of biomaterials.

Course entry requirements

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 46
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

Carlo di Bello,. Biomateriali (Introduzione allo studio dei materiali per uso biomedico),. Patron Editore. Teacher's lecture notes

Testing and exams

Oral examination