BE 527 / 727

Principles and Applications of Tissue

Engineering

Lectures: PHO 211

Labs (BE 727 only): ERB 501

Prof. Joyce Wong (jywong@bu.edu)

TF: Chris Hartman (chartman@bu.edu)
Lab: Xin Brown (xinq@bu.edu)
 Course Expectations
• No textbook
• Resources (books on reserve); literature
• Current primary literature (course topic is active research
area)
– Ex: assigned at end of class, and expected to be able to discuss
paper in next class
• Two exams
• Research Proposal
– Due at end of course
– 6 pages (graded on significance, innovation, approach)
• Grading
– BE 527: Exams & proposal weighted equally
– BE 727: Exams, proposal & overall lab weighted equally
 Course Organization
• No break, class ends at 11:30 am
• Course divided into 3 parts
• Each section
– Physiological motivation
– Basic science/engineering principles
– Examples from literature
• Part 1: Blood-contacting materials
• Part 2: Cell-biomaterial interactions
• Part 3: Applications and Real-World
 What will you learn?
• Fundamental biomaterials science principles
– How do biomaterials interact with the body?
– What are the underlying molecular/cellular
processes?
• Clinical need and motivation
• Self-sufficiency searching primary literature
• Example applications
– Stem cells
– Tissue engineering
– Drug delivery
 How will you learn?
• In-class lectures
• Small group breakout sessions
– Question/challenge posed to group
– Present solution to class after discussion
• Expectations:
– In-class participation through discussion
– Be prepared for class: read material in
advance
• Provide feedback
– End of each class: write down what you
learned and what was unclear
 Biomaterials Science and Engineering
is highly interdisciplinary
We will be covering topics in diverse fields such as:
• biochemistry
• biophysics
• anatomy
• structural biology
• immunology
• histology
• pathobiology
• engineering
• materials science (polymers)
• physical chemistry (colloid & surface science)
 Section 1: Motivation
• Implants can often lead to blood clotting
• Design of biomaterials requires a
fundamental understanding of hemostatic
mechanisms and how these impact
response to biomaterials

Tom Horbett (Univ of Washington)

Protein adsorption is first step… how
can we control protein adsorption?
 Section 2: Motivation
Landmark Tissue Engineering Study
• materials science
• biology
• biochemistry

From Y. Cao et al. (1997) Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

 Importance of time- and length-scales in
biomaterial-tissue interactions

Figure 1.4
Steps in Angiogenesis involve specific cellular processes
 Section 3: Motivation
The Need for Tissue Engineered Products
Patients/year
• Skin and dermis
– diabetic foot ulcers 400,000
– burns 15,000
• Cartilage
– orthopedics 500,000
– reconstruction 200,000
• Cardiovascular
– heart valves 70,000
– blood vessels 500,000
From presentation from Advanced Tissue Sciences.