Tissue Engineering is a rapidly expanding field of applied biology andbiomedical engineering that aims to create artificial organs for transplantation,basic research, or drug development. A fascinating aspect of the fieldis the fundamental need to integrate knowledge of organic chemistry, cellbiology, genetics, mechanics and transport processes to create functionalorgans. The process uncovers the fascinating complexity of living tissues,and the joy of creation.
This course will review basic cell culture techniques, structure functionrelationships, cellular communication, natural and artificial biomaterials,and the basic equations governing cell survival and tissue organization.
Week One: Introduction. definitions, basic principles, structure-function relationships
Week Two: Biomaterials. metals, ceramics, polymers (synthetic and natural). Biodegradable materials,native matrix
Week Three: Tissue culturebasics: primary cells vs. cell lines, sterile techniques, plastics, enzymes,reactors and cryopreservation
Week Four: Oxygen transport. diffusion,Michalies-Menten kinetics, oxygen uptake rates, limits of diffusion
Week Five: Principals of selfassembly. cell migration, 3D organization and angiogenesis
Week Six: Skin tissueengineering. introduction, scar vs. regeneration, split skin graft, apligraf
Week Seven: Cardiovasculartissue engineering. introduction, blood vessels structure, vascular grafts
Week Eight: Liver tissueengineering. bioartificial liver (BAL) assist device, shear forces , oxygentransport, plasma effects
Week Nine: Liver tissueengineering. self-assembled organoids, decelluarized whole livers
Week Ten: Stem cells. basicprinciples, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells