BME 645 Biocompatibility: Host-Implant Interactions

Credits: 3
This course provides the student with a firm understanding of how the body reacts to implanted biomaterials at the cell, tissue, organ, and systemic levels. In addition, specific characteristics that hinder or improve the biocompatibility of materials will be addressed. The concepts of biocompatibility with regards to biomaterials in experimental and clinical situations are presented. The influences of the molecular interactions between materials with different bulk and/or surface chemistry will be discussed. Issues related to the consequences of degradation products, inflammation and infection are discussed at the cellular and molecular level. Techniques to characterize biomaterials in vitro, as well as the in vivo / ex vivo analysis of implanted and explanted biomaterials are presented. Format will consist of 1 hour lecture/week and 3 hour discussion of relevant literature.

Graded: A-F
May be taken only once for credit