Biological Systems Interfaces

Code:

L.BIO023

Acronym:

ISBI

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Biomedical Engineering

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Environment and Bioengineering Section
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Bioengineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L.BIO	36	Syllabus	3	-	4,5	52	121,5

Teaching language

English

Objectives

Objectives - The main aim of the course is to provide scientific tools required to understand various types of interactions that take place between cells and tissues and their natural and artificial environments. The interfaces between cells and extra-cellular matrix (ECM), and cells and ECM with medical devices are important examples of biological interfaces.
Topography, chemical composition and mechanical properties of surfaces influence decisively the behaviour of various types of cells, including stem cells. This is of great relevance in the application of biomaterials, including in biosensors, various types of implants (orthopaedic, dental, cardiovascular, etc) and in regenerative therapies. Hence, one of the purposes of the course will be to explain how cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation may be affected by the above properties.
The type, surface density, conformation and renewal of proteins adsorbed onto a surface play a critical role in its behaviour. Thus, the protein-biomaterial interface has to be understood and observed in detail. The physical chemistry of these interfaces, where the presence of water is of fundamental importance, will be covered.
Radical modifications in the behaviour of solid-liquid and biomaterial-cell interfaces may be introduced by manipulating surfaces and materials at the nanoscale. Examples of nanotechnologies applied to modify essential features of biological interfaces (e.g. hydrophobicity, inhibition or promotion of cell adhesion and guided cell growth) will be given.
Characterization of surfaces and their interactions will biological environments (including fluids, cells and tissues) is of great importance in all the above processes. Therefore, special tools are required for observation and quantification of changes taking place at the interface between a material and its bioenvironment. Some of those tools and the physical and chemical principles in which they are based will be presented in the course. Atomic force microscopy (including molecular recognition force microscopy), elipsometry, zeta potential measurements, contact angle and interfacial energy determinations, surface analysis (e.g. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy - XPS), and quartz crystal microbalance will be covered.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

Skills and learning outcomes: Develop knowledge and capacities in principles, concepts and methods applicable to explain, evaluate and modify the interplay between natural and artificial surfaces/substrates and their biological environment.


The learning outcomes of the UC are:

• Recognize how to perform the physical and chemical characterization of interfaces
• Know the surface properties of biomaterials;
• Recognize and understand the mechanisms of protein adsorption to biomaterials including related phenomena and characterization techniques;
• Understand the types of immune and inflammatory response to biomaterials;
• Know the different methods for modifying the surface of biomaterials.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Physical chemistry of interfaces
     1.1 Structure of dry and wet surfaces (double layers)
     1.2 Energetics (interfacial energies, contact angle, wettability, superhydrophobicity)
2. Protein adsorption to biomaterials.
3. Immune and inflammatory response to biomaterials.
4. Characterization phenomena and techniques to evaluate protein adsorption to biomaterials
5. Drug interactions with biological membranes
6. Surface modification of biomaterials

Mandatory literature

1. Butt, Hans-Jurgen; Physics and chemistry of interfaces, Wiley, 2013. ISBN: 978-3-527-41216-7
2. M. Agrawal, J. L. Ong, M. R. Appleford and G. Mani; Introduction to Biomaterials Basic Theory with Engineering Applications, Cambridge University Press, 2014. ISBN: ISBN 978-0-521-11690-9
3. Martins MCL, Sousa SR, Antunes JC and Barbosa MA.; Adsorption Characterization. In Methods in Molecular Biology, “Nanotechnology in Regenerative Medicine: Methods and Protocols” edited by Josep A. Planell and Melba Navarro, Human Press (Springer Science & Business Media) USA Academic Press Inc., San Diego, CA, USA, 2012
4. Felgueiras HP, Antunes JC, Martins MCL, Barbosa MA; Fundamentals of protein and cell interactions in biomaterials, In “Peptides and Proteins as Biomaterials for Tissue Regeneration and Repair” edited by Martins MCL, Barbosa MA, Woodhead Publishing; Elsevier, United Kingdom, 1st Edition, 2017

Complementary Bibliography

5. G.H. Pollack; Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life, Ehbner and Sons Publishers, 2001. ISBN: 978-0962689529
Kay C. Dee David A. Puleo Rena Bizios; An Introduction to Tissue-Biomaterial Interactions, Wiley-Liss, 2002. ISBN: 0471253944
Alberts, Bruce 070; Molecular biology of the cell. ISBN: 978-0-8153-4105-5

Teaching methods and learning activities

The key aspects of each topic will be presented first by the lecturer. This is followed by a thorough discussion.

The discussion involves questions prepared by students (to stimulate their ability to ask good questions) and answers, with the involvement of the whole class.

The third component is the discussion of articles selected by students, based on a literature search. The discussion is carried out by one to three students, initiated by a short presentation (usually ten minutes long).

Experiments relevant to this course will be carried out in dedicated lab sessions.

keywords

Technological sciences
Health sciences
General programmes > Basic programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes
General programmes > Basic programmes
Social Sciences, Commerce and Law > Basic programmes

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Participação presencial	10,00
Trabalho laboratorial	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	92,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho laboratorial	28,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

In order to be admitted to the final exam students must have a laboratory work score of 10 or higher and have a score of 10 or higher in at least two question and answer sessions.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final mark will result from the mark obtained in the final exam (60%; minimum “7 valores”), lab sessions (30%) and the mark obtained in the classes (10%: presentations, discussions and answer/questions sessions).

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

As specified by the rules applicable to the Degree in Bioengineering

Classification improvement

As specified by the rules applicable to the Degree in Bioengineering