The principles of cell and tissue engineering will be presented as a laboratory course to give students a hands-on experience. Cell engineering topics include receptor/ligand interactions, cell cycle/metabolism, cell adhesion, cellular mechanics, cell signal transduction, and cell transfection. Tissue engineering topics include applications, biomaterials/scaffolds and cells for reparative medicine, bioreactors and bioprocessing, functional assessment, in vivo issues.
Prerequisites: BMED 3610
Credit Hours: 2
Average GPA: 3.82
This lab course expands on the familiarity of experimental skills and techniques learned in BMED 3610, translation of theoretical concepts to the development of practical materials, and evaluation of the critical issues and choices needed in developing a tissue-engineered construct. After completing this course, you will be able to apply acquired laboratory skills and experimental design skills to cell and tissue engineering experiments with experimental variables and controls. Additionally, you will be able to identify the engineering and biological issues relevant to cell and tissue engineering. This course is divided into a weekly hourly lecture and two weekly laboratory sessions (one 4-hour session and one 1.5-hour session). There are around 6 lab modules. Grading is based on lab reports, lab performance, a midterm exam, and a cumulative final exam.
THE tip: Read the supplementary textbooks to better aid the lecture notes. Additionally, read the assigned supplementary research articles for each module. These will help you understand the experiment and guide in your analysis for your lab report. Lab reports are broken down into a 2-page abstract and a list of questions. Do not leave the lab reports until the last minute as they are time-dependent process. This class emphasizes your data analysis skills and your ability to apply theoretical skills to a practical process. Actively participate during the lab sessions.
Recall: Sterile tissue culture techniques, statistical analysis, analytical problem solving
Spend your time… Working on lab reports and questions, reading the assigned research articles.
Take Home: Applying experimental skills and techniques to cell and tissue engineering experiments to better understand the engineering and biological challenges presented in cell and tissue engineering.