88337 - BIOMINERALOGIA E BIOMATERIALI

Academic Year 2018/2019

Learning outcomes

Knowledge of the physical, chemical, biological and engineering properties of biominerals and biomaterials

Specific applications of Biominerals and Biomaterials

 


Course contents

  • Introduction and Definitions
  • Panorama of general applications of biominerals & biomaterials
  • Elements of Design of Biomaterials
  • Definition of Biocompatibility
  • The Frontier of Research: biomimetic materials and tissue engineering
  • Body reaction and response to material implantation
  • Introduction
  • Elements of Biology
  • The tissue healing process
  • Tissue response to material implantation
  • Blood response, hemocompatibility
  • Structure and properties of materials
  • The solid state and chemical bonds in solids
  • The definition of phase
  • Basics of thermodynamics and phase stability
  • Principles of crystallography
  • Order-disorder transitions
  • Defects in solids
  • Structure-property relationships
  • Structural and analytical methodologies for the characterization of biomaterials
  • Mechanical properties
  • Hardness, friction, wear
  • Thermal, electrical and acoustic properties
  • X-ray absorption, density and porosity
  • Bone, enamel and dentine permeability
  • Optical properties
  • Metallic Biomaterials
  • Structure and properties of metals
  • Phase diagrams
  • Stainless steels, CoCr, Titanium alloys, gold and noble metal alloys, NiTi, and Shape Memory Alloys
  • Application of metals
  • Biocorrosion, Pourbaix diagrams
  • Production processes
  • Ceramic Biomaterials
  • Structure and properties of ceramics
  • Bioinert, biodegradable and bioactive ceramics
  • Application of ceramics
  • Carbon
  • Production processes
  • Biominerals
  • Biological tissues
  • Human hard tissues
  • Hydroxyapatites
  • Human soft tissues
  • Collagen and elastin
  • Tissue-derived biomaterials
  • Preparation procedures
  • Synthetic polymers
  • The polymerization processes
  • Structure and texture of polymers
  • Glass transition
  • Thermoplastic and thermohardening polymers
  • Structure property relationships
  • Biocompatibility
  • Production processes
  • Composite biomaterials
  • Prostheses
  • Biocompatibility tests
  • Regulation and trading of biomaterials

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

Readings/Bibliography

R. Pietrabissa, Biomateriali per protesi e organi artificiali, Pàtron Editore, Bologna

G. Valdrè, U. Valdrè, Misure, CLUEB, Bologna

C. Di Bello, Biomateriali, Pàtron Editore, Bologna

A. von Recum, Handbook of Biomaterials Evaluation, Taylor & Francis, London

Teaching methods

General experimental and theoretical aspects are explained during the lessons. The course includes practicals in class and in laboratory. The training has the aim to give the student advanced practical tools to characterise the most common biominerals and biomatrerials and related solid modern resources.

 

Assessment methods

Oral Examination

Teaching tools

Experiments - Videos

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Valdrè