76066 - Applied Material Science

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, the student will have acquired foundational knowledge of the structure, properties, and behavior of materials commonly used in podiatry. They will understand the main mechanisms of material degradation under clinical and environmental conditions relevant to podiatric applications. Furthermore, the student will be able to critically evaluate and select the most suitable materials for specific therapeutic and orthotic purposes, taking into account performance, safety, and regulatory requirements.

Course contents

Introduction to materials science and technology

EU Regulation 2017/745 on medical devices

Physical, chemical, mechanical and technological properties of materials relevant to podiatry

Natural origin materials

Polymeric materials and main production processes

Biomaterials: definitions, applications and regulatory aspects in the biomedical field

Main mechanisms of material degradation and fracture

3D printing and additive manufacturing for custom podiatric devices

Tools for the critical selection of suitable materials for podiatric medical devices

Introduction to the critical analysis of scientific literature

Readings/Bibliography

Material provided by the teacher, available on the Virtuale platform.

Teaching methods

The course consists of 2 CFU. Teaching activities will be delivered through in-person lectures and will be complemented by the critical reading and discussion of selected scientific articles relevant to the topics covered during the lessons.

Assessment methods

The assessment for this module consists of: 1. An oral examination based on a written report developed by the student on a topic of their choice;  2. A multiple-choice quiz covering the topics addressed during the course.
The grade obtained in this module contributes to the final overall grade together with the other modules

Teaching tools

Video projector, PC, mobile app for interactive teaching

Office hours

See the website of Piera Versura