Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2024-2025

Module ENGI46215: Tissue Engineering

Department: Engineering

ENGI46215: Tissue Engineering

Type	Tied	Level	4	Credits	15	Availability	Available in 2024/2025	Module Cap

Tied to	H1KH09

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

As specified in programme regulations.

Excluded Combination of Modules

As specified in programme regulations.

Aims

To introduce tissue engineering and regenerative medicine principles.
To present the engineering methods contributing to the interdisciplinary area of tissue engineering.
To explore the significant of microenvironmental factors in tissue development.
To allow for identifying suitable tissue engineering appraoches for specific applications.

Content

Overview of various tissue engineering techniques and applications.
The role of microenvironmental factors and mechanical forces in cell behaviour.
Cell and tissue culture approaches in tissue engineering.
Bioreactors for tissue engineering; fluid flow, mass, and heat transport phenomena.
Biocompatible materials and cell-material interactions.
Tissue scaffolds and fabrication techniques in tissue engineering.
Delivery strategies in regenerative medicine.
Mathematical and computational modelling in tissue engineering.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

A knowledge of the status of tissue engineering, its challenges, limitations, and prospects.
An understanding of the importance of the biophysical microenvironment in cell behaviour, and how this knowledge can be applied to tissue engineering.
An understanding of the design principles for designing scaffolds and bioreactors.
An appreciation of the challenges of regenerative medicine.

Subject-specific Skills:

Ability to apply fundamental engineering concepts in the field of tissue engineering.
Capacity to quantify the key biophysical parameters pertaining to cells and tissues.
Determination of the forces and transport phenomena in engineered biological systems.
Awareness of future developments in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Key Skills:

Capacity for independent self-learning within the bounds of professional practice.
Mathematical and numerical skills appropriate for an engineer.
Skills to combine interdisciplinary biological and engineering concepts relevant to the application of advanced tissue engineering problems.
Develop skills to critically analyse the scientific literature of tissue engineering and formulate informed opinions that can be communicated effectively.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

The module content is delivered in lectures and is reinforced by self-learning sessions and formative problem sheets, equipping students with the required problem-solving capability.
Students can make use of staff "office hours" to discuss any aspect of the module with teaching staff on a one-to-one basis. These are sign-up sessions available for one hour per week per lecture course.
Students will be required to submit formative problem sheets throughout the academic year into the virtual learning environment to check their understanding as the course progresses.
Students will be formed into study groups and will attend timetabled self-learning sessions (up to a maximum of two) during the Michalemas and Epiphany terms.
A benchmark test will take place at the start of the academic year. This will be used to guage students understanding and direct them to further study as appropriate.
A mock exam will take place in the Epiphany term. This will be used to provide students with an exam type experience in a formative setting and allow them to discuss their performance with a member of academic staff.
Written timed expaminations are appropriate because of the range of topics covered in this module and allow students to demonstrate their knowledge and analysis of bioengineering scenerios independently.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Benchmark Test	1	Completed during Induction Week	30 mins	0.5	■
Lectures	20	Typically 1 per week	1 hour	20
Revision lecture	1		1 hour	1
Tutorial Hours	As required	Weekly sign up sessions	Up to 1 hour	12
Self-learning session	2	Throughout first two terms	3 hours (includes 1 hour preparation to be completed before attending the session)	6	■
Practice Exam	1	Epiphany term	30 mins	0.5	■
Preparation and reading				110
Total				150

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Written examination (online)	2 hours	100%	Yes

Formative Assessment:

Formative assessment is provided by means of formative problem sheets, benchmark test and mock examinations.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University