BMEG-E 540 Bioprocess and Tissue Engineering
3 credits
- Prerequisite(s): None
- Delivery: On-Campus
Description
This course explores bioprocessing and tissue engineering, including cell culture, bioreactors, scale-up strategies, scaffold fabrication, and regenerative medicine. Students gain experience in cell culture, bioreactor setup, and scaffold design, focusing on clinical and commercial translation. The course integrates biological, engineering, and industrial concepts to advance biomanufacturing and tissue engineering applications.
Topics
Overview of cell culture processes
- Upstream and downstream processing
- Aseptic techniques
- Principles of cell culture
Cell biology for bioprocessing
- Cell structure and function
- Cellular metabolism
- Factors influencing growth and productivity
Stoichiometry and the kinetics of cell cultivation
- Growth rate calculations μ
- Biomass and substrate yield coefficients Yx/s
- Stoichiometric balances
Cell culture bioreactors
- Types of bioreactors (stirred-tank, airlift)
- Oxygen transfer and mixing
- Bioreactor design and operation
Fed-batch culture processes and downstream processing
- Fed-batch optimization strategies
- Avoiding substrate inhibition
- Product recovery methods (filtration, chromatography)
Scaling up and scaling down for cell culture bioreactors
- Key considerations (oxygen transfer, shear stress)
- Maintaining product quality
- Scale-down models
Cells as building blocks for tissue engineering
- Stem cells and differentiation
- Cell-scaffold interactions
- Biological building blocks
Engineering of 3D tissue constructs and biomaterials
- 3D tissue fabrication methods
- Material properties influencing performance
- Biocompatibility and degradation
Introduction to natural product-based tissue engineering
- Advantages of natural materials
- Common natural materials (collagen, chitosan)
- Applications
Fabrication strategies for natural product-based scaffolds
- Scaffold fabrication techniques (electrospinning, 3D printing)
- Reproducibility and integrity
- Scaling production
Translation of tissue engineering products to the clinic
- Regulatory challenges
- Biological and manufacturing considerations
- Case studies
Natural product-based scaffolds in wound healing and growth factors
- Role of scaffold properties
- Controlled delivery of growth factors
- Examples in regenerative medicine
Natural product-based scaffolds in plastic surgery and breast reconstruction
- Applications in reconstructive surgery
- Design for aesthetic and functional outcomes
- Clinical examples
Commercialization of tissue engineering technologies
- Market analysis and strategies
- Intellectual property
- Regulatory and manufacturing pathways
Future directions in tissue engineering
- Advancements in bioprinting and gene editing
- Emerging applications in regenerative medicine
- Predicting trends
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze cell culture processes to identify factors affecting cell growth, productivity, and scalability.
- Evaluate bioreactor systems and fed-batch strategies to optimize substrate utilization and product yield.
- Design scaffold materials tailored for specific tissue engineering applications based on biocompatibility and structural requirements.
- Develop strategies for scaling up cell culture processes while maintaining product quality and process efficiency.
- Critique clinical translation pathways for tissue engineering products by assessing regulatory, biological, and manufacturing challenges.
- Create tissue engineering scaffolds using advanced fabrication techniques, ensuring reproducibility and structural integrity.
- Plan commercialization strategies for tissue engineering products by integrating market analysis, scalability, and regulatory requirements.
- Evaluate scaffold-cell interactions to determine their effectiveness in promoting attachment, proliferation, and viability.
- Synthesize advanced concepts in tissue engineering to predict future trends and propose innovative applications.
Policies and Procedures
Please be aware of the following linked policies and procedures. Note that in individual courses instructors will have stipulations specific to their course.