Ateneo - UPO

The primary objective of this course is to provide detailed information on the growing importance of biomaterials and biomedical devices in the clinical practice of implantology. Specifically, the course will cover (i) materials and strategies tailored to target tissues, (ii) the issue of infections—the leading cause of implant failure—and strategies to prevent bacterial colonization of biomaterials, and (iii) the use of biomaterials as drug delivery systems to control or mitigate the tissue response in situ.

The slides presented during lectures contain data from scientific literature and provide sufficient material for preparing for the exam.
All slides are uploaded and made available to students on the DIR platform.
The full text of any article from which the data in the slides is drawn can be obtained upon request to the professor.

The primary educational objectives of the course are to provide students with detailed information on: (i) the principles and methods by which biomaterials and biomedical devices are used in the fields of regenerative medicine and implantology; (ii) how infections represent a major cause of clinical failure, and how materials science is evolving to render biomaterials resistant to bacterial infections; and (iii) drug delivery strategies that transform the biomaterial itself into a means for controlling tissue reactions *in situ*, as an alternative to conventional systemic pharmacological treatment.

Basic knowledge of biology, biochemistry, anatomy, histology, immunology, microbiology, physics, and mathematics.

The slides presented during lectures contain data from scientific literature and provide sufficient material for preparing for the exam.
All slides are uploaded and made available to students on the DIR platform.
The full text of any article from which the data in the slides is drawn can be obtained upon request to the professor.

Students with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or Special Educational Needs (SEN) may request specific services and tools tailored to their needs by contacting the "Career Development and Coordination and Student Services" staff and by consulting the dedicated page on the University website: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizistudentesse-e-studenti-condizione-di-disabilit%C3%A0-e-dsa. Once they have established contact with the University staff, students with disabilities, SLD, or SEN may reach out to the instructor of a given course to discuss the specific arrangements for examinations and other didactic aspects.

The examination consists of a multiple-choice quiz designed to assess the student's knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in class.
The exam is administered via the university's digital platform, Esami DIR.

The main topics of the course are detailed as follows:
1. Principles of regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, and implantology: the clinical landscape and future challenges
2. Biomaterials and biomedical devices for specific tissues: bone, cartilage, and epidermis
3. Infections as a primary cause of implant failure: principles of bacterial metabolism, formation of drug-resistant biofilms, and strategies to prevent bacterial colonization of biomaterials
4. Biomaterials as delivery systems for controlling tissue response in situ: polymers, hydrogels, metals, and ceramics capable of releasing active agents to manage healing, inflammation, and infection at the site
5. Clinical and regulatory aspects regarding the use of biomaterials and biomedical devices in a hospital setting

By the end of the course, students will understand the potential of biomaterials and biomedical devices as clinical tools for replacing damaged tissues that are unable to self-repair. They will also gain knowledge regarding the primary causes of implant failure, specifically infections and immune rejection, as well as the main strategies for preventing these adverse effects.