Ateneo - UPO

The objective of the course is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of how mechanical stimuli act as genetic signals that influence tissue behavior.
Specifically, the course addresses topics related to (i) how the cell nucleus perceives deformations of the cytoskeleton, (ii) the healing process in tissues subjected to high mechanical loads, (iii) the bioactivity principles underlying clinical technologies based on mechanobiology, and (iv) future applications of such technologies.

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 objective of the course is to provide students with a robust biological and genetic rationale for mechanical therapy as applied to the tissue healing process, and to explore how these concepts can be utilized in the field of regenerative medicine.

Fundamentals of biology, biochemistry, anatomy, histology, physics, and mathematics.

Lectures are delivered using slides prepared by the instructor, based on research articles and literature reviews from the scientific literature.
All slides are uploaded and made available to students on the DIR platform.
The full text of all articles from which the data in the slides are drawn is available 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.

In detail, the course covers the following topics:
1. The adaptation of cells and tissues to the mechanical properties of substrates (e.g., implantable biomaterials) and the resulting metabolic consequences
2. Cellular response to mechanical stimuli: the relationship between the cell nucleus (DNA) and the cytoskeleton during mechanical deformation
3. The influence of mechanical stimuli on key tissues subject to stress: bone, cartilage, blood vessels, muscles, tendons, and ligaments
4. Clinical practices based on mechanobiology principles: negative pressure, shock waves, sutures, and bone implants

The student acquires knowledge regarding the relationship between mechanical stimulation and cellular/tissue response, which stems from the mechanisms of mechanobiology and mechanotransduction.
The student learns to view mechanical stimulation as a healing mechanism within the fields of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering, by understanding its biological, biochemical, and genetic foundations—with a focus on its application in therapies or through the use of biomaterials possessing specific biomechanical stimulation properties.