Ateneo - UPO

The primary objective of the course is to provide students with theoretical and practical knowledge regarding the importance of laboratory-based 3D models as predictive preclinical tools for regenerative medicine strategies, or, more broadly, for the screening of drugs or bioactive molecules.
Specifically, the course covers topics such as: (i) a comparison between 3D models and conventional in vitro techniques; (ii) the interaction between cells and biomaterials for the creation of 3D structures; (iii) practical examples of 3D models; (iv) advanced techniques for the culture, printing, and validation of 3D models; and (v) examples/case studies concerning the translation of 3D models into clinical practice.

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 both theoretical knowledge and practical guidance on the importance of 3D models in preclinical experimentation, as well as how to generate such models using cells and biomaterials.
By the end of the course, students will understand the necessity of employing these physiologically relevant models to validate regenerative medicine techniques, drugs, or bioactive molecules, and will be familiar with practical laboratory strategies for developing, utilizing, and validating such models.

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.

At the end of the course, students will be divided into small groups (maximum 4–5 members). Each group will give a presentation on an article of their choice related to the course topics, followed by a brief discussion with their peers. Completing this presentation is a prerequisite for taking the exam.
The exam consists of open-ended questions covering the topics addressed in class, designed to assess the students' knowledge and understanding of the course material.

The course topics are detailed below:
1. Comparison between in vitro 3D models and conventional preclinical techniques (2D cultures under static conditions)
2. Examples of 3D bone and cartilage models created by combining cells (mature or progenitor) with biomaterials that possess mechanical and morphological characteristics similar to the actual tissue
3. Advanced 3D culture techniques: bioreactors that enable the in vitro simulation of the circulation and the mechanical/electromagnetic stimulation that occur physiologically within tissues
4. Innovative techniques for developing 3D models: 3D printing with biomaterials and bioinks, additive manufacturing, and organ-on-chip systems
5. Examples of 3D technologies that have been successfully translated from in vitro studies to clinical practice

By the end of the course, students will be able to independently devise a strategy for developing, cultivating, and validating advanced 3D models of human tissues by combining cells, biomaterials, advanced culture techniques (bioreactors), and state-of-the-art technologies (3D printing).