Overview

This unit is designed to enable students to apply the fundamental principles in material sciences to biomedical applications. It will address different materials (polymers, metals and composites) used in contact with living tissue. In addition, students will be introduced to biological materials like bone and soft tissue.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Describe the material science and engineering requirements related to a range of biomaterials (K1, K3, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3, A3, A4, A5)
  • Recognise the complexity in the application of materials in medical devices (K1, K3, K5, S1, S2, S3, A2)
  • Describe the practical aspects of biomaterials (K1, K3, K5, S1, S2, A2)
  • Correlate biomaterial properties to intended clinical applications (K1, K5, S1, S2, S3)
  • Develop group working skills (S2, A2, A7)

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Lecture
1.00 6 weeks 6
On Campus
Lecture
1.00  6 weeks  6
On Campus
Class
2.00  12 weeks  24
Online 
Learning Activities
0.50  12 weeks  6
Unspecified Activities 
Independent Learning
9.00  12 weeks  108
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Examination Individual  20-25%  1,3 
Online Assignment Individual  5-15%  1,3,4 
Report Group  25-35%  2,5 
Presentation and Report Group  35-40%  2,3,4,5 

Hurdle

As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:

(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and (ii) 40% of the possible final marks for the presentation and report in Task 3 Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.

Content

  • Structure of materials
  • Biological interfacing
  • Host response to biomaterials
  • Physical property modifications
  • Biocompatibility of materials
  • Characterisation of materials

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.