Admission requirements
Core course in MSc Life Science and Technology (Biophysical Sciences series), MSc Chemistry elective.
For students with a BSc in MST, LST, BFW or equivalent. Students are expected to have a basic understanding of (in)organic chemistry and/or cell biology.
Description
This course introduces the field of biomaterials science, a rapidly growing area at the interface between chemistry, materials science and biology. Throughout the course, the potential of hard (e.g. metals, ceramics) and soft materials (e.g. polymers, hydrogels, liposomes) to specifically modulate various biological processes will be explored at several length scales in the context of wound healing, regeneration and disease. Moreover, an in-depth evaluation of the preparation methods of various materials scaffolds and their characterization will also be presented. The overall goal of this course is for students to gain an appreciation of the impressive developments and challenges faced in this interdisciplinary field, but also to grasp the opportunities for the intervention of materials at the biological interface.
For more information on the topic, see supramolecular materials: from biosensors to cell delivery devices
Course objectives
At the end of the course the students:
will have an overview of the field of biomaterials science.
will be able to explain the preparation and characterization of a range of hard and soft biomaterials using various physical and chemical techniques as well as an understanding of the cellular responses to them from the molecular to the macroscopic scales.
will be able to describe the strategies used to prepare implants composed of metal-based alloys and bioceramics, their characterization and applications in load-bearing tissues.
will be able to explain fundamental aspects of polymers and their characterization as materials (e.g. hydrogels) and methods to enable their interfacing with biological matter.
will be able to compare delivery strategies in the fields of macroscale and particulate drug delivery from the preparation of the scaffolds to their application.
will be able to summarize the use of biomaterials in rapidly developing areas such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, bioprinting, and immunoengineering.
will be able to apply the knowledge gained during the course to critique and present a basic research article in the biomaterials area and to follow a presentation from a researcher in the field.
Timetable
Schedule information can be found on the website of the programmes.
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of Instruction
The course consists of weekly lectures, guest lectures and student presentations.
Assessment method
Literature assessment (60%) and a written exam (40%).
Reading list
Selected research articles and reviews that will help to guide the lecture material will be provided via Brightspace.
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Dr. Roxanne Kieltyka, Prof.dr. Alexander Kros
Remarks
Assignment deadlines are communicated via Brightspace.
According to OER article 4.8, students are entitled to view their marked examination for a period of 30 days following the publication of the results of a written examination. Students should contact the lecturer to make an appointment for such an inspection session.
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.