Complex Materials Systems and Biosensors

Catalog description

Many structural and biomedical components encounter service conditions that require complex materials performance to vary with location within the component. The design, development and use of complex materials is essential for many important medical and dental applications. The study of complex materials requires an understanding of the materials science and engineering themes while at the same time creating a knowledge bridge to biology and medicine/dentistry. Conventional design using monolithic materials often fail to meet the stringent medical/dental application demands. Similarly, the maintenance and optimization of human health requires individuals and their healthcare providers from time to time to complete complex clinical tests. This course offers graduate students a comprehensive study of structure- function-property relationships in complex materials including composites across a broad range of applications. A background in complex materials design is provided, including multiphase metal, ceramic and polymer systems. This background is supplemented by study of the interactions between micro, meso and macro structures within several biological structures as a basis for biomimetic materials design. Several lecturers from a broad range of disciplines give presentations in this integrated course. Further, the course will include recent advances in biosensors, nano-devices and biomedical microsystems with particular emphasis on those clinical measurements that are tied to human health. Collectively, these lectures will provide students with a modern understanding of both complex materials and how these can impact the lives of patients and providers alike as well as complex biosensor systems and their impact on human health.