Biomaterials Surface Science

Catalog description

Special properties of surfaces as an important causative and mediating agent in the biological response to materials. BIOE 517 BIOE 517 . (MATSC 517) Biomaterials Surface Science (3)This course will factor the classical picture of the biological response to materials into spatial and temporal components, identifying the special properties of surfaces as an important causative and mediating agent. Emphasis will be on biophysical mechanisms and the biological response to materials. Contact activation of blood plasma coagulation cascade, bioadhesion, and protein adsorption will be repeatedly used as example biological response to materials surfaces to illustrate concepts and principles. Leading theories attempting to correlate both kinds of intensity of biological responses to surface and interfacial energetics will be compared and contrasted through a process that will quantify important surface thermodynamic properties of materials. The hydrophobic effect and related phenomena, especially as this pertains to water solvent effects in biology, will receive special emphasis. A general background in chemistry and/or biology is required, but prerequisites are purposefully limited, reflecting the interdisciplinary aspects of the subject and to draw students from different specializations.