Unit information: Biomaterials and their Use in the Skeletal System in 2022/23

Unit name	Biomaterials and their Use in the Skeletal System
Unit code	CSSBM0002
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Professor. Uney
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one
School/department	Bristol Medical School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Unit Information

The aim of this unit is to introduce the student to the current and potential uses for biomaterial interfaces as they relate to the study of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Content will cover the principles of desirable biomaterials and the potential applications of these compounds in stem cell and regenerative medicine.

This unit will describe:

• What biomaterials are and how they are produced.
• Tailored 2-D and 3-D stem cell cultures.
• Using biomaterials to improve stem cell transplant techniques and regeneration.
• Illustrations of how biomaterials can be utilised in using stem cells within the skeletal system and specifically for skeletal diseases.
• To provide a basic grounding in the concept of biomaterials.
• To provide a basic understanding of tissue engineering approaches.
• To inform how biomaterials may be used to produce desirable 2-D and 3-D constructs to study potential therapeutic strategies and improve their utility in vivo.
• To illustrate the practical skills involved in biomaterial based cell culture.
• To illustrate translational research where biomaterials have facilitated the used of stem cells in treating skeletal system disorders.

Your learning on this unit

Students successfully completing this module will:

• Be aware of the benefits and potential pitfalls of biomaterials approaches in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.
• Understand the complexities of 3-D cell-culture (tissue engineering) techniques.
• Be able to describe the properties of a desirable biomaterial and understand how to grow cells on this.
• Be able to describe studies where biomaterials have facilitated the use of stem cells in a clinical setting.

How you will learn

• Web-based Audio Lectures and Seminars.
• Web-based tutorials/practicals
• Self-directed study
• On-line discussion forums

How you will be assessed

Summative Assessment:

• Coursework (contributing a total of 100% to the unit).
• 4 sets of multiple choice questions (MCQ) of a simple format (e.g. select an answer from a short number of options, true/false) each contributing 15% to unit giving a total of 60%.
• 2x short answer question sets or extended MCQs each contributing 20% to module giving a total of 40%

Please note that students will be given formative feedback on all coursework assessment where appropriate.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CSSBM0002).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.