CHEMENG 4T03

Applications of Chemical Engineering in Medicine (Last Offered 2024-25)

Undergraduate

2027

Topics

Unit 1: Biomaterials – Students will be introduced to the major classes of biomaterials —
metals, ceramics, and polymers — and examine their physical and chemical properties,
characterization methods, and biomedical applications. They will develop a framework for
selecting appropriate biomaterials for specific clinical contexts.
Unit 2: Biological Responses to Biomaterials – Students will investigate how the body
responds to implanted materials at the molecular and cellular level, tracing the sequence from
protein adsorption and thrombosis through immune and inflammatory reactions, tissue repair,
and resolution. They will understand how material properties shape these host responses.
Unit 3: Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication – Students will explore strategies for
engineering functional tissues, covering scaffold design and fabrication, cell selection and
organize within engineered constructs and how these principles translate to practical tissue
substitutes.
Unit 4: Tissue Vascularization Strategy – Students will learn why vascularization is a critical
bottleneck in tissue engineering and examine biological and engineering strategies to promote
blood vessel formation. Topics include angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and methods for creating
perfusable vascular networks that sustain oxygen and nutrient transport.
| avenue.mcmaster.ca
Unit 5: Microphysiological Systems – Students will be introduced to organ-on-a-chip and

Readings

D. Williams, “Essential Biomaterials Science” (2014)
unspecified
S. Ramakrishna, “Biomaterials: a nano approach” (2010)
unspecified
J. Park, R.S. Lakes, “Biomaterials: an Introduction” (2007) – available as an e-book
unspecified
J. Enderle, S. Blanchard, J. Bronzino “Introduction to Biomedical Engineering” (2005).
unspecified
B.D. Ratner, “Biomaterials Science: An Introduction to Materials in Medicine”, 2nd Ed. (2004) – particularly useful for biological response to materials section
2nd Ed · unspecified
L. Di Silvio (ed.), “Cellular Response to Biomaterials” (2009)
unspecified
J.D. Bronzino (ed.), “The Biomedical Engineering Handbook” (1995)
unspecified
R. Baker, “Controlled Release of Biologically Active Agents” (1987)
unspecified
W. Mark Saltzmann, “Drug Delivery: Engineering Principles for Drug Therapy” (2001)
unspecified
D.A. Lauffenburger and J.J. Linderman, “Receptors: Models for Binding, Trafficking and Signaling” (1993).
unspecified
D.O. Cooney, “Biomedical Engineering Principles” (1976)
unspecified
T.E. Creighton, “Proteins: Structure and Function” (1992)
unspecified
A.L. Shrier and T.G. Kaufmann (eds.), “Mass Transfer in Biological Systems” CEP Symposium Series No. 99 (1970)
unspecified
R.C. Seagrave, “Biomedical Applications of Heat and Mass Transfer” (1971)
unspecified
C.W. Patrick, A.G. Mikos, L.V. McIntire (eds) “Frontiers in Tissue Engineering” (1998)
unspecified
R.P. Lanza, R. Langer and W.L. Chick (eds) “Principles of Tissue Engineering” (1997)
unspecified
The outline states that no single textbook covers the course.
See source

Sources