Study Guide

Objective

The participants are able to
- explain the connection between biomaterials structure, properties and manufacturing
- describe and select different characterization methods for different biomaterials
- describe the specific features of the biomaterials preparation processes and bionanotechnology.

Content

- Manufacturing processes of different biomaterials and bionanotechnology

Materials

The tasks are based on scientific articles/patents, and lecture materials provided in Itslearning.

Teaching methods

Individual tasks and team-based learning in groups, task reports in English, and the exam is directly related to the Group work and Individual Tasks. Information retrieval from Journal and Patent databases is an important part of the tasks.

Exam schedules

Will be agreed at the beginning of course.

International connections

Flipped learning: After individual work and individual task reporting, the emphasis is in the team-based learning by solving tasks and making question about unclear issues or issues of interest in groups in class, which is complemented by discussion with the instructor.

Sustainable development aspect is taken into consideration in material processing analysis.

Completion alternatives

2-4 students may conduct the course by working in the the research group (New Materials and processes). This type of the implementation has to be agreed separate with the instructors. Generally it consists of lab work related to real research projects, reporting and appending the needed theory in the reports.

In the research work implementation, a separate learning agreement is signed, and separate instructions are provided for research work in lab, reporting and integration of theory into the reports. The reporting consists of weekly follow-up meetings and theory discussion, and of a group report or reports (will be agreed in the agreement). Deadline for the group report is January 15th, 2025. There is one possibility to raise the grade by returning a corrected report, which is based on the feedback from the instructors.

Student workload

Approximations for students work load:
Lectures and group work: 35 h
Self study for individual tasks: 55 h
Self study and preparing for exam: 40 h

Content scheduling

The course consists of 2 parts.
- Part 1 : Biomaterials Processing (Manufacturing methods of different types of biomaterials), Schedule: Weeks XX-XX, 2024
- Part 2: Bionanotechnology & specific theme; basic methods of preparation and how nanotechnology is utilised, e.g., in controlled drug delivery and diagnostics; Specific theme on personalised medicine. Schedule: Weeks XX-XX, 2024.

The exam (covering both parts of the course) will be held X.XX.2024.

Further information

No specific equipment, software etc. is needed. Social media tools are recommended for group communication.

Evaluation scale

H-5

Assessment methods and criteria

Assessment is mainly based on the exam, but also the Individual Tasks affect the mark as follows:

- If you have answered to all questions properly and returned all six (6) reports on time, the course mark is the same as your exam mark.
- If you have answered properly to 5 reports on time, there will be a decrease of 1 in the course mark (which is based on the exam mark).
- If you have answered properly to less than 5 reports on time, there will be decrease of 2 in the course mark (which is based on the exam mark).
- If you have passed the exam, the final mark is at minimum 1.

Assessment criteria, fail (0)

The answers to the exam questions have deficiencies and errors:
* The material preparation methods are described incorrectly or incompletely without justifications.
* The therapeutic application and product example are not described or explained for each material.
* The production process is explained incorrectly.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

The answers to the exam questions have deficiencies or errors:
* The material preparation methods are described without justifications, but partly incorrectly or incompletely.
* The therapeutic application and product example are described and explained for each material, but partly incorrectly or incompletely.
* The production process is explained, but partly incorrectly.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4)

The answers to the exam questions have minor deficiencies and/or errors, but they are comprehensive:
* The material preparation methods are described without justifications.
* The therapeutic application and product example are partially described and explained for each material.
* The production process is partially explained.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The answers to the exam questions are comprehensive and well-justified:
* The material preparation methods are comprehensively and justifiably described.
* The therapeutic application and product example are well described and explained for each material.
* The production process is explained clearly and extensively.