The field of biomedical engineering has vastly expanded in the past two decades, as reflected in the increased number of bioengineering and biomaterials programs at universities. The growth of this area has outpaced the development of laboratory courses that allow students hands-on experience, since the barriers involved in creating multidisciplinary biomaterials laboratory courses are high. A Laboratory Course in Biomaterials provides a teaching tool comprehensive in scope perspective.

Multidisciplinary approach

Suitable for junior or senior level laboratory courses in biomaterials and bioengineering, this volume trains students in laboratory skills, data analysis, problem solving, and scientific writing. The text takes a multidisciplinary approach, integrating a variety of principles that include materials science, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, and engineering.

Step-by-step instructions

The author presents flexible modules that allow the coursework to be adapted to the needs of different departments. Each module is organized around a central theme, such as drug delivery and natural biomaterials, to enhance student comprehension. This book provides step-by-step descriptions of lab procedures, reagents, equipment, and data processing guidelines. It also includes a series of thought-provoking questions and answers following each experiment, drawn from the author’s own experience in teaching a biomaterials laboratory course at the University of Illinois.

Timely in its coverage, many of the experiments presented in the book are adapted from research papers reflecting the progress in various disciplines of bioengineering and biomaterials science.