This course, offered jointly through Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering, covers fundamental aspects of the formation, structure, and properties of natural materials, and the use of derived biological principles such as self-assembly to design synthetic materials for a variety of applications. Examples are drawn from both structural and functional biomaterials, with emphasis on hybrid systems in which protein-mineral interactions play a key role, such as mineralized tissues and biological adhesives. Additional materials with remarkable mechanical, optical, and surface properties will be discussed. Advanced experimental methods for characterizing interfacial biological structures will be highlighted, along with materials synthesis strategies, and structure-property relationships in both biological and engineered materials.
Prerequisite: Students should have a physical sciences/engineering background and have some familiarity with basic concepts in biochemistry and cell biology
Maximum Enrollment: 20