Advanced Modeling Approaches for Cardiovascular Surgery [I.C.]

Prof. Gianfranco B. Fiore, Prof. Emiliano Votta

Code: 099281
Credits: 10

The course deals about the development and use of advanced engineering methods for high-fidelity simulations of surgical and interventional treatments of the cardiovascular system. The introductory section deals about the requirements of a simulation environment for cardiovascular surgery, with recalls concerning in-vivo animal testing limitations and the current regulatory scenario. The central part of the course is focused onto experimental and computational methods for the simulation of cardiovascular surgery. The experimental section provides the criteria for design and setting-up of mock circulatory loops, from traditional apparatuses to the recent techniques for the development of realistic simulation phantoms. In the computational section, the modelling approaches for developing and using virtual phantoms are treated, from the reconstruction of geometries from medical images, to the practical simulation of surgical devices and procedures. The final section of the course deals about the integration of experimental and computational aspects, using some real-world applications as case-studies.

 

Bioartificial Systems at the Micro and Nano Scale [I.C.]

Prof. Simone Vesentini, Prof. Marco Rasponi

Code: 051151
Credits: 10

The course is focused on methods, technologies and operating principles that enable the manipulation and control of biological entities at the micro- and nano-scale. Topics include microdevices for the control of the environment at the scale level of cells (lab-on-chips, bioMEMS, organs-on-chips) and molecular-level nanostructures (quantum wires, quantum dots, graphene or carbon nanotubes, biological nanostructures obtained e.g. from DNA). Systems at the micro- and nano-scale are ubiquitous in a wide range of technological innovations; they nowadays represent enabling tools for the advancement of fundamental research and it is believed that, in the near future, they will invade the biotechnological/biomedical market.

 

Biofluidodynamycs Lab

Prof. Riccardo Vismara

Code: 083413
Credits: 5

The course deals with the laboratory techniques for the analysis of biofluid-dynamic problems related to cardiovascular physiopathology, surgery and biomedical devices. Chair lessons: -design criteria for biofluid-dynamic experiments; measurement of hydrodynamic and rheologic quantities; -lab pumping systems; -methods for the development of hydraulic mock loops. Laboratory activities consist in tackling practical cases, chosen among different fields of interest for biofluid dynamics: -analysis and discussion of the proposed case; -experimental design (literature analysis, setting-up of the experimental equipment, protocol drafting); -carrying out of the experimental campaign; discussion and reporting.

 

Biomolecular Modelling Laboratory

Prof. Simone Vesentini

Code: 085840
Credits: 5

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with modern methods of biomolecular modelling. Both theoretical and  computational activities will be developed. From the practical side the theoretical aspects will be used to study proteins, lipids, and saccharides and to address practical issues such as diffusion phenomena, determination of nanoscale mechanical properties, drug design, etc.). The main aspects covered in this course are: base concepts of molecular modelling approach; molecular mechanics, definition, features, and force field definition and parametrization; optimization techiniques; molecular dynamics; coarse grain approach for biomolecules. 

 

Cell Bioengineering

Prof. Monica Soncini

Code: 083042
Credits: 10

Molecular recognition mechanisms. Protein Folding and misfolding, and related diseases. Cellular membrane: membrane models, mechanical properties, fluidic feature, functions, lipidic rafts, junctions. Cytoskeleton filaments: structure, polymerization and functions of microtubules, actin filaments and intermediate filaments, Structures of cilia, flagella, and villi. Transport mechanism along filaments: role of motor proteins, generation of movement and conformational changes. Mechanical characterization of cytoskeleton filaments and biomolecules: experimental and analytical methods. Biopolymers: deformation energy, flexural rigidity, persistent length, thermal fluctuations' effects. Cellular models. Adhesion and migration mechanisms: analytical models and experimental techniques for adhesive force measurements. Experimental techniques for the analysis, manipulation and imaging of biomolecules: atomic force microscopy, optical tweezers, electron microscopy. Force transducers, biomolecule adhesion mechanisms, data analysis. Biological and synthetic molecular machines. Molecular actuators.

  

Computational Biomechanics Laboratory

Prof. Emiliano Votta, Prof. Dario Gastaldi

Code: 096283
Credits: 5

The course introduces to the numerical techniques currently adopted for the design and evaluation of biomedical devices and to the assessment of physio-pathologic states and surgical procedures. Along the course, the student will practice with two standard commercial codes aimed at the strucure and fluid dynamic analysis, respectively. In detail, the course will focus on the following topics: Introduction to computational mechanics: discretisation methods; numerical method for the solution of partial derivative equations. Structural mechanics: the ABAQUS code; modelling of elastic hyperelastic and anisotropic materials; contact mechanics. Fluid mechanics: the Fluent code; laminar and turbulent flows; steady and transient flows. Multiphysic problems: moving boundary, complex boundary conditions; fluid-structure interactions.

 

Impianti Ospedalieri e Sicurezza [I.C.]

Prof. Riccardo Vismara, Prof. Veronica Cimolin

Code: 083112
Credits: 10

Impianti e Sistemi Ospedalieri - Presentazione della struttura e del funzionamento dei principali impianti tecnologici dell'ospedale: impianti di comunicazione, di distribuzione di gas medicali, di sterilizzazione, elettrici, di climatizzazione e riscaldamento, idrico sanitari, trasporti meccanici, antincendio, economali e di supervisione e controllo. La loro operativita' e' valutata in rapporto all'attivita' svolta nell'ambiente del paziente, al funzionamento delle apparecchiature biomediche, alle interazioni ed interdipendenze tra impianti ed alle problematiche di sicurezza globale dell'ospedale. Sicurezza, Documentazione e Norme - Problematiche inerenti la sicurezza specifica nell'utilizzo delle apparecchiature e dei dispositivi medici in ambiente sanitario. Cenni di elettrofisiologia; rischi di origine elettrica e radiante. Sistemi di classificazione delle apparecchiature in base al rischio. Modalita' per il collaudo di apparecchiature per uso ospedaliero. Normazione giuridica sui dispositivi e protesi, direttive europee e leggi nazionali. Norme di qualita' ISO 9000 per il settore biomedico. Analisi dei rischi; progett. e stesura dei fascicoli tecnici per l'immissione in commercio dei disp. medici per l'ottenimento della marcatura CE.

 

Technologies for Regenerative Medicine

Prof. Gianfranco B. FioreProf. Marco Rasponi

Code: 099279
Credits: 10

The course treats two main topics: biomimetic engineering and tissue engineering.
Concerning biomimetic engineering, the course deals with the use of structures specifically designed to replace or reconstruct tissues or parts of the human body by being "biomimetic", i.e., by mimicking aspect and function of living structures. The different types of structures and the corresponding features and issues are tackled. List of the main topics covered in the course: types bioartificial and biomimetic structures and manufacturing methods; types of biodegradable and biointegrated materiald and corresponding application strategies; main preparation methods for 2D and 3D matrices; synthetic and hybrid supports for tissue engineering; methodologies for in vitro characterization and study; human body response to the implantation of ioartificial and biomimetic structures; systsems for controlled drug/biomolecule delivery.
Concerning tissue engineering, the course aims to provide students with the design tools for the generation of bioartificial tissues in the context of regenerative medicine. Insight is provided into some quantitative aspects of the in vitro generation of biological tissues, focusing on cell sources, on mass transport and on fluid-dynamic phenomena involved in the colture. Moreover, the focus is on the clinical scenario relevant to the devepment, use and evaluation of engineered tissues (i.e., pathology to be treated, classical approaches to the treatment and corresponding limitations, clinical use, ethical and regulatory aspects of applying tissue engineering).