MTE4596 Biomaterials 2
Faculty of Engineering
MTE4596 Biomaterials 2 is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 70%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before MTE4596
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MTE4596
No unit lists MTE4596 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: Must have completed 96 credit points of engineering study
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
Biocompatibility is explored and is related to the foreign body response. The importance of the interfacial properties of biomaterials is covered and includes factors affecting cellular response and protein adsorption. Polymers and ceramics used in medicine are reviewed with examples including the total hip joint replacement (TFJR), heart valves, catheters and vascular grafts and hydrogels used in ophthalmology. Drug delivery devices are reviewed and include degradation mechanisms and kinetics. Biomaterials with biological recognition and smart biomaterials will be studied. Biosensors and examples in bionanotechnology will be investigated. Tissue engineering and scaffold manufacture are covered and the use of stem cells for regenerative medicine reviewed.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Mid SemesterExaminationThreshold hurdle20%
- Assignment(s)WrittenThreshold hurdle20%
- Practical activities and related workWrittenThreshold hurdle10%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Have a basic understanding of the processes involved in the foreign body response and biocompatibility
- 2
Appreciate some factors that affect protein adsorption
- 3
Understand the different classes of polymeric biomaterials used in the body.
- 4
Be familiar with some of the degradation processes of polymers
- 5
Describe some methods of drug delivery
- 6
Describe the action and use of smart materials
- 7
Be familiar with ceramic materials used in body and some aspects of thermal spraying
- 8
Understand some techniques used in tissue engineering including some methods of scaffold manufacture
- 9
Understand some techniques commonly used to characterise biomaterial surfaces.
- 10
Be able to review a journal article and provide a detailed assessment.
- 11
Have an ability to communicate within a team, and submit a group assignment.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Laboratories3 hours
- Assessments2 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-8 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
The teaching of this unit involves a combination of pre-class reading and preparation, expert-led sessions comprising teaching session material and active learning activities. Teaching is also carried out in practice classes. The list of reading and preparatory material will be provided several days before each session. Preparation work will need to be completed before the start of each week's session.
Where it fits
MTE4596 is part of 3 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Aafreen Ansari
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Aafreen Ansari
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MTE4596?
MTE4596 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is MTE4596 offered?
In 2026, MTE4596 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is MTE4596?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does MTE4596 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 70% of the final mark, alongside 3 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include MTE4596?
MTE4596 is part of Biomedical engineering, Materials engineering and Medical technology.