MTE6885 Biomaterials and biomechanics
Faculty of Engineering
MTE6885 Biomaterials and biomechanics is a level 6, 0-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 0
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 3 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review MTE6885.
Requisites
Before MTE6885
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MTE6885
No unit lists MTE6885 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must be enrolled in the Engineering PHD program or with permission from the Faculty of Engineering. The unit assumes that you have the necessary foundational knowledge.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
The aim of this unit is to link the requirements of clinical medicine to engineering through advanced materials design and fabrication in the framework of new medical devices, therapeutics and diagnostics. Topics covered in the unit include cell biology and biomechanics at the cellular level, biocompatibility, tissue engineering and other composite material/cell applications, The use of stem cells in conjunction with materials and the use of materials to guide cellular fates and properties is of high relevance. A detailed study of medical additive manufacturing (3D printing) in metals, polymers and cells will be provided. Strong connection to how materials can contribute to solutions that address unmet clinical need will be made throughout the unit.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- QuizzesQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle8%
- AssignmentWrittenThreshold hurdle32%
- Laboratory work and related submissionsWrittenThreshold hurdle10%
- Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle50%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of in vitro and biocompatibility studies and how they relate to the development of materials for medical devices.
- 2
Describe in detail the key elements of how cells interact with materials and how biomechanical information can be interpreted and processed by cells to direct their fate.
- 3
Critically evaluate material type, biomechanical and other properties, design and performance requirements in the context of clinical use for a specific medical device, therapeutic or diagnostic application.
- 4
Apply critical judgement to the selection of materials and processes for additive manufacturing of medical products in the light of the design, manufacture and regulation requirements of medical devices or implants.
- 5
Describe in detail the current clinical uses of additive manufacturing and give examples of prospective applications.
- 6
Distinguish between the different ways combinations of cells and materials can be used to treat clinical conditions and discuss the potential benefits and limitations of these different strategies with respect to disorders that they may be applied to clinically.
Workload and teaching
- Practical activities24 hours
- Workshops24 hours
- Laboratories6 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 6-9 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 sessions material and active learning activities. Teaching is also carried out in practice classes. A list of reading and preparatory material will be provided several days prior to each session. Some videos will also be provided to facilitate the understanding of several key concepts introduced in teaching sessions. The sessions and assessments include both individual and group activities. Preparation work will need to be completed prior to the start of each week's sessions.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Professor Jess Frith
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Jess Frith
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MTE6885?
MTE6885 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is MTE6885 offered?
In 2025, MTE6885 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is MTE6885?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does MTE6885 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 3 other tasks.