Category Archives: BioEngineering

The Doctor of Philosophy in Bioengineering program is designed to take advantage of Northeasterns considerable strength in multiple areas of bioengineering. Located in the heart of Boston, directly adjacent to the world-renowned Longwood Medical Area, Northeastern provides an excellent opportunity for students to combine engineering, medicine and biology. Students work with one of our 20 core faculty, or one of our many outstanding affiliated faculty across the University. Students have to opportunity to develop a course of study tailored to suit their interests or take advantage of one of our four core Research Areas.

Our PhD program in Bioengineering draws on the expertise of our core faculty, as well as affiliated faculty across the University. Our program reflects the significant strengths of Bioengineering research in multiple areas. Students accepted to the program will complete a rigorous core curriculum in basic bioengineering science followed by completion of an immersion curriculum tailored to their research area of interest.

Please note that changes will be coming to the PhD program requirements starting Fall 2019. Please contact the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies for further details.

Research Area 1: Imaging, Instrumentation, and Signal ProcessingThe Imaging, Instrumentation and Signal Processing track reflects Northeastern Universitys outstanding research profile in developing new technologies for visualizing biological processes and disease. Our department has active federally funded research spanning a broad spectrum of relevant areas in instrument design, contrast agent development, and advanced computational modeling and reconstruction methods. Example research centers include theChemical Imaging of Living Systems Institute, theTranslational Biophotonics Cluster, and theB-SPIRAL signal processing group.See Associated Faculty

Research Area 2: Biomechanics, Biotransport and MechanoBiologyMotion, deformation, and flow of biological systems in response to applied loads elicit biological responses at the molecular and cellular levels that support the physiological function of tissues and organs and drive their adaptation and remodeling. To study these complex interactions, principles of solid, fluid, and transport mechanics must be combined with measures of biological function. The Biomechanics, Biotransport, & Mechanobiology track embraces this approach and leverages the strong expertise of Northeastern faculty attempting to tie applied loads to biological responses at multiple length and time scales.See Associated Faculty

Research Area 3: Molecular, Cell, and Tissue EngineeringPrinciples for engineering living cells and tissues are essential to address many of the most significant biomedical challenges facing our society today. These application areas include engineering biomaterials to coax and enable stem cells to form functional tissue or to heal damaged tissue; designing vehicles for delivering genes and therapeutics to reach specific target cells to treat a disease; and, uncovering therapeutic strategies to curb pathological cell behaviors and tissue phenotypes. At a more fundamental level, the field is at the nascent stages of understanding how cells make decisions in complex microenvironments and how cells interact with each other and their surrounding environment to organize into complex three-dimensional tissues. Advances will require a multiscale experimental, computational and theoretical approaches spanning molecular-cellular-tissue levels and integration of molecular and physical mechanisms, including the role of mechanical forces.See Associated Faculty

Research Area 4: Computational and Systems BiologyWe aim to understand the rules governing emergent systems-level behavior and to use these rules to rationally engineer biological systems. We make quantitative measurements, often at the single-cell level, to test different conceptual frameworks and discriminate amongst different classes of models. Our faculty are leaders in developing and applying both theoretical methods, e.g., control theory, and experimental methods, e.g., single-cell proteomics by mass-spec, to biological systems. At the organ and tissue levels, 3D scans acquired through medical imaging methods (e.g. US, CT, MRI, etc.) may be used to reconstruct virtual models of targeted systems. Non-invasive measures of the physiological function can then inform numerical simulations to predict the behavior of biological systems over time, with the goal of estimating the progression towards pathological endpoints or to test the efficacy of targeted surgical procedures and pharmaceutical treatments (e.g., drug delivery).See Associated Faculty

The PhD in Bioengineering can be combined with a Gordon Engineering Leadership certificate. Learn more about the benefits of this unique program.

View post:
Bioengineering PhD | Bioengineering | Northeastern University

While there is great potential for using stem cells in regenerative therapies, there is still a ways to go before it can be considered a proven practice, although recent breakthroughs, and one specific trial in particular, makes it seem much closer. Recently, the first human tissue-engineered organ using stem cells was created and transplanted successfully into a patient. Other tissue regeneration efforts with stem cells have also recently made many breakthroughs, emphasizing the potential of using stem cells in future tissue transplants.

In the first reported instance of using stem cells to bioengineer a functional human organ, Paolo Macchiarini and his research group used a patients own stem cells to generate an airway, specifically a bronchus, and successfully grafted it into the patient to replace her damaged bronchus (See Figure 1). Macchiarinis group bypassed the problem of immune rejection by using the patients own stem cells. Additionally, by combining a variety of bioengineering efforts, no synthetic parts were involved in the creation of the organ; it was made entirely of cadaveric and patient-derived tissues (Macchiarini et al., 2008; Hollander et al., 2009).

Figure 1. In order to create a patient-compatible replacement bronchus, Macchiarinis group removed and decellularized a trachea from a cadaveric donor, grew cells removed from the patient on the trachea in a bioreactor, and then transplanted the bioengineered airway into the patient, successfully replacing their defective bronchus (Macchiarini et al., 2008).

The relatively unique and tragic situation of the patient led Macchiarinis group to test this novel organ transplant on her, which had previously been tried in mouse and pig models. Due to a severe tuberculosis infection, the 30-year-old female patients left bronchus had become near-collapse; breathing was so impaired that the patient could no longer carry out simple domestic chores. After several other approaches did not succeed in fixing the bronchus, it was decided that the best option was to remove and replace the bronchus. Normally replacement of large airway pieces and other organs is a significant problem because the patient must be on immunosuppressant medications for life to prevent rejection of the new tissue, and this can shorten the patients lifespan by 10 years on average; using the patients own stem cells got around rejection (Macchiarini et al., 2008; Hollander et al., 2009).

To create the replacement bronchus, a cadaveric donor airway was obtained and decellularized, or treated so that all donor cells would be removed. A segment of trachea was removed from a cadaveric donor and all connected tissues carefully detached. To prevent immune rejection by the patient, which can be caused by the presence of foreign cells and different major histocompatibility complexes (MHC), all cells and parts of cells had to be removed from the donor trachea. To ensure complete removal of all donor cellular components, the trachea underwent an extensive, previously established decellularization procedure over a period of 6 weeks, which involved the trachea being incubated with detergents and deoxyribonucleases (enzymes that degrade DNA) for 25 cycles (Macchiarini et al., 2008; Conconi et al., 2005). The researchers confirmed that donor cells, including MHC-positive cells, were absent, leaving only the cartilage of the trachea intact (Macchiarini et al., 2008).

The decellularized trachea acted as a scaffold for the patients cells to be grown on; the stripped airway was incubated in a novel bioreactor with two different kinds of cells from the patient. Epithelial cells were removed from the mucosa, or moist tissue lining, of the patients right bronchus. These cells were taken and cultured, or grown, inside the donor trachea. The second type of cell used was chondrocytes. To create chondrocytes the researchers removed bone marrow from the patient and isolated out a population of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The MSCs were induced to differentiate into, or become, chondrocytes using a standard protocol (i.e. specific factors were added to the growth media) for three days. These chondrocytes were seeded on the outside of the trachea. The cells were grown in different media used inside and outside of the bioreactor, media specific to the epithelial cells or chondrocytes. The cells were cultured on the trachea in the bioreactor for four days, at which point the researchers had bioengineered a human airway lacking any synthetic parts (Macchiarini et al., 2008).

The portion of the patients left bronchus that was near-collapse was removed and successfully replaced by the bioengineered trachea, now acting as a segment of bronchus. After a month in the patient, the transplanted trachea was indistinguishable from a normal bronchus, as compared to the patients unaffected right bronchus and the surrounding bronchus tissue. The transplanted airway quickly also displayed completely normal function (Macchiarini et al., 2008). One year later, the graft and patient are still doing fine (Asnaghi et al., 2009).

While the case of this successfully bioengineered and transplanted organ is a breakthrough, improvements are needed to make such transplants feasible. Because Macchiarinis group used a donor graft, the original cadaveric trachea segment, these transplants are limited by available donors. It is hoped that research efforts will lead to fully-tissue engineered organ transplants without the need of such donor grafts. If this is possible, the current shortage of donor tissue and organs can be dealt with and a large aging population can be much more effectively treated (Hollander et al., 2009).

Aside from Macchiarinis report, several other research groups have made breakthroughs in bioengineering organs and tissues recently. One group reported creating skeletal muscle segments using a synthetic scaffold to shape and grow cells on (Bian and Bursac, 2009). Specifically, these researchers used a silicon-based polymer (polydimethylsiloxane, or PDMS) to create micromolds with pegs, or elongated posts, sticking up from the molds. Muscle cells in a gel solution were poured onto the mold and polymerized together. This created a porous skeletal muscle network that was densely packed, with uniformly aligned muscle fibers that spontaneous contracted at the macroscopic level. In the future this approach could create customized, functional skeletal muscle tissue for reconstructing damaged muscle (Bian and Bursac, 2009). Similarly, another group discusses potential in using stem cells to rescue damaged heart muscles (Shimizu et al., 2009). Researchers are also investigating the feasibility of using epithelial stem cells in bioengineered intestines, based on polymer scaffold experiments performed in rats (Day, 2006). Intestinal transplantation, often needed for short bowel syndrome caused by a variety of reasons, is a significant problem because of the extremely active immune system of the intestines (Day, 2006). Other researchers are focusing on the great potential of mesenchymal stem cells (such as were used in Macchiarinis report) in general wound healing; these cells can differentiate into many different kinds of cells, be isolated in significant numbers, potentially migrate to areas they are needed in, and may be immunosuppressive (Fu and Li, 2009). The use of nanomaterials, which can mimic proteins on the surface of cells and tissues, also hold much potential for future scaffold designs in regenerative medicine (Zhang and Webster, 2008).

While Macchiarinis patient represents a significant breakthrough, it is still a single success that must be repeated to be proven. The transition to the clinic of other stem cell-based regenerative therapies will also require extremely careful characterization of each individual procedure. There are still many obstacles to overcome before such therapies can become common practice. Those interested in receiving stem cell therapies should be aware of the possible risks involved; the Department of Healths Gene Therapy Advisory Committee lists such potential hazards associated with undergoing stem cell therapies.

References

Asnaghi, M. A., Jungebluth, P., Raimondi, M. T., Dickinson, S. C., Rees, L. E. N., Go, T., Cogan, T. A., Dodson, A., Parnigotto, P. P., Hollander, A. P., Birchall, M. A., Conconi, M. T., Macchiarini, P., and Mantero, S. A double-chamber rotating bioreactor for the development of tissue-engineered hollow organs: From concept to clinical trials. Biomaterials. 2009. 30(29): 5260-5269.View Article

Bian, W. and Bursac, N. Engineered skeletal muscle tissue networks with controllable architecture. Biomaterials. 2009. 30(7): 1401-1412.View Article

Conconi , M. T., De Coppi, P., Di Liddo, R., Vigolo, S., Zanon, G. F., Parnigotto, P. P., and Nussdorfer, G. G. Tracheal matrices, obtained by a detergent-enzymatic method, support in vitro the adhesion of chondrocytes and tracheal epithelial cells. Transpl. Internat. 2005. 18(6): 727-734.View Article

Day, R. M. Epithelial stem cells and tissue engineered intestine. Curr. Stem Cell Res. Ther. 2006. 1(1): 113-120.View Article

Fu, X. and Li, H. Mesenchymal stem cells and skin wound repair and regeneration: possibilities and questions. Cell and Tiss. Res. 2009. 335(2): 317-321.View Article

Hollander, A., Macchiarini, P., Gordijn, B., and Birchall, M. The first stem cell-based tissue-engineered organ replacement: implications for regenerative medicine and society. Regen. Med. 2009. 4(2): 147-148.View Article

Macchiarini, P., Jungebluth, P., Go, T., Asnaghi, M. A., Rees, L. E., Cogan, T. A., Ddson, A., Martorell, J., Bellini, S., Parnigotto, P. P., Dickinson, S. C., Hollander, A. P., Mantero, S., Conconi, M. R., Birchall, M. A. Clinical transplantation of a tissue-engineered airway. The Lancent. 2008. 372(9655): 2023-2030.View Article

Shimizu,T., Sekine, H., Yamato, M., Okano, T. Cell Sheet-Based Myocardial Tissue Engineering: New Hope for Damaged Heart Rescue. Curr. Pharm. Design. 2009. 15(24): 2807-2814.View Article

Zhang, L., and Webster, T. J. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials: Promises for improved tissue regeneration. Nanotoday. 2009. 4(1): 66-80.View Article

Image of Macchiarinis Bioengineered Bronchus Replacement was modified from Wikipedia and redistributed freely as it is in the public domain.

adminBioengineering, Mesenchymal Stem Cellsadult, clinical trials, mesenchymal, regenerative medicine 2009-2010, Teisha Rowland. All rights reserved.

Read more:
All Things Stem Cell Bioengineering Organs and Tissues ...

Bioengineering, Industrial

POSTED WITH PERMISSION FROM GEORGIA TECH. ATLANTA (August 2, 2018) ... Implantation of a stent-like flow diverter can offer one option for less invasive treatment of brain aneurysms bulges in blood vessels but the procedure requires frequent monitoring while the vessels heal. Now, a multi-university research team has demonstrated proof-of-concept for a highly flexible and stretchable sensor that could be integrated with the flow diverter to monitor hemodynamics in a blood vessel without costly diagnostic procedures.The sensor, which uses capacitance changes to measure blood flow, could reduce the need for testing to monitor the flow through the diverter. Researchers, led by Georgia Tech, have shown that the sensor accurately measures fluid flow in animal blood vessels in vitro, and are working on the next challenge: wireless operation that could allow in vivo testing.The research was reported July 18 in the journal ACS Nano and was supported by multiple grants from Georgia Techs Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, the University of Pittsburgh and the Korea Institute of Materials Science.The nanostructured sensor system could provide advantages for patients, including a less invasive aneurysm treatment and an active monitoring capability, said Woon-Hong Yeo, an assistant professor in Georgia Techs George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. The integrated system could provide active monitoring of hemodynamics after surgery, allowing the doctor to follow up with quantitative measurement of how well the flow diverter is working in the treatment.Cerebral aneurysms occur in up to five percent of the population, with each aneurysm carrying a one percent risk per year of rupturing, noted Youngjae Chun, an associate professor in the Swanson School of Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Aneurysm rupture will cause death in up to half of affected patients.Endovascular therapy using platinum coils to fill the aneurysm sac has become the standard of care for most aneurysms, but recently a new endovascular approach a flow diverter has been developed to treat cerebral aneurysms. Flow diversion involves placing a porous stent across the neck of an aneurysm to redirect flow away from the sac, generating local blood clots within the sac.We have developed a highly stretchable, hyper-elastic flow diverter using a highly-porous thin film nitinol, Chun explained. None of the existing flow diverters, however, provide quantitative, real-time monitoring of hemodynamics within the sac of cerebral aneurysm. Through the collaboration with Dr. Yeo's group at Georgia Tech, we have developed a smart flow-diverter system that can actively monitor the flow alterations during and after surgery.Repairing the damaged artery takes months or even years, during which the flow diverter must be monitored using MRI and angiogram technology, which is costly and involves injection of a magnetic dye into the blood stream. Yeo and his colleagues hope their sensor could provide simpler monitoring in a doctors office using a wireless inductive coil to send electromagnetic energy through the sensor. By measuring how the energys resonant frequency changes as it passes through the sensor, the system could measure blood flow changes into the sac.We are trying to develop a batteryless, wireless device that is extremely stretchable and flexible that can be miniaturized enough to be routed through the tiny and complex blood vessels of the brain and then deployed without damage, said Yeo. Its a very challenging to insert such electronic system into the brains narrow and contoured blood vessels.The sensor uses a micro-membrane made of two metal layers surrounding a dielectric material, and wraps around the flow diverter. The device is just a few hundred nanometers thick, and is produced using nanofabrication and material transfer printing techniques, encapsulated in a soft elastomeric material.The membrane is deflected by the flow through the diverter, and depending on the strength of the flow, the velocity difference, the amount of deflection changes, Yeo explained. We measure the amount of deflection based on the capacitance change, because the capacitance is inversely proportional to the distance between two metal layers.Because the brains blood vessels are so small, the flow diverters can be no more than five to ten millimeters long and a few millimeters in diameter. That rules out the use of conventional sensors with rigid and bulky electronic circuits.Putting functional materials and circuits into something that size is pretty much impossible right now, Yeo said. What we are doing is very challenging based on conventional materials and design strategies.The researchers tested three materials for their sensors: gold, magnesium and the nickel-titanium alloy known as nitinol. All can be safely used in the body, but magnesium offers the potential to be dissolved into the bloodstream after it is no longer needed.The proof-of-principle sensor was connected to a guide wire in the in vitro testing, but Yeo and his colleagues are now working on a wireless version that could be implanted in a living animal model. While implantable sensors are being used clinically to monitor abdominal blood vessels, application in the brain creates significant challenges.The sensor has to be completely compressed for placement, so it must be capable of stretching 300 or 400 percent, said Yeo. The sensor structure has to be able to endure that kind of handling while being conformable and bending to fit inside the blood vessel.The research included multiple contributors from different institutions, including Connor Howe from Virginia Commonwealth University; Saswat Mishra and Yun-Soung Kim from Georgia Tech, Youngjae Chun, Yanfei Chen, Sang-Ho Ye and William Wagner from the University of Pittsburgh; Jae-Woong Jeong from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; Hun-Soo Byun from Chonnam National University; and Jong-Hoon Kim from Washington State University.CITATION: Connor Howe, et. al., Stretchable, Implantable, Nanostructured Flow-Diverter System for Quantification of Intra-aneurysmal Hemodynamics (ACS Nano, 2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsnano.8b04689 ### A proof-of-concept flow sensor is shown here on a stent backbone. (Credit: John Toon, Georgia Tech)With gloved fingers for scale, a proof-of-concept flow sensor is shown here on a stent backbone. (Credit: Woon-Hong Yeo, Georgia Tech) John Toon, Director of Research News, Georgia Tech

Here is the original post:
SSOE - Bioengineering - Bioengineering

Message from the Director

The Clemson University - Medical University of South Carolina (CU-MUSC) program in Bioengineering is approaching its 15th anniversary in the Fall of 2018. This program, developed to advance the research, education and scholarship of engineering in medicine, was founded as a partnership between Clemson and MUSC. It has grown out of a desire for inter-institutional collaboration to enhance bioengineering research and education focused on clinical needs and to develop economic opportunities in the engineering and technologies associated with healthcare delivery.

Our mission is to be a premier program in Bioengineering in South Carolina and the South-East US with a clinical, translational and entrepreneurial educational and research focus.

The program currently has five full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty from Clemson working and teaching on the MUSC campus, with a full complement of state-of-the-art laboratories and teaching facilities for graduate education in Bioengineering. The unique opportunities for students in this program include clinical immersion, direct collaboration with clinicians and basic life sciences and to work and live in a premier health-care and life sciences educational environment. Innovation and translational research are a particular focus of the program and the potential for health-care economic development opportunities that may arise from the close interactions of engineers with clinicians.

The CU-MUSC Program in Bioengineering is poised for the next step in this exciting process of integrating bioengineering into medicine.

News and Events:

Ying Mei has been awarded an NIH R01! Congratulations Ying!

Jenny Yao, Charleston Academic High School trainee in Dr. Meis lab, wins Special Award at the 2017 International Science Fair in Los Angeles and named semifinalist in the Siemens Competition.

Robert Coyle awarded NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship Scholarship.

See the original post here:
Clemson & MUSC Joint Bioengineering Program

For Rice University degree-granting programs:To view the list of official course offerings, please see Rices Course CatalogTo view the most recent semesters course schedule, please see Rice's Course Schedule

BIOE 202 - CAREERS IN BIOENGINEERING

Description: This seminar is suitable for freshman, sophomores, and non-majors. A series of guest lectures will introduce students to a variety of career options in bioengineering. Students will participate in at least one field trip to an industry partner or hospital to learn more about careers in bioengineering.

BIOE 252 - BIOENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS

Description: Introduction to material, energy, charge, and momentum balances in biological systems. Steady state and transient conservation equations for mass, energy, charge and momentum will be derived and applied using basic mathematical principles, physical laws, stoichiometry, and thermodynamic properties. Problem based learning groups will solve open-ended problems. Required for students intending to major in bioengineering. MATH211 is a concurrent prerequisite and may be taken the same semester.

BIOE 302 - SYSTEMS PHYSIOLOGY

Description: This course will teach the fundamentals of human physiology with a specific focus on the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, and urinary systems. Basic introductory engineering principles will be applied to the study of physiological systems. The course is aimed to be accessible to students with non-engineering backgrounds. Students may receive credit for only one of BIOE302, BIOE322, and BIOC332. Cross-list: BIOC332. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE302 and BIOE322.

BIOE 307 - SYSTEMS BIOLOGY OF BLOOD VESSELS

Description: How blood vessels respond to hypoxia is a process critical to the progression of many diseases and conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and arthritis. Physiological processes such as exercise, aging, and wound healing also depend on hypoxia-induced microvessel changes. This course introduces engineering concepts of hypoxic response, angiogenesis, and capillary remodeling - from the effects at the intracellular level to the whole body. Topics covered include computational systems biology modeling of hypoxia and angiogenesis, the use of angiogenesis in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, imaging of blood vessel dynamics, capillaries of the brain, and the design of new blood vessels. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE507. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE307 and BIOE507.

BIOE 320 - SYSTEMS PHYSIOLOGY LAB MODULE

Description: Exploration of physiologic systems through measurement of biologic signals. EEG, ECG, EMG pulmonary function tests, etc. are performed and analyzed. Students will explore physiologic concepts through computer simulations, data collection, and analysis. Enrollment in or completion of BIOE322/BIOC332 is expected and maybe taken the same semester as BIOE320. For students intending to major in Bioengineering. Instructor Permission Required.

BIOE 321 - CELLULAR ENGINEERING

Description: Introduction to engineering principles and modeling regulation and circuitry at the cellular level. Topics include genetic metabolic networks and cell surface interactions.

BIOE 322 - FUNDAMENTALS OF SYSTEMS PHYSIOLOGY

Description: This course will teach the fundamentals of human physiology from an engineering perspective, with specific focus on the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory and urinary systems. Lectures, assignments and exams will be quantitative and will introduce engineering principles, such as conservation of mass and energy, controls and system analysis, thermodynamics and mass transport, and apply them to the study of physiologic systems. This course is limited to undergraduates. Students may receive credit for only one of BIOE302, BIOE322, and BIOC332 Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE322 and BIOC332/BIOE302.

BIOE 330 - BIOREACTION ENGINEERING

Description: Application of engineering principles to biological processes. Mathematical and experimental techniques for quantitative descriptions of enzyme kinetics, metabolic and genetic networks, cell growth kinetics, bioreactor design and operation.

BIOE 332 - BIOENGINEERING THERMODYNAMICS

Description: This course provides a mathematically rigorous and quantitative coverage of the fundamentals of thermodynamics with applications drawn from contemporary bioengineering problems. Fundamental topics will include the Zeroth, First and Second Law, Entropy Inequality, Gibbs and Helmholtz Free Energies, The Third Law, Maxwell Relations, chemical potential, equilibrium, phase transitions, solution thermodynamics, protein-ligand binding and statistical mechanics. Advanced topics will include transcription factor-DNA binding, nucleic acid hybridization, translation initiation and genetic circuits. The course will cover the role that thermodynamics plays in molecular engineering and synthetic biology.

BIOE 342 - LABORATORY IN TISSUE CULTURE

Description: Introduction to tissue culture techniques, including cell passage, cell viability, and cell attachment and proliferation assays. Students complete quantitative analysis of their data. Engineering design and applications are featured in graded work. Sections 1 and 2 are taught during the first half of the semester. Sections 3 and 4 are taught during the second half of the semester. Students may be required to attend lab on a university holiday. Instructor Permission Required. Cross-list: BIOC320.

BIOE 348 - MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES IN BIOENGINEERING

Description: Introduction to the fundamental physical principles of light interaction with matter, separation (by charge, size, confirmation) and detection techniques utilized in the field of bioengineering. These include absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy, light and fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, electrophoresis, PCR, Blotting, and ELISA. BIOE342/BIOC320 may be taken concurrently with BIOE348.

BIOE 360 - APPROPRIATE DESIGN FOR GLOBAL HEALTH

Description: Seminar-style introductory design course covering epidemiology, pathophysiology, health systems, health economics, medical ethics, humanitarian emergencies, scientific and engineering design methods, and appropriate health technology case studies. To register, you must be enrolled in the GLHT minor and submit a 250 statement to beyondtraditionalborders@rice.edu by Monday of preregistration. The minor and course prerequisite is waived for students majoring in Bioengineering. Instructor Permission Required. Cross-list: GLHT360.

BIOE 361 - METABOLIC ENGINEERING FOR GLOBAL HEALTH ENVIRONMENTS

Description: Importance of nutritional and pharmaceutical compounds, impact of cost of compounds on global health; Overview of biochemical pathways; metabolite analysis; Genetic engineering and molecular biology tools for ME; Pharmaceuticals and drug discovery approaches (antibiotics, antivirals; anti-parasite compounds); anti-diarrhea treatments; vaccines. Cross-list: BIOC361, GLHT361.

BIOE 365 - SUSTAINABLE WATER PURIFICATION FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD

Description: This course is an overview of sustainable strategies for safe water supply in off-the-grid, low-income regions. Topics covered include water quality and treatment, sustainability and WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene). A major element of the course is a project to solve a water-related issue in a real-world context. Cross-list: CEVE314, GLHT314. Repeatable for Credit.

BIOE 370 - BIOMATERIALS

Description: This course will introduce both basic materials science and biological concepts with an emphasis on application of basic quantitative engineering principles to understanding the interactions between materials and biological systems. Topics covered include chemical structure of biomaterials, physical, mechanical, and surface properties of biomaterials, biomaterial degradation, and biomaterial processing. Additional topics include protein and cell interactions with biomaterials, biomaterial implantation, and acute inflammation, wound healing and the presence of biomaterials immune responses to biomaterials, biomaterials, immune responses to biomaterials, biomaterials and thrombosis, as well as infection, tumorigenesis, and calcification of biomaterials that can collectively apply to design of biomaterials for myriad applications. MECH211 or CEVE211 may be taken concurrently with BIOE370.

BIOE 372 - BIOMECHANICS

Description: This course introduces the fundamental principles of mechanics applied to the analysis and characterization of biological systems. Topics covered include normal and shear stresses, normal and shear strains, mechanical properties of materials, load, deformation, elasticity and elastoplastic behavior. Quantitative analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate structures subjected to tension, compression, torsion and bending will be covered. Additionally, aspects of blood rheology, viscoelasticity, and musculoskeletal mechanics will be addressed.

BIOE 380 - INTRODUCTION TO NEUROENGINEERING: MEASURING AND MANIPULATING NEURAL ACTIVITY

Description: This course will serve as an introduction to quantitative modeling of neural activity and the methods used to stimulate and record brain activity. Cross-list: ELEC380, NEUR383. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE380 and BIOE 480/BIOE 590/ELEC 480/ELEC 580.

BIOE 381 - FUNDAMENTALS OF NERVE AND MUSCLE ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY

Description: An introduction to cellular electrophysiology. Includes development of whole-cell models for neurons and muscle (cardiac and skeletal muscle) cells, based on ion channel currents obtained from whole-cell voltage-clamp experiments. Material balance equations are developed for various ions and chemical signaling agents (e.g., second messengers). Numerical methods are introduced for solving the ordinary and partial differential equations associated with these models. Several types of cell models are discussed ranging from neurons and muscle cells to sensory cells of mechanoreceptors, auditory hair cells and photoreceptor cells. Volume conductor boundary-value problems frequently encountered in electrophysiology are posed. Course provides a cellular basis for the interpretation of macroscopic bioelectric signals such as the electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram (EMG), electroretinogram (ERG) and electroencephalogram. Cross-list: ELEC381.

BIOE 383 - BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING INSTRUMENTATION

Description: This is an introductory level course on fundamentals of biomedical engineering instrumentation and analysis. Topics include measurement principles; fundamental concepts in electronics including circuit analysis, data acquisition, amplifiers, filters and A/D converters; Fourier analysis; temperature, pressure, and flow measurements in biological systems.

BIOE 385 - BIOMEDICAL INSTRUMENTATION LAB

Description: Students will gain hands on experience with building biomedical instrumentation circuits and systems. Students will learn the basics of lab view programming and signal analysis. Instructor Permission Required.

BIOE 391 - NUMERICAL METHODS

Description: Introduction to numerical approximation techniques with bioengineering applications. Topics include error propagation, Taylor's Series expansions curre fitting, roots of equations, optimization numerical differentiation and integration, ordinary differential equations, and partial differential equations. Matlab and other software will be used for solving equations. Math 212 may be taken concurrently with BIOE391.

BIOE 392 - NEEDS FINDING AND DEVELOPMENT IN BIOENGINEERING

Description: Students in this course will learn and develop the engineering skill of needs finding in the field of bioengineering focused on designing for disabilities. Students will work in groups with patients with disabilities to identify daily needs and develop design criteria to meet those needs including preliminary prototype development. Instructor Permission Required. Cross-list: GLHT392.

BIOE 400 - ENGINEERING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Description: Independent investigation of a specific topic or problem in modern bioengineering research under the direction of a selected faculty member. Research project has a strong engineering component. Repeatable for Credit.

BIOE 401 - UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Description: Independent investigation of a specific topic or problem in modern bioengineering research under the direction of a selected faculty member. Repeatable for Credit.

BIOE 403 - ADVANCES IN BIONANOTECHNOLOGY

Description: This course covers nanotechnology applications in bioengineering. Students learn about cutting edge research that uses the tools of nanotechnology to tackle medical problems. Topics include bionanotechnology - related research for diagnosis, detection, and treatment of disease; cell targeting; drug design and delivery; gene therapy; prostheses and implants and tissue regeneration. (REGISTRATION NOTE: The prerequisite BIOE370 can also be taken concurrently with BIOE403)

BIOE 408 - SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY

Description: Design of biology at scales from molecules to multicellular organisms will be covered by lecture, primary literature, and student presentations. Students will execute a team based design challenge. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE508. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE408 and BIOE508.

BIOE 419 - INNOVATION LAB FOR MOBILE HEALTH

Description: This course will be an innovation lab for mobile health products. The students will organize themselves in groups with complementary skills and work on a single project for the whole semester. The aim will be to develop a product prototype which can then be demonstrated to both medical practitioners and potential investors. For successful projects with an operational prototype, the next steps could be applying for OWLspark (Rice accelerator program) or crowd sourcing (like Kickstarter) and/or work in Scalable Health Labs over summer. ELEC Juniors can also continue the project outcomes as a starting point for their senior design. Cross-list: ELEC419. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE534. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE419 and BIOE534. Repeatable for Credit.

BIOE 420 - TRANSPORT PHENOMENA IN BIOENGINEERING

Description: BIOE/CHBE420 covers transport phenomena as applied to biological systems and biomedical devices. Conservation of momentum and mass equations are first derived and then used to analyze transport of momentum and mass in biology, physiology, and in biomedical devices. This course is designed for senior bioengineering students. Cross-list: CHBE420.

BIOE 421 - MICROCONTROLLER APPLICATONS

Description: This class covers the usage of microcontrollers in a laboratory setting. We will start with basic electronics and, in the lab component, design, program, and build systems utilizing widely-available microcontrollers (e.g. Arduino, Raspberry Pi). Units in motion control, sensors (light, temperature, humidity, UV/Vis absorbance), and actuation (pneumatics, gears, and motors) will provide students with functional knowledge to design and prototype their own experimental systems for laboratory-scale automation. Instructor Permission Required. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE521. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE421 and BIOE521.

BIOE 422 - GENE THERAPY

Description: This course will examine the gene therapy field, with topics ranging from gene delivery to vectors to ethics of gene therapy. The design principles for engineering improved gene delivery vectors, both viral and nonviral, will be discussed. The course will culminate in a design project focused on engineering a gene delivery device for a specific therapeutic application. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE522. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE422 and BIOE522.

BIOE 431 - BIOMATERIALS APPLICATIONS

Description: Emphasis will be placed on issues regarding the design, synthesis, evaluation, regulation and clinical translation of biomaterials for specific applications. An overview of significant biomaterials engineering applications will be given, including topics such as ophthalmologic, orthopedic, cardiovascular and drug delivery applications, with attention to specific case studies. Regulatory issues concerning biomaterial will also be addressed. Assignments for this class will include frequent readings of the scientific literature with occasional homework questions, one midterm and cumulative final, a group project, a seminar report and individual presentations. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE631. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE431 and BIOE631.

BIOE 439 - APPLIED STATISTICS FOR BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

Description: Course will cover fundamentals of probability and statistics with emphasis on application t biomedical problems and experimental design. Recommended for students pursuing careers in medicine or biotechnology. BIOE439 and BIOE440/STAT440 cannot both be taken for credit. Prerequisite BIOE252 may be taken concurrently. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE539. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE439 and BIOE440/BIOE539/STAT440.

BIOE 440 - STATISTICS FOR BIOENGINEERING

Description: Course covers application of statistics to bioengineering. Topics include descriptive statistics, estimation, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, and regression. Offered first five weeks of the semester. BIOE252 may be taken concurrently with BIOE440. BIOE440/STAT440 and BIOE439 cannot both be taken for credit. Cross-list: STAT440. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE440 and BIOE439.

BIOE 442 - TISSUE ENGINEERING LAB MODULE

Description: Students design and conduct a series of tests to synthesize PLLA, characterize PLLA and PLGA, monitor PLLA and PLGA degradation, and assess the viability, attachment, and proliferation of HDF cells on PLLA films. The experiments include many of the basic types of experiments that would be required to do a preliminary investigation of a tissue engineered product. Sections 1 and 2 will be taught during the first half of the semester and sections 3 and 4 will be taught during the second half of the semester. In addition sections 1 and 3 will need to come into lab on 2-3 Fridays and sections 2 and 4 will need to come into lab on 2-3 Saturdays. Section sign-up is required by the instructor in Keck 108 during preregistration week.

BIOE 443 - BIOPROCESSING LAB MODULE

Description: Students design and conduct a series of experiments to observe the growth of E. coli under different conditions, including agar plates, shake flasks, and a small-scale bioreactor. The E. coli has been transformed with a plasmid that produces beta-galactosidase. Engineering applications are emphasized. Some work "off hours" (early evening) is required. Sections 1 and 2 are taught in the first half of the semester and Sections 3 and 4 are taught in the second half of the semester. Section sign-up is required by the instructor in Keck 108 during preregistration week.

BIOE 444 - MECHANICAL TESTING LAB MODULE

Description: Students design and conduct a series of tests to elucidate the mechanical and material properties of animal tissue using the Instron. BIOE372 may be taken concurrently with BIOE444.

BIOE 445 - ADVANCED INSTRUMENTATION LAB MODULE

Description: Students design and build a biomedical instrumentation device. Sign up is required in Keck 108 during preregistration week.

BIOE 446 - COMPUTATIONAL MODELING LAB

Description: This course offers a hands-on application to systems biology modeling. Students will learn a range of modeling methods, and apply them directly in class to current bioengineering problems. Weekly tutorials will be offered, and a laptop is required (or can be loaned). Topics covered include in silico drug delivery and design studies, integrating multiscale models with high-resolution imaging, experimental design vial computer modeling, and patient-specific simulations. Modeling methods include protein-protein interaction networks, biocircuits, stochastic differential equations, agent-based modeling, computational fluid dynamics, and finite element modeling.

BIOE 447 - DIGITAL DESIGN & VISUALIZATION

Description: Students will acquire basic to intermediate-level digital design proficiency for bioengineering-related applications. Programs for the design of patient-specific therapies including image reconstruction, computer aided design, and parameter modeling will be used to create models. Section sign up is required during pre-registration week.

BIOE 449 - TROUBLESHOOTING WORKSHOP FOR CLINICALLY-RELEVANT BIOMEDICAL EQUIPMENT

Description: Bioengineering course in the troubleshooting, repair, and maintenance of standard biomedical equipment used in hospitals in the developed and developing worlds. Cross-list: GLHT449. Repeatable for Credit.

BIOE 451 - BIOENGINEERING DESIGN I

Description: Senior Bioengineering students will design devices in biotechnology or biomedicine. This project-based course covers systematic design processes, engineering economics, FDA requirements, safety, engineering ethics, design failures, research design, intellectual property rights, environmental impact, business planning and marketing. Students will be expected to compile documentation and present orally progress of their teams. BIOE451 and 452 must be taken the same academic year. Instructor Permission Required.

BIOE 452 - BIOENGINEERING DESIGN II

Description: Senior Bioengineering students will design devices in biotechnology or biomedicine. This project-based course covers systematic design processes, engineering economics, FDA requirements, safety, engineering ethics, design failures, research design, intellectual property rights, environmental impact, business planning and marketing. Students will be expected to compile documentation and present orally progress of their teams. BIOE451 and 452 must be taken the same academic year. Instructor Permission Required.

BIOE 454 - COMPUTATIONAL FLUID MECHANICS

Description: Fundamental concepts of finite element methods in fluid mechanics, including spatial discretization and numerical integration in multidimensions, time-integration, and solution of nonlinear ordinary differential equation systems. Advanced numerical stabilization techniques designed for fluid mechanics problems. Strategies for solution of complex, real-world problems. Topics in large-scale computing, parallel processing, and visualization. Prerequisites may be taken concurrently. Cross-list: CEVE454, MECH454. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE554. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE454 and BIOE554.

BIOE 460 - BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING

Description: Design, operation, and analysis of processes in the biochemical industries. Topics include enzyme kinetics, cell growth kinetics, energetics, recombinant DNA technology, microbial, tissue and plant cell cultures, bioreactor design and operation, and down stream processing. Cross-list: CHBE460.

BIOE 464 - EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

Description: This course will address the biology, organization, mechanics, and turnover of extracellular matrix. There will be an emphasis on cells and cell-matrix interactions, matrix distribution within and design of connective tissues and organs techniques for quantitative analysis of matrix, techniques for measurement and modeling of connective tissue biomechanics, changes with growth and aging and tissue/matrix degradation. Cross-list: BIOC464. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE524. Recommended Prerequisite(s): BIOE372, BIOC/BIOE 341. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE464 and BIOE524.

BIOE 470 - FROM SEQUENCE TO STRUCTURE: AN INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY

Description: Contemporary introduction to problems in computational biology spanning sequence to structure. The course has three modules: the first introduces students to the design and statistical analysis of gene expression studies; the second covers statistical machine learning techniques for understanding experimental data generated in computational biology; and the third introduces problems in the modeling of protein structure using computational methods from robotics. The course is project oriented with an emphasis on computation and problem-solving. Cross-list: COMP470, STAT470. Recommended Prerequisite(s): COMP 280 and (STAT310 or STAT 331).

BIOE 481 - COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE AND NEURAL ENGINEERING

Description: An introduction to the anatomy and physiology of the brain. Includes basic electrophysiology of nerve and muscle. Develops mathematical models of neurons, synaptic transmission and natural neural networks. Leads to a discussion of neuromorphic circuits which can represent neuron and neural network behavior in silicon. Recommendation: Knowledge of electrical circuits, operational amplifier circuits and ordinary differential equations. Involves programming Matlab. Cross-list: ELEC481, NEUR481. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE583. Recommended Prerequisite(s): Knowledge of basic electrical and operational amplifier circuits; and ordinary differential equations. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE481 and BIOE583.

BIOE 482 - PHYSIOLOGICAL CONTROL SYSTEMS

Description: A study of the somatic and autonomic nervous system control of biological systems. Simulation methods, as well as, techniques common to linear and nonlinear control theory are used. Also included is an introduction to sensors and instrumentation techniques. Examples are taken from the cardiovascular, respiratory, and visual systems. Cross-list: ELEC482. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE582. Recommended Prerequisite(s): Knowledge of basic electrical and operational amplifier circuits: and ordinary differential equations. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE482 and BIOE582.

BIOE 484 - BIOPHOTONICS INSTRUMENTATION AND APPLICATIONS

Description: This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of Biophotonics instrumentation related to coherent light generation, transmission by optical components such as lenses and fibers, and modulation and detection. Interference and polarization concepts and light theories including ray and wave optics will be covered. A broad variety of optical imaging and detection techniques including numerous microscopy techniques, spectral imaging, polarimetry, OCT and others will be covered. The course will guide through the principles and concepts used in a variety of optical instruments and point to special requirements for Biomedical applications with emphasis on principles and concepts used in a variety of optical instruments and point to special requirements for Biomedical applications with emphasis on principles and concepts used in a variety of optical instruments and point out special requirements for bio-medical applications in optical sensing, diagnosis, and biomedical applications. Graduate/Undergraduate Equivalency: BIOE512. Mutually Exclusive: Credit cannot be earned for BIOE484 and BIOE512.

BIOE 485 - FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDICAL IMAGING I

Continue reading here:
Bioengineering < Rice University

The Bioengineering Programprovides a seriesof professional studies grounded in engineering fundamentals and arts and sciences and augmented by the development of interpersonal skills, experiential learning, and an appreciation of lifelong learning. Graduates are prepared to apply their knowledge to societys needs and help shape the future.

Training in bioengineering prepares graduatesto work invarious fields, such as:

Our graduates can expect to work in places like:

The three different tracks in thisprogram will prepare graduates for a variety of careers. Among them are:

* This elective requirement includes 3 credits of Foreign Language/ Diversity, 6 credits of Humanities/ Social Science/ Theology, and 12 credits of Bioengineering Technical Electives.

* Twelve credits of bioengineering courses (or approved mechanical engineering or electrical engineering courses) are to be selected to provide areas of individual study emphasis. Up to three credits may be substituted for students participating in undergraduate research within the College of Engineering.

Click herefor mechanical/ bioengineering elective information.

Computer Specifications: When looking for a computer to use for engineering classes, please refer to this PDF for the specifications.

* The elective requirement includes 3 credits of Foreign Language/Diversity, 6 credits of Humanities/Social Science/Theology, and 4 credits of Bioengineering Technical Electives.

* Four credits of bioengineering courses (or approved mechanical engineering or electrical engineering courses) are to be selected to provide areas of individual study emphasis. Up to three credits may be substituted for students participating in undergraduate research within the College of Engineering.

Click herefor mechanical/ bioengineering elective information.

Computer Specifications: When looking for a computer to use for engineering classes, please refer to this PDF for the specifications.

*The elective requirement includes 3 credits of Foreign Language/Diversity,3 credits of Humanities/Social Science/Theology, and3 credits of Bioengineering Technical Electives.

* Three credits of bioengineering courses (or approved mechanical engineering or electrical engineering courses) are to be selected to provide areas of individual study emphasis. Up to three credits may be substituted for students participating in undergraduate research within the College of Engineering.

* Note: PSY 110 General Psychology (3 credits) should also be taken to prepare for the MCAT.

Click herefor mechanical/ bioengineering elective information.

Computer Specifications: When looking for a computer to use for engineering classes, please refer to this PDF for the specifications.

Read more here:
Bioengineering | College of Engineering