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Title Biomimetic Systems - Modelling Human Physiology in Infection Biology
Course number 3136
Programme Infektionsbiologi och global hälsa (BIGH)
Language English
Credits 2.0
Date 2019-01-21 -- 2019-04-15
Responsible KI department Institutionen för neurovetenskap
Specific entry requirements
Purpose of the course This course consists of advanced level studies at the interface of engineering and Infection Biology, focusing on the science of mimicking and modelling human physiology. The course aims to introduce students to the cutting edge of technological advances and how these advances can be applied to address biological questions with a focus on Infection. It will cover the needs and challenges in mimicking human physiology in experimental science and introduce methods to address this including humanised animal models, in vitro systems such as micro-physiological systems including organs on a chip as well as analytical methods, actuators and sensors in conjunction to these systems. The course content is tuned for M.Sc. and PhD students with an interest in the interface between bioengineering, material science, biotechnology and medical science, cell physics and particularly Infection biology and Tissue Microbiology.

Intended learning outcomes After completing the course, the student should be able to:
- Reflect over the need for and limitations of systems mimicking and predicting human physiology
- Understand the differences in vitro models including Organ Chips, Organoid cultures, other 3D cell cultures and conventional cell cultures.
- Understand the basic principles in extrapolations of in vitro data to human in vivo physiology
- Analyze and reflect over the use of biomimetic systems in drug development and clinical settings
- Analyze and discuss the scientific literature in biomimetic systems
- Analyze and reflect over the sustainability aspects of Biomimetic systems, in particular the aspects of environmental and societal impact of both the current status of the studies and future dissemination of the technology
Contents of the course - Introduction to human physiology and pathophysiology of infection. What can Tissue Microbiology teach us about infection in vivo? Why we should build biomimetic systems that mimic the human physiology?

- Introduction to in vitro systems:
Overview of in vitro system, what are their benefits and limitations

- Microfluidic/Diagnostic systems:
Introduction to microfluidics, flow, fabrication, materials

- Organs on a chip:
Introduction to tissue engineering, tissue under flow, organ-organ interaction.

- Organoids:
What are organoids? Fabrication, benefits and limitations

- 2D vs. 3D:
Cell properties in 2D vs. 3D. microenvironment, cell mechanics, limitation, overview of different 2 and 3D models.

- Artificial organs:
Introduction to artificial organs, requirements, engineering and creating artificial organs, 3D printing, scaffolds.

- In vitro metrics
Assessing the in vitro samples, readouts, clinical relevance

- Sensors
Scaling sensors to cellular readouts, type of transducers, fabrication, limitations.
Conducting polymers as sensors

- Applications to basic research and drug development
How biomimetic systems can be applied in drug development. The drug development process, limitations of the process, what is the strength and limitations of the biomimetic systems in drug development.

- In vitro in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE)
Cellularity, scaling microsystems to human scale, translation of the system to clinical data. ""Bench-to-bedside"", the steps from in vitro cell culture through to clinic

- Summarizing lecture and outlook

Teaching and learning activities The course will consist of ~12 lectures given by experts on the topics, combined with seminars where the student will present and discuss their project works. The lecture and seminar series will be shared between KTH, Karolinska Institute and Tel Aviv University as web conferences. The participants of the course will be divided in groups with at least two participants from each university. The groups will be given a topic for in depth studies of relevant scientific literature. This project work will be presented as a seminar and a written review. The course will span 12 weeks
Compulsory elements - Each student will have to prepare a seminar (as part of a group) preferably mixed groups between the universities
- Each student will have to prepare a review on the topic he chooses (as part of a group) preferably mixed groups between the universities.

- absences may be compensated by complementary written assignments to the missed topics but it is compulsory to attend at least 80% of the lecturers to pass the course.
Examination - A prepared group lecture on assigned topic 40%
- A personal written review on the topic 40%
- A multiple-choice exam 20%
Literature and other teaching material Literature will consist of current scientific literature

Required material: Video conferencing equipment
Number of students 10 - 30
Selection of students Selection will be based on 1) the relevance of the course syllabus for the applicant's doctoral project (according to written motivation), 2) date for registration as a doctoral student (priority given to earlier registration date)
More information The course will be run with weekly lectures with each lecture lasting 2-3h. Final dates will be released when available.
Additional course leader Dr. Anna Herland, anna.herland@ki.se
Latest course evaluation Not available
Course responsible Keira Melican
Institutionen för neurovetenskap

Keira.Melican@ki.se
Contact person -