Module: Advanced Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Advanced Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Module Code	MEC1082
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Mechanical & Manufacturing Eng
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

Module Aims: ● To provide the students with a comprehensive understanding of advanced topics in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. ● To provide students with an in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge biomaterials, scaffolds and scaffold fabrication techniques for tissue engineering applications ● To provide students with an understanding of cell-material interactions, stem cell biology, and bioreactor systems for tissue growth and maturation. ● To familiarise students with wet lab techniques relevant to the fabrication of tissue engineered constructs. ● To develop the necessary scientific communication skills to effectively communicate tissue engineering concepts.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the requirements for tissue engineered constructs in terms of mechanical, chemical and physical properties and micro-architecture.
2. Explain the underpinning principles and method of interpretation for materials characterisation techniques pertinent to tissue engineering.
3. Critically assess existing and emerging technologies for the fabrication of tissue engineered scaffolds including freeze-drying, bioprinting and electrospinning, and explain their underlying principles.
4. Explain the principles supporting cell culture experiments used to investigate biomaterials interactions; protein adsorption, proliferation, FACS, histology, confocal microscopy and others.
5. Analyse and apply key principles of drug delivery and pharmacokinetics in biomaterial systems, integrating mass transfer concepts to optimise therapeutic applications.
6. Critically appraise the ethical issues and regulatory challenges relating to regenerative medicine.
7. Develop and refine research skills related to tissue engineering, including designing and executing experiments, analysing results, and evaluating the outcomes with respect to the current literature and the clinical context.
8. Present the technical assessment of a tissue engineering scaffold, demonstrating effective scientific communication through a structured written report and oral presentation.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures will deliver content related to the indicative content described.
Tutorial	12	Developing a deeper understanding of the content through discussion and debate and practice of solving mathematical questions.
Laboratory	6	Three laboratories focused on: 1) Fabrication of a tissue engineered scaffold 2) Characterisation of a tissue engineered scaffold 3) Cell culture techniques
Independent Study	145.5	Review of module content and completion of CA.
Total Workload: 187.5

Section Breakdown
CRN	12169	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	25%	Examination Weight	75%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Tanya Levingstone	Module Teacher	Antony Kho

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	Students will prepare an individual technical report detailing the results and analysis of materials fabrication and characterisation carried out in the labs	20%	Week 12
Presentation	Students will present results and analysis from the labs	5%	Week 10
Formal Examination	End of Semester written examination	75%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Content
● Biomaterials characterisation; ● Tissue engineering principles; ● Biofabrication of tissue engineered constructs; ● 2D and 3D cell culture; ● Bioreactor technology; ● Pharmacokinetics and mass transfer; ● Biomaterials for drug delivery; ● Microfluidic device design and fabrication ● Consideration of ethics in regenerative medicine ● mechanobiology

Teaching & Learning Strategies/Assessment Methodology
The module is assessed by exam (75%) and continuous assessment (25%). It involves a series of lectures designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of tissue engineered constructs, fabrication techniques, in vitro analysis and therapeutic delivery. The laboratory element of the module will focus on the fabrication, characterisation and in vitro analysis of a tissue engineered construct. Assessment will be through an end of semester exam and the submission of a lab report evaluating the outcomes of the experimental work with respect to the current literature and the clinical context.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Clemens van Blitterswijk,Jan De Boer: 2014, Tissue Engineering, 2nd, Academic Press, 0, 978-0-12-420145-3
Daniel Eberli: 2010, Tissue Engineering, 1st, IntechOpen, 978-953-307-079-7
Melissa Kurtis Micou: 2017, A Laboratory Course in Tissue Engineering, CRC Press, 978-1138407350

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None