Learning objectives
The students will acquire fundamentals and up-to-date account of the current knowledge in biology (chondrogenesis, metabolism, chondocyte differentiatoin) and pathophysiology (cartilage degeneration) of articular cartilage tissue focusing on the application of these issues for cartilage repairing in vivo.
With a practical approach during the lab classes the students will acquire a core professional training in primary cell culture methods and techniques and also they will acquire capacity to apply systems to culture articular chondrocytes, to maintain chondrocyte differentiation in vitro and to evaluate the biocompatibility of three-dimensional scaffold of biomaterials.The course aims also to enable the student to know and to understand the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, dynamics of deposition and bone remodeling, the standardization of experimental protocols and methodologies for the evaluation of osseointegration, concepts of tissue engineering and nanomedicine. At the end of the course, the student will have to demonstrate to know and understand the notions teached on the various topics during the frontal teaching and practical activity, moreover to know how to apply it for the standardization and for the evaluation of the experimental methods apply in the evaluation of the biocompatibility of bone biomaterials.
The students will also acquire the understanding of the chemistry and physics of natural and sinthetic polymers used in tissue engineering and drug delivery.
The course will also provide to the students the basic knowledge on biomaterials applied in general surgery, vascular surgery and hemostasis.
Prerequisites
General knowledge of inorganic and organic chemistry, cytology and histology are required
Course unit content
1)Osteochondrogenesis (Module A) (5 CFU) Lecturer: Prof. Paolo Borghetti (VET/03) - [4 CFU of theoretical lessons (28 hours) + 1 CFU of praticals (12 hours)].
Theory: Structure, function and degenerative pathology of articular joints. Chondrogenesis, biomaterials for cartilage regeneration/repair.
Practicals: Tecniques for culture and differentiation of articular chondrocyte.
2)Osteochondrogenesis(Module B) (5 CFU) Lecturer: Dott. Antonio Cacchioli (VET/01) - [3.5 CFU of theoretical lessons (25 hours) and 1.5 CFu of practicals (18 hours)]
Theory: Locomotor system, bone tissue and osteogenesis, biomaterials employed in orthopaedic and dental field. Notion of legislation on animal experimentation
Practical training: Histological techniques for evaluatoin of osteointegration.
3) Medical devices for advanced therapy (2 CFU). Lecturer: Prof. Ruggero Bettini (CHIM09 - 2 CFU/14 hours of classrooom lectures)
Natural and synthetic polymers for biomedical use. Tridimensional polymeric scaffolds.
4)Bioprotesis. Lecturer: Prof. Mario Sianesi (MED/18) (1 CFU: 7 hours of theoretical lessons)
Biomaterials in general surgery, vascular surgery and surgical hemostasis
Full programme
1) Osteochondrogenesis (Module A) (5 CFU) Lecturer: Prof. Paolo Borghetti (VET/03) - [4 CFU of theoretical lessons (28 hours) + 1 CFU of praticals (12 hours)].
Theoretical part .
a) First part .
Introductory aspects and general characteristics of cartilage tissue :
- The chondrogenesis : molecular aspects of chondrogenic differentiation in vitro and in vivo: gene expression and influence of growth factors. Molecular regulation of chondrogenesis .
- The physiology of synovial joints : structure and function .
- Biology of articular cartilage : microscopic organization, molecular structure, function and metabolism. The chondrocyte and its role in the pathology and repair .
- Pathophysiology of articular cartilage : macroscopic , microscopic and pathogenesis of degenerative and discondroplasic diseases of articular cartilage ( osteoarthritis and osteochondrosis ) .
b) Second part .
The repair/regeneration of articular cartilage : study models in vitro and in vivo
- Problems and prospects
- Basics on the chondroprotective molecules ;
- Models and techniques for cell regeneration / repair of cartilage : chondrocytes and differentiated mesenchymal stem cells , the prospects and limitations of cell transplantation , the chondrocyte differentiation and de-differentiation, induction of chondrogenesis ;
- Innovative biotechnology application of cartilage repair: concepts of tissue engineering , biomaterials, principles of biocompatibility of chondro-conductive and chondro-inductive systems.
B) Practicals
1 ) Isolation and primary culture of articular chondrocytes ;
2 ) Models for the culturing and maintenance in vitro chondrocyte differentiation ( bi- and three-dimensional systems ) and for the assessment of biocompatibilty of biomaterials .
2)Osteochondrogenesis(Module B) (5 CFU) Lecturer: Dott. Antonio Cacchioli (VET/01) - [3.5 CFU of theoretical lessons (25 hours) and 1.5 CFU of practicals (18 hours)]
Theory:
Locomotor system: classification of bones and principles of biomechanic
Osteology:
- Forms of bony tissue
- Histogenesis
- Morphological and structural characteristics
- Deposition and remodeling dinamics
Definition and classification of biomaterials employed in orthopaedic and dental field
Experimental protocols for evaluation of osteointegration
Notions of legislation on animal experimentation
Methods for the osteintegration evaluation: bone vital markers, polarized light microscopy analysis, histochemical and immunohistochemical reactions, histological stains.
Practical training (16 hours):
The practical activity will focused on:
- Histological techniques for processing undecalcified bone tissue with implants
- Histolgical stains, Histochemical and Immunohistochemical reactions
- Observation of histological sections by polarizing light and fluorescence optical microscope
- Digitalization and image analysis.
3) Medical devices for advanced therapy (2 CFU). Lecturer: Prof. Ruggero Bettini (CHIM09 - 2 CFU/14 hours of classrooom lectures)
Natural and synthetic polymers for biomedical use.
Tridimensional polymeric scaffolds.
Chemical modification of polymers.
Solid-state manipulation.
Physico-chemical characterisation polymeric films:
hydrophilicity (contact angle, swelling index);
mechanical characteristics (elastic module, elongation to break,deformability);
porosity of tridimensional structures;
surface characteristics (roughness) by microscopy;
chemical composition of the surface.
Polymeric scaffolds as drug delivery systems.
4)Bioprotesis. Lecturer: Prof. Mario Sianesi (MED/18) (1 CFU: 7 hours of theretical lessons)
Biomaterials in general surgery, vascular surgery and surgical hemostasis
Topic:
Prostheses biocompatible in addominal wall surgical repair, in incisional hernias, and in addominal hernias repair.
Vasculars prostheses and patches in vascular surgery.
Hamostatic medications in abdominal, vascular, and thoracic surgery.
Bibliography
Books, scientific reviews, teaching materials and lab protocosl provided during lessons
Teaching methods
Classroom lectures (74 hours) and practical activity (30 hours)in istology and biological laboratory.
Assessment methods and criteria
The evaluation on the knowlegdes acquired by the students will consist in oral examination based on questions about the contents of each module.
The teachers will assess whether the student has achieved the goal of knowledge and understandings of the content and the ability to apply the acquired knowledge.
The result will take place by the global evaluation of the answers.
There is the possibility of self-assessment tests and a partial exam "in itinere".
Other information
- - -
