Biomaterial Surfaces: Properties and Characterization

Lecturer(s)

Prof. Marcus Textor, Dr. H. Hall, Dr. J. Vörös, Dr. M. Heuberger

Hour(s) of lecture(s), exercise(s) and credit points

2L
2E
3CP

Teaching goals

The course addresses undergraduate and graduate students in Material Science, Chemistry, Biology and Engineering interested in getting introduced into the basic aspects of surface properties, surface modification techniques and surface characterization techniques that are relevant for the field of biomaterials and biosensors.

Summary and outline

The course addresses undergraduate and graduate students in Material Science, Chemistry, Biology and Engineering interested in getting introduced into the basic aspects of surface properties, surface modification and surface characterization techniques that are relevant to the field of biomaterials and biosensors.

• Topics: It covers surface modifications such as chemical, electrochemical, gas phase/plasma and molecular assembly techniques and characterization methods such as XPS, SIMS, IR, ellipsometry, NEXAFS, SPM/AFM. Emphasis is given to in situ techniques that allow one to follow surface reactions under biologically meaningful conditions in aqueous media, using e.g. sensing techniques based on optical waveguide, surface plasmon resonance or quartz crystal microbalance methods. The basic aspects of protein-surface and cell-surface interactions are given, related to surface properties of biomaterials and biosensors.
• Lab: Apart from lectures, two experimental 1/2-day courses are offered: experimental work in a surface analysis lab and in a cell culture lab, respectively.
• Homework: Groups of students can choose a topic to be studied and presented orally during one of the course dates (compulsory for receiving the testate).
• No special requirements are needed for attending; having previously attended D-MATL courses such as “Surfaces and Interfaces”, “Biocompatible Materials” or “Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Biomedical

Literature

Script of 178 pages with many illustrations, distributed free of charge as CD-ROM. Downloadable from here.