Biomaterials-Tissue Interactions
This MIT OpenCourseWare course examines how implantable and injectable medical devices interact with living tissue, drawing on materials science, chemical and mechanical engineering, and cell biology. Topics include the mechanical and surface properties of metals, ceramics, and polymers used in devices, the body's inflammatory and immune responses to foreign materials, and design considerations for orthopedic implants, cardiovascular devices, and drug delivery systems. The course includes lecture notes, readings drawn from primary research literature, and problem sets that ask students to evaluate real device failures and material choices. Case studies cover topics such as hip replacement wear debris and blood-contacting device thrombosis, tying engineering principles to clinical outcomes. Materials are published freely by MIT under its OpenCourseWare initiative, with no enrollment or certificate; the site offers no formal grading or credential, only the course materials themselves for self-study.