Laboratory courses focused on tissue engineering applications

Two new laboratory courses focused on tissue engineering have been developed and implemented in the Bioengineering Department at Rice University. The content of these courses is quite unique, yet fully supports the department´s emphasis on biomedical engineering at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. This sequence or required undergraduate laboratory courses is designed to teach students mammalian tissue culture techniques, to develop their ability to design and conduct experiments, and to meet department-specific ABET Program Outcomes. In BIOE 342, students learn sterile technique, develop their ability to visually assess cell morphology and confluency, and learn how to maintain cells in culture. Using fibroblast cells, students conduct viability, attachment, and proliferation assays. In BIOE 441 students apply their tissue culture techniques to a tissue engineering challenge. Students assess the physical and chemical properties of two polymers. Students design and conduct experiments to quantify the viability, attachment, and proliferation of fibroblast cells on polymer films. Students are not given protocols for these experiments; they must develop new protocols or adapt protocols from BIOE 342 and make adjustments for experimental differences. Most students repeat experiments with a redesigned protocol. Because of the open-ended nature of the assignment, students develop unique approaches and protocols.