Undergraduate Course: Chemical Engineering for Biomedical Applications (CHEE08024)
Course Outline
| School | School of Engineering |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course is designed to provide practical insight into the application of chemical engineering in biomedicine.
It reinforces core knowledge by examining how chemical engineering contributes to drug delivery, tissue engineering, and diagnostic technologies.
It introduces the concept of biomaterials and explores their mechanical, chemical, and biological properties in relation to biocompatibility and host response.
Students will study the design and performance of drug delivery systems, regenerative medicine strategies including 3D-printed scaffolds, and the role of biosensors and microfluidics for diagnostics.
The course also covers the engineering of biological systems for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, alongside ethical, regulatory, and clinical considerations.
Case studies illustrate real-world biomedical challenges and emerging technologies. |
| Course description |
Topic 1: Introduction to Chemical and Biological Systems
Basic knowledge:
- Relationship between chemical engineering and living systems
- Cells and tissues as systems with transport, reactions, and feedback
- Fundamental physical-chemical principles: diffusion, mass transfer, and reaction kinetics in biological contexts
- Analogy between organisms and chemical engineering plants: molecules (reactants), cells (reactors), tissues (process unit), organs (integrated process system), organism (chemical plant).
Key terminology:
Cell, membrane, cytoplasm, diffusion, concentration gradient, reaction rate, equilibrium, interface, homeostasis
Case study: Why engineers are needed in healthcare innovation - designing materials, devices, and processes that are reproducible, safe, and effective.
Topic 2: Drug Delivery - Transport Inside the Body
Basic knowledge:
- What happens when a drug enters the body
- Key concepts: diffusion, permeability, degradation, half-life, bioavailability
- Types of delivery systems: tablets, patches, injections, nanoparticles, hydrogels
- Simplified view of pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) and pharmacodynamics
- Importance of drug delivery for safety and effectiveness
Key terminology:
Carrier, release profile, concentration-time curve, diffusion coefficient, degradation rate constant, target tissue
Case study: technologies for drug delivery.
Topic 3: Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine
Basic knowledge:
- Concept of tissue engineering, regenerative medicine
- Components of tissue: cells, extracellular matrix (ECM), scaffold materials
- Role of biomaterials: natural vs synthetic
- Introduction to biocompatibility, degradation, mechanical properties, cytokines, chemokines
- Overview of 3D printing and its use in creating tissue scaffolds
- How engineers design scaffolds to support growth and healing
Key terminology:
Stem cell, scaffold, hydrogel, pore size, cell adhesion, cytokines, chemokines, growth factor, differentiation
Case study: Bone regeneration and organ repair.
Topic 4: Biosensors and Diagnostics
Basic knowledge:
- Principle of a biosensor: biological recognition element + transducer + signal output
- Common sensing mechanisms: electrochemical, optical, mechanical
- Introduction to microfluidics, miniaturisation, point-of-care diagnostics
- Importance of sensitivity, selectivity, and response time
Key terminology:
Analyte, enzyme, antibody, transducer, calibration curve, signal-to-noise ratio, lab-on-a-chip
Case study: biosensors in medical diagnostics (e.g., markers of cardiac events, glucose monitors, microfluidics wearables, oxygen sensors).
Topic 5: Engineering Biology and Emerging Technologies
Basic knowledge:
- How cells can be modified to perform new functions
- Introduction to genes, DNA, proteins, metabolism, enzymes
- Basic principles of genetic and metabolic engineering
- Simple concepts of gene circuits, promoters, feedback control
- Applications: biosynthesis of drugs, engineered microbes, synthetic cells
Key terminology:
Gene, plasmid, promoter, metabolic pathway, expression, mutation, synthetic biology, chassis organism
Case study: cell-free systems for biomanufacturing.
Topic 6: Challenges, Ethics, and Regulation
Basic knowledge:
- Material and biological safety: biocompatibility, sterilisation, degradation, immune response
- Long-term performance and device reliability
- Ethical and regulatory frameworks for biomedical technologies
- Discussion of social responsibility and public engagement
Key terminology:
Sterilisation, cytotoxicity, immune response, clinical trial, regulation, consent, biosafety, sustainability
Case study: New medical technology - balancing innovation, ethics, and patient safety.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 5,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Formative Assessment Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 20,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
47 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
100 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam %: 100
Practical Exam %: 0
Coursework %: 0
|
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- K&U (Knowledge & Understanding): Explain the roles of chemical engineering in biomedicine, including drug delivery, tissue engineering, diagnostics, and synthetic biology using correct terminology; Describe and appraise biomaterials (e.g., polymers, metals, ceramics) with respect to biocompatibility, mechanics, degradation and sterilisation; Explain the mechanisms of controlled drug release and describe the design and operation of biosensors and microfluidic devices; Discuss key challenges and describe the ethical, regulatory, and clinical issues in biomedical engineering applications.
- CS (Cognitive Skills): Analyse and compare biomedical technologies (e.g., drug delivery systems, biosensors, tissue scaffolds) based on their engineering design and biological context; Interpret and evaluate case studies to assess how chemical engineering approaches addresses specific medical and biological challenges; Critically evaluate and synthesise information from scientific literature in emerging areas of biomedical chemical engineering.
- Practice (Applied Skills): Apply chemical and biomedical engineering principles to analyse and solve applied problems; Demonstrate the ability to integrate theoretical knowledge to interpret data and evaluate engineering solutions in biomedical contexts; Formulate and justify design choices or process improvements for biomedical systems based on given scenarios; Effectively communicate technical reasoning and problem-solving approaches in a clear, structured, and professional manner during assessments.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Biomedical Applications,Drug Delivery System,Synthetic Biology,Biosensors & Microfluids |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tom Robinson
Tel:
Email: tom.robinson@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Mark Owenson
Tel: (0131 6)50 5533
Email: Mark.Owenson@ed.ac.uk |
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