The course aims at providing the student with basic biological knowledge of the mechanisms underlying current challenging diseases (such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic infections, osteoporosis) and exploit them to develop advanced strategies technologies to treat these diseases.

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired the knowledge of the enabling technologies in the design of advanced tools treating challenging diseases. In detail, the student will have acquired: 1) KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING - Knowledge of the current clinical challenges and limits of available treatments - General knowledge and requirements of in vitro model development - Knowledge and understanding of cell therapies and their potential in medicine - Knowledge of nanotechnology application to design micro-devices for biomedicine 2) CAPABILITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING - Skills in the development of highly technological approaches to treat challenging diseases - Skills in the design of biomimetic or bioinspired system to reproduce human complexity - Application of the acquired knowledge to engineer new solution and new material design in medicine.

- Basic knowledge of cell biology and physiology. - Basic Knowledge of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, polymerization reactions. - Knowledge on biomaterials and bionanotechnology

1. THE BIOLOGICAL BACKGROUND • Recalls to basic of cell biology and physiology: cell structure and physiological processes, overview of different cell types in the human body. • Physiological barriers in the human body: a special focus on endothelial and blood brain barriers. • Challenging diseases: cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. • Stem cells and their potential in basic and clinical sciences. • The inflammatory response. 2. ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR UNSOLVED CLINICAL CHALLENGES: CANCER AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES • In vitro models as advanced strategies to study pathologies and test efficacy of novel drugs. • New genetic and stem cell therapy techniques to treat challenging diseases. • Mimicking the human complexity using organ-on-chip. 3. ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES FOR UNSOLVED CLINICAL CHALLENGES: FROM BIOCOMPATIBLE TO MULTIFUNCTIONAL BONE DEVICES • Promoting physiological host response through surface modification and functionalization. • Fighting bacteria and controlling inflammation by advanced biomaterials. • Magnetic Biomaterials to treat cancer and its complications: multifunctional materials from the macro to the nanoscale. • Unbalanced bone remodeling, 3D smart scaffold fabrication, encased growth factors. 4. TECHNOLOGIES AND SMART MATERIALS TO FIGHT CHRONIC, INFECTED WOUNDS, DELAYED BONE HEALING, OSTEOPOROSIS • Multifunctional nanomaterials releasing therapeutic ions (antibacterial, pro-osteogenic and pro-angiogenic effects). • Surface modifications and smart coatings for triggered release of drugs.

The course is organized in a series of lectures and practical exercises (case studies) that will be held in the classroom. Practical exercises in the lab will be organized if the number of students permits.

Slides and tutorials provided by the teacher and available through the website.

Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula);

Exam: Written test;

... The final exam will consist of a written test containing 11 questions (some of them are general, some of them multiple choice, some are numerical exercises) for a total of 33 points (a specific number of points is allocated to each question (the max. number of points per question will be written close to each question) and equitably split among the sub-questions, if not clearly stated. The final exam time is 90 '. The use of supporting material (personal notes, books) in paper or electronic format is not permitted.

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.