Note: This unit is an archived version! See Overview tab for delivered versions.
AMME5931: Nanomaterials in Medicine (2018 - Semester 1)
| Unit: | AMME5931: Nanomaterials in Medicine (6 CP) |
| Mode: | Normal-Day |
| On Offer: | Yes |
| Level: | Postgraduate |
| Faculty/School: | School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering |
| Unit Coordinator/s: |
Professor Zreiqat, Hala
Dr No, Young |
| Session options: | Semester 1 |
| Versions for this Unit: |
| Campus: | Camperdown/Darlington |
| Pre-Requisites: | None. |
| Brief Handbook Description: | The application of science and technology at the nanoscale for biomedical problems promises to revolutionise medicine. Recent years have witnessed unprecedented advances in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases by applying nanotechnology to medicine. This course focuses on explaining the fundamentals of nanomedicine, and highlighting the special properties and application of nanomaterials in medicine. This course also reviews the most significant biomedical applications of nanomaterials including the recent breakthroughs in drug delivery, medical imaging, gene therapy, biosensors and cancer treatment. The aims and objectives of this unit of study are: * To introduce the student to the application of nanotechnology in medicine and diverse range of nanomaterials used in this field. * To give the student an overview of basic principles on synthesis and characterisation of nanomaterials in medicine. * To enable students to understand the current challenges and difficulties in nanomedicine and give them ideas to engineer and design new materials to address the current challenges. * To introduce students to the future impact of nanomedicine on healthcare practice. |
| Assumed Knowledge: | 1000-level Biology and Chemistry; 3000-level or higher Engineering Design Practice and Biomedical Engineering; AMME1362 or 6cp 1000-level Materials Science; MECH2901 or 6cp 2000-level Anatomy and Physiology. |
| Timetable: | AMME5931 Timetable | |||||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: |
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Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.
| Attribute Development Method | Attribute Developed |
| The students will be required to submit an assignment whereby they will write a hypothetical research project description. The content will be inspired by the lectures and individual reading. The students will be expected to identify a problem in the related field and discuss innovative and technically feasible ways of providing solutions. | Design (Level 3) |
| The students will be given lectures in specific areas of nanomedicine and they can be familiarise how to integrate engineering principles in nanomedicine. | Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) |
| This will be developed through both the individual presentation and the group project activities. Both these assessments require students to access and analyze recent scientific developments published in the academic domain. | Information Seeking (Level 2) |
| Both oral communication (through individual presentations) and written and inter-member communication skills (through group assessment) will be developed. | Communication (Level 3) |
| Students will be divided into small groups and will be tasked to write up a section of a grant application. This will require teamwork, time management skills, and task delegation skills. | Professional Conduct (Level 2) |
For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018.
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.
Professional Conduct (Level 2)
1. The students will be assessed in their ability to assign tasks, manage time, meet deadlines, and communicate with their colleagues in a professional manner in the group written assessment.
Communication (Level 3)
2. Oral communication abilities will be developed and assessed in individual presentations. The students will be assessed on their ability to present in a clear, succinct manner (eye contact, tone, voice, pace)
3. Written communication abilities will be developed and assessed in group written assignment. The students will be assessed on the ability use the correct language, report format, correct use of figures and tables, referencing, and structural and logical flow of the information presented.
Information Seeking (Level 2)
4. Students will be assessed in their ability to obtain information using appropriate search strategies to gain in-depth knowledge and current advances in nanomaterials used in medicine.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3)
5. Students will be assessed in their ability to apply and integrate engineering principles to nanomedicine.
Design (Level 3)
6. Overall course will enable students to understand the current challenges in nanomedicine particularly advantages and disadvantages of the currently used nanomaterials. This will require students to discuss and come up with solutions and new designs for materials for unmet need(s) in the biomedical sector.
| Assessment Methods: |
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| Assessment Description: |
* Students who miss assessment and have been granted special consideration will be awarded a replacement assessment or extension. 40% - Major Written Group Assessment (Handed out Week 3, Due Week 13) 30% - Individual Presentation Assessment (Handed out week 2, due Week 6) 20% - Final examination 10% - Short quiz every week (roughly 10 quizzes, 1% each), also includes attendance |
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| Grading: |
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| Policies & Procedures: | See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies. |
Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
| Week | Description |
| Week 1 | Introduction to nanomaterials in medicine |
| Week 2 | Organic nanoparticles for biomedicine |
| Week 3 | Inorganic nanoparticles in biomedicine |
| Week 4 | Good Friday (no lecture) |
| Week 5 | Synthesis and characterization of nanoparticles |
| Week 6 | Magnetic nanoparticles for biomedical engineering |
| Assessment Due: Presentation * | |
| Week 7 | Drug delivery using nanoparticles |
| Week 8 | Nanoparticles as biosensors |
| Week 9 | Quantum dots for biomedical engineering |
| Week 10 | Upconversion nanoparticles for biomedical engineering |
| Week 11 | Nanoparticles for cancer treatment |
| Week 12 | Plasmonics in biomedical engineering |
| Week 13 | Revision |
| Assessment Due: Assignment * | |
| Exam Period | Assessment Due: Final examination |
Course Relations
The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.
Course Goals
This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:
| Attribute | Practiced | Assessed |
| Professional Conduct (Level 2) | Yes | 8% |
| Communication (Level 3) | Yes | 15.5% |
| Information Seeking (Level 2) | Yes | 27.1% |
| Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 3) | Yes | 27.1% |
| Design (Level 3) | Yes | 22.3% |
These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table 2018 for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.
