Biomedical Materials Chemistry

Biomedical Materials Chemistry is a very exciting area where rapid advances are being made at the present time. Owing to people both living longer and leading more active lifestyles, and also as a result of improvements in disease diagnosis, surgeons need artificial biomedical materials to replace or repair parts of our bodies when they break down. Just as mechanics require new and improved replacement parts for repairing broken-down cars, surgeons need better implant materials that will both last longer, and will allow patients to continue a normal lifestyle.

This area of Materials Chemistry has therefore become extremely popular in the last 10 years, with exciting possibilities to mix together Chemistry, Biology and Medicine. Areas of interest include Orthopaedic Cell and Tissue Engineering, Biosensors, Bioceramics, Dental Biomaterials, Implant Materials, Bone Tissue Engineering, Bone Cements, and Polymers for Biomedical Materials.

Programme Structure & Content

First Year
Students study introductory courses in Chemistry, along with study of two other subjects, usually but not necessarily science ones. There is plenty of choice at this level.

Second Year
The four chemistry courses cover all the main areas of Chemistry and take up half the workload. Four more courses are selected from other departments, usually in science.

Third Year
Students spend all their time studying Chemistry, including a course on Communicating Chemistry targeted at transferable skills including computing, IT and presentation skills.

Fourth Year
All students have lectures on a range of specialised topics, and receive training in Methods of Research. Students have group-based practicals on Advanced Instrumental Techniques and a Mini-Project in fourth year.

Fifth Year
The MChem personal Research Project is in fifth year, and usually involves a placement in Europe.

Teaching & Assessment

In first year, traditional lectures and practical classes are now integrated with the support provided by the University's Virtual Learning Environment, WebCT. At higher levels, tutorials, individual and group project work, and essay and oral presentations, together with a rapidly increasing range of computer-based learning aids, also form part of the programme.