To profitably attend this course, no specialistic knowledge is required. However, consolidated competences of physics and mathematics are needed. In addition, useful (even if not strictly needed) competences concern mecahnics, electronics, and biology.

Concerning both modules, the methodological indications are:

• The classes will be carried out in an alternated way at the blackboard and by means of projected slides, also with the help of animations and videos;
• Practical lab activities will be carried out by asking students to carry out specific tasks;
• Lessons will be available in electronic format (pdf files) on a web folder accessible by students;
• The teacher/student interaction will be based on e-mail exchanges or by setting meetings on demand, for discussing topics touched during the course and clarifications on the projectual work;
• A projectual work is expected from each student;
• The language used during all classes and practical activities is English.

As for the "Neural Tissue Engineering" module, the contents of the teaching are as follows:
• Nervous system physiology
• Biomaterials in the field of neural tissue engineering
• Two-dimensional and three-dimensional scaffold micro and nano manufacturing techniques
• Methods of chemical-physical, mechanical and biological characterization of scaffolds and biomaterials
• Analysis of some in vitro and in vivo models in neural tissue engineering

For the module “Neural Interfaces and Bioelectronic Medicine”, the course topics are the following:

• Microfabrication bases for the development of neural interfaces (4 hours)
  • Motor control of upper limb and hand movements (4 hours)
  • Motor control of locomotion (4 hours)
  • Computational models for motor control (4 hours)
  • Central and peripheral neural interfaces (6 hours)
  • Bidirectional central human-machine interfaces (4 hours)
  • Peripheral and indirect bidirectional human-machine interfaces (4 hours)
  • Central and peripheral motor neuroprostheses (4 hours)
  • Deep brain stimulation and sensory neuroproteses (4 hours)
  • Robot-neuroprostheses hybrid systems (2 hours)
  • Bioelectronic medicine (10 hours)
  • Projectual Homework (10 hours)

For the module “Neural Tissue Engineering”, the main bibliography is the following:

• Principles of Tissue Engineering (Fourth Edition) Edited by:Robert Lanza, Robert Langer and Joseph P. Vacanti
• Computer-Aided Tissue Engineering, edited by M. A. K. Liebschner, D. H. Kim, HUMANA press 2010
• Essentials of 3D Biofabrication and Translation edite by Anthony Atala and James J. Yoo

The lessons in a digital format will be available to the students.

For the module “Neural Interface and Bioelectonic Medicine”, the main bibliography is the following:

• Kandel et al., Principles of neural science, 2012.
• K Horch, D Kipke, Neuroprosthetics: theory and practice, 2017.
• Lebedev MA, Nicolelis MA. Brain-Machine Interfaces: From Basic Science to Neuroprostheses and Neurorehabilitation. Physiol Rev. 2017 Apr;97(2):767-837.
• Navarro X, Krueger TB, Lago N, Micera S, Stieglitz T, Dario P. A critical review of interfaces with the peripheral nervous system for the control of neuroprostheses and hybrid bionic systems. J Peripher Nerv Syst. 2005 Sep;10(3):229-58.
• Capogrosso M, Milekovic T, Borton D, Wagner F, Moraud EM, Mignardot JB, Buse N, Gandar J, Barraud Q, Xing D, Rey E, Duis S, Jianzhong Y, Ko WK, Li Q, Detemple P, Denison T, Micera S, Bezard E, Bloch J, Courtine G. A brain-spine interface alleviating gait deficits after spinal cord injury in primates. Nature. 2016 Nov 10;539(7628):284-288. doi: 10.1038/nature20118.
• Capogrosso M, Wenger N, Raspopovic S, Musienko P, Beauparlant J, Bassi Luciani L, Courtine G, Micera S. A computational model for epidural electrical stimulation of spinal sensorimotor circuits. J Neurosci. 2013 Dec 4;33(49):19326-40.
• Borton D, Micera S, Millán Jdel R, Courtine G. Personalized neuroprosthetics. Sci Transl Med. 2013 Nov 6;5(210):210rv2.
• Raspopovic S, el al., Restoring natural sensory feedback in real-time bidirectional hand prostheses. Sci Transl Med. 2014 Feb 5;6(222):222ra19.
• Perlmutter JS, Mink JW. Deep brain stimulation. Annu Rev Neurosci.2006;29:229-57.

The lessons in a digital format will be available to the students.

There are no variations for students that do not attend the course.

As regards the "Neural Tissue Engineering" module, the examination methods are as follows:
• The examination consists of an oral test;
• The oral test will be based on the presentation of the analysis of a typical topic of neural tissue engineering and acquired skills

For the module “Neural Interfaces and Bioelectronic Medicine”, the exam modality is the following:

• The exam will be based on an oral examination.
• The oral examination consists of a discussion between the student and the teacher, together with his assistants. The first part of the examination is focused on the projectual work: the candidate present the project idea and the set of experiments needed to validate it; the teacher and his collaborators ask questions on the proposed work plan. The second part of the examination is based on questions to the student, on topics touched during the course. The average duration of the examination is about 30 min for each student.
• The oral examination is passed if the student demonstrates ability to present in a clear and concise way his/her projectual work, if he/she is able to reply with mastery and showing a proper method to the questions posed by the teachers on the projectual work and if he/she replies in a correct way to the majority of the questions posed by the teachers concerning the course topics.

http://www.bionicsengineering.it/courses_and_staff

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