Introduction to Mechanobiology

By Prof. Shamik Sen | IIT Bombay

Learners enrolled: 436

Mechanobiology is an upcoming interdisciplinary field of science where concepts of mechanics, biology and engineering are combined to understand the basics of different cellular processes ranging from cell division to cell differentiation and death.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Biotech/Biosciences/Bioengineering/Physics/Mechanical Engineering/Chemical Engineering

PRE-REQUISITES: B.Sc/B. Tech: Biotech/Biosciences/Bioengineering MSc/M.Tech: Biotech/Biosciences/Bioengineering

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Industries that will recognize this course Academic Institutes, Startups working in the area of tissue engineering

Summary

Course Status :	Completed
Course Type :	Core
Duration :	8 weeks
Category :	Biological Sciences & Bioengineering
Credit Points :	2
Level :	Undergraduate
Start Date :	29 Jul 2019
End Date :	20 Sep 2019
Exam Date :	29 Sep 2019 IST

Note: This exam date is subjected to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1
Lecture 1: Need to study Mechanobiology
Lecture 2: Cell as a Tent, individual components
Lecture 3: Cell-ECM crosstalk
Lecture 4: ECM proteins: Collagen
Lecture 5: Measuring properties of collagen networks

Week 2
Lecture 6: Properties of collagen networks
Lecture 7: Rheology
Lecture 8: Rheology of biopolymer networks
Lecture 9: Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)
Lecture 10: Design of protein constructs for AFM

Week 3
Lecture 11: Protein unfolding using AFM
Lecture 12: Protein unfolding using AFM
Lecture 13: Focal adhesions: focal adhesion proteins
Lecture 14: Focal adhesion organization
Lecture 15: Focal adhesions: role of forces

Week 4
Lecture 16: Cytoskeleton: Actin
Lecture 17: Force-velocity relationships of actin networks
Lecture 18: Mesenchymal cell migration
Lecture 19: Actin dynamics during mesenchymal migration
Lecture 20: Actin dynamics during mesenchymal migration

Week 5
Lecture 21: Adhesion Independent Migration
Lecture 22: Adhesion Independent & Collective Cell Migration
Lecture 23: Collective Cell Migration
Lecture 24: Mechanobiology of Stem Cell Fate - I
Lecture 25: Mechanobiology of Stem Cell Fate - II

Week 6
Lecture 26: Mechanobiology of Stem Cell Fate - III
Lecture 27: Mechanobiology of Diseases: Cancer I
Lecture 28: Mechanobiology of Diseases: Cancer II
Lecture 29: Mechanobiology of Diseases: Cancer III
Lecture 30: Mechanobiology of Diseases: Atherosclerosis & Hypertension

Week 7
Lecture 31: Mechanobiology of Diseases: Muscular Dystrophy
Lecture 32: Nuclear Mechanotransduction: LINC complex
Lecture 33: Nuclear Mechanotransduction: LINC complex in cell migration
Lecture 34: Nuclear Mechanotransduction: Gene regulation
Lecture 35: Mechanical Forces & DNA damage

Week 8
Lecture 36: Techniques in Mechanobiology: Hydrogels
Lecture 37: Techniques in Mechanobiology: AFM
Lecture 38: Techniques in Mechanobiology: Traction Force Microscopy, Trypson Deadhesion
& Laser Ablation
Lecture 39: Techniques in Mechanobiology: Microfabrication
Lecture 40: Techniques in Mechanobiology: FRE

Books and references

1.Introduction to Cell mechanics and Mechanobiology, Christopher. R. Jacobs (Garland Science)

2.Cellular and biomolecular mechanics and mechanobiology, Editors: Gefen, Amit (Springer)

Instructor bio

Prof. Shamik Sen joined IIT Bombay in July 2010 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering. Dr. Sen earned a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and a M. Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur. He then completed his PhD in Mechanical Engineering from University of Pennsylvania, where he worked in the area of mechanobiology.

He is currently working in the area of mechanobiology where he is integrating mechanics and biology for probing stem cell biology and cancer cell biology. He is combining experiments with simulations for addressing his research questions.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centers.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: 29th September 2019, Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 6 assignments out of the total 8 assignments given in the course. (use as per duration of the course)
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100
Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75.

If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.
Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Bombay. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.
Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies are being discontinued from July 2019 semester and will not be dispatched.

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