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Bioengineering: A Primer

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DOI: 10.31142/ijtsrd21356

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)
Volume: 3 | Issue: 2 | Jan-Feb 2019 Available Online: www.ijtsrd.com e-ISSN: 2456 - 6470

Bioengineering: A Primer
Matthew N. O. Sadiku1, Tolulope J. Ashaolu2, Sarhan M. Musa1
1Roy G. Perry College of Engineering, Prairie View A&M University, Texas
2College of Food Science, Southwest University, Tiansheng Road Beibei District, Chongqing, China

ABSTRACT
Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles, practices, and technologies to the fields of biology and healthcare.
This newly emerging field is characterized by its multidisciplinary nature, cutting across science, engineering and medicine.
Bioengineers are expected to have a solid education in engineering and a sound knowledge of biology, physiology, and
medicine. This paper provides a brief introduction to bioengineering.

KEYWORDS: bioengineering, biomedical engineering

INTRODUCTION
Engineering is the discipline where physical and production and to the external operations and
mathematical sciences are applied in creating and designing environment that influence this production.
systems and tools to make human living more comfortable.
Tissue Engineering: Tissue engineering aims at repairing
In the recent years, engineering has been subdivided into or replacing damaged tissue. In tissue engineering, a
separate branches. Bioengineering has emerged as one of large variety of synthetic and biological materials can be
new frontiers in engineering. Bioengineering or biomedical used to produce scaffolds.
engineering is the application of engineering principles or
Food and biological process engineering: This includes
methods to the fields of medicine and biology. The microbiological engineering, food processing, and bio-
bioengineer must be well grounded in the fundamentals of energy.
both biology and engineering knowledge. Bioengineering
Bionics: This is the study of living systems so that the
emerged from specific needs such as the desire of surgeons knowledge gained can be applied to the design of
to bypass the heart, the need for replacement organs, and the physical systems.
requirement for life support in space.
Biochemical engineering: Biochemical engineering
includes fermentation engineering, application of
Bioengineering tackles and solves complex problems in engineering principles to microscopic biological systems
biomedicine using several tools in the fields of science and that are used to create new products.
engineering in all their facets. Biomedical engineers have
Human-factors Engineering: This concerns the
developed a variety of life-saving technologies including [1]: application of engineering, physiology, and psychology

Prosthetics, such as dentures and artificial limb to the optimization of the human–machine relationship.
replacements.
Environmental health engineering: Also known as

Surgical devices and systems, such as robotic and laser bioenvironmental engineering, this field concerns the
surgery. application of engineering principles to the control of

Systems to monitor vital signs and blood chemistry. the environment for the health, comfort, and safety of

Implanted devices, such as insulin human beings.
pumps, pacemakers and artificial organs.
Genetic engineering: Genetic engineering is concerned

Imaging methods, such as ultrasound, X-rays, particle with the artificial manipulation, modification, and
beams, and magnetic resonance. recombination of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or other

Diagnostics, such as lab-on-a-chip and expert systems. nucleic acid molecules in order to modify an organism.

Therapeutic equipment and devices, such as kidney
dialysis and transcutaneous electrical nerve BENFITS AND CHALLENGES
stimulation (TENS). Research in bioengineering presents exciting possibilities for

Radiation therapy using particle beams and X-rays. biomedical and pharmaceuticals applications.

Physical therapy devices, such as exercise equipment Bioengineering has the potential to improve the existing
and wearable tech. healthcare systems. There is a growing need for well trained

Assisted living technologies such as telecare and home- bioengineers due to economic growth and medical advances.
based devices. Bioengineering applications in the assessment of current
treatment modalities can lead to the development of new
BRANCHES OF BIOENGINNEERING therapeutic devices.
The branches of bioengineering include [2]:

Medical Engineering: This concerns the application of The diversity of bioengineering may be considered both a
engineering principles to medical problems, including blessing and a curse. The translation of ideas from basic
the replacement of damaged organs, instrumentation, bioengineering research to commercial operation or
and the systems of health care development of new products is usually an expensive, high

Agricultural Engineering: This includes the application of risk, and time consuming process. The issue concerning who
engineering principles to the problems of biological should fund translation is not as clear-cut. The

@ IJTSRD | Unique Reference Paper ID - IJTSRD21356 | Volume – 3 | Issue – 2 | Jan-Feb 2019 Page: 319
 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) @ www.ijtsrd.com eISSN: 2456-6470
pharmaceutical sector can provide funding to enable [3] The House of Commons, Bioengineering. London: The
translation [3] There is ongoing debate on the social and Stationery Office Limited, March 2010.
ethical implications of bioenginering.. Some scientists and
[4] C. Mitcham, “Ethics of bioengineering,” Journal of
engineers have been concerned with the ethical implications
Business Ethics, vol. 9, March 1990, pp. 227-231.
of bioengineering. Bioengineering raises challenges that
transcend the ethics of complex healthcare [4]. [5] T. A. Desai and R. L. Magin, “A cure for bioengineering?
A new undergraduate core curriculum,” Journal of
CONCLUSION Engineering Education, April 2001, pp. 231-238.
As a discipline, bioengineering includes several areas of
[6] J. Villadsen (ed.), Fundamental Bioengineering.
scientific interest, each of which is governed by many
Wiley-VCH Verlag, 2016.
different factors. It integrates physical sciences and
engineering principles for the study of biology, medicine, and [7] A. Saterbak, K. Y. San, and L. V. McIntire,
health. Advancement in bioengineering is an ever evolving Bioengineering Fundamentals. Prentice Hall, 2nd ed.,
process. The employment opportunities for bioengineering 2018.
graduates is increasing. Such students are needed by
[8] D. H. Gray and R. B. Sotir, Biotechnical and Soil
emerging cell and tissue engineering companies [5]. More
Bioengineering Slope Stabilization: A Practical Guide for
information on bioengineering can be found in books in [6-
Erosion Control. New York: John Wiley, 1996.
10].
[9] L. Stark, Neurologicl Control Systems: Studies in
REFERENCES Bioengineerig. New York: Plenum Press, 1968.
[1] Lucas, “What is biomedical engineering?”
https://www.livescience.com/48001-biomedical- [10] E. Beck-Gernsheem, The Social Implications of
engineering.html Bioengineering. Humanities Press, 1995.

[2] “Bioengineering,” Encyclopaedia Britannica

https://www.britannica.com/technology/bioengineeri
ng

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