The third term of Track 2, “Biomaterials for Pharmaceutical Applications”, of the BIOPHAM Master takes place at the University of Pisa (UNIPI), Italy. It provides advanced interdisciplinary training in biomaterials, nanomedicine, pharmaceutical technologies, materials characterisation, computational modelling and innovation. The semester combines compulsory and elective courses, allowing students to specialise according to their scientific interests and career objectives.
The compulsory course Biomaterials for Pharmaceutical Applications focuses on the design, characterisation and evaluation of natural and synthetic biomaterials for pharmaceutical and biomedical uses. Students investigate biocompatibility, biodegradability, drug–material interactions and controlled drug release. Particular attention is given to polymeric carriers, nanoparticles, hydrogels, liposomes and smart materials responding to pH, temperature, light or magnetic fields. Applications include targeted drug delivery, tissue engineering, 3D bioprinting, regenerative therapies and microfluidic platforms for drug screening. The course also addresses material degradation, release kinetics, biological evaluation and regulatory considerations.
Nanomedicine and Regenerative Medicine introduces nanotechnology-based approaches for diagnosis, therapy and tissue regeneration. Topics include nanomaterial properties, passive and active targeting strategies, controlled drug delivery and strategies for overcoming biological barriers. Students explore nanovectors for cell stimulation, gene therapy and cell therapy, as well as theranostic applications combining diagnosis and treatment. The course develops skills in designing and evaluating nanovectors for biomedical applications.
Students can further specialise through Manufacturing of Polymers and Nanocomposites for Biomedical Application, which explores composite materials, nanofillers, reinforcement mechanisms and structure–property relationships. Topics include carbon-based nanomaterials, additive manufacturing, 3D and 4D printing, smart polymers, bioinks, electrospinning and biomedical textiles. Applications involve tissue engineering, wound healing, drug delivery and medical devices, with attention to processing techniques, biocompatibility and nanotoxicity.
Surface Physics provides an understanding of intermolecular forces, surface energy, adhesion, adsorption, wetting, capillarity and interfacial thermodynamics. It also introduces surface characterisation techniques, particularly atomic force microscopy, Kelvin probe microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance methods. Students learn to analyse surface properties and their influence on material behaviour.
Advanced experimental characterisation is also addressed through Solid State NMR Spectroscopy in Pharmaceutical and Material Science, which introduces nuclear magnetic resonance principles, nuclear spin interactions, relaxation phenomena and multidimensional spectroscopy. Applications focus on the structure and dynamics of pharmaceuticals, porous materials and biomaterials. Alternatively, Introduction to Optical Spectroscopy explores light–matter interactions, absorption, emission and Raman spectroscopy across ultraviolet, infrared and terahertz spectral regions, with applications to organic molecules and pharmaceutical materials.
Computational specialisation is offered through several courses. Multi-scale Modelling in Materials Design introduces first-principles calculations, classical and reactive molecular dynamics, coarse-grained simulations and continuum approaches. Students learn to connect molecular-scale properties with macroscopic material behaviour and select appropriate modelling strategies for materials design.
In Silico Models for Drug-Design Techniques focuses on computational approaches for investigating biological systems, ligand–protein interactions and drug discovery. It introduces theoretical models, parameter identification, molecular modelling and computational methods supporting toxicity studies. Bioinformatics and System Biology combines molecular biology, sequence analysis, transcriptomics, molecular dynamics and computational modelling of biological networks. Students investigate biochemical reactions, gene regulation, protein interactions and computational approaches to drug target identification.
The semester also develops transferable skills through European Responsible Research and Innovation, covering research ethics, scientific integrity, sustainability, open science and societal impact. Alternatively, the Health Entrepreneurship Programme introduces innovation in healthcare, intellectual property, business models, financing, regulatory considerations and strategies for transforming scientific discoveries into viable products or services.
Students additionally participate in a compulsory Joint Advanced Winter Course, complementing the scientific and interdisciplinary training provided during the semester.
Overall, the third term provides advanced knowledge and practical skills for designing, manufacturing, characterising and modelling innovative biomaterials and pharmaceutical systems. By integrating materials science, nanotechnology, computational approaches and professional skills, it prepares students for research and development in pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical technologies and regenerative medicine.
