Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering

Stem cells have tremendous potential for cell therapies and tissue engineering. To maximize the therapeutic potential of stem cells, we explore ways to expand stem cells and to direct stem cell differentiation into specific cell types. We also develop biomaterials to facilitate stem cell delivery and use stem cells to construct functional tissues (e.g. blood vessels) for regenerative medicine applications.

Micro/Nanotechnology

In order to manipulate and control cell functions, tissue morphogenesis and tissue remodeling, we utilize micro/nanotechnologies to fabricate synthetic matrices and to engineer the pattern, topography, structure, and organization of these matrices. These biomimetic scaffolds with micro/nano features and bioactive factors are used for tissue engineering and other biological applications.

Mechanobiology/Mechanotransduction

Mechanical factors play an important role in development and tissue remodeling. Our goals are to understand how mechanical factors (mechanical strain, shear stress, extracellular matrix rigidity, etc.) regulate the differentiation, proliferation, and migration of stem cells and vascular cells, and to elucidate how cells sense, transduce and convert these mechanical signals into chemical signals through the cell membrane, cytoskeleton, receptors, signaling molecules, and transcriptional machinery.