Our Focus

Our research interest is understanding how the microenvironment influences cellular differentiation and function. We aim to fabricate tunable biomaterials so we can understand the individual contributions of the microenvironment and analyze the cellular response. We also use our biomaterials to solve biomedical problems.

Cardiac Tissue Engineering

1. Electroconductive scaffolds to mature induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
2. Decellularized ECM electrospun matrices to guide chamber-specific cardiac differentiation

Corneal Tissue Engineering

1. Recapitulating the corneal stroma layer using synthetic materials for a tissue engineered dual-sided cornea
2. Developing a biosynthetic, drug-infused corneal bandage
3. Commercializing synthetic fibrous meshes to use for ocular surface wound healing in animals
4. 3D printing hydrogel-based fibers for corneal endothelium tissue engineering

Wound healing and skin tissue engineering

1. Using natural fibers (collagen and hemp) for tissue engineering
2. Modeling cellular response to different fibrous biomaterials for skin tissue engineering
3. Collaborating with the Fang group to develop dynamic scaffolds using “robot fibers”

Other projects

1. Understanding PFAS toxicity in liver cell models and zebrafish development

Funding support from: