• Home
  • Research
  • Publications
    • Journal Covers
  • Media
  • Team
  • Positions
  • Beyond Research
    • Wildlife Photography
    • Painting
    • Greta, Lennon, Hermione, and Coffee
  • Intranet
Zhang Laboratory

Research Highlights

​New blog post:

Personalizing Medicine with the Organ-on-a-Chip Technology: Where Do We Stand?​
uFluidix

Go!

Research Areas

  • Organs-on-Chips
  • Biomaterials & Biofabrication
  • Bioanalysis
  • Cancer Theranostics
<
>
The organs-on-a-chip platforms seek to recapitulate human organ functions at microscale by integrating microfluidic networks with three-dimensional tissue models, which are anticipated to provide robust and accurate predictions of drug/toxin effects in the human body. We are developing the state-of-art organ-on-a-chip platforms with integrated bioreactors and microfluidic modules. The efforts represent a critical step towards animal-free toxicology tests to eventually achieve personalized precision medicine.
Picture
Integrated multi-organ-on-a-chip platform with automated operations.
Picture
Modular assembly of multi-organ-on-a-chip platform.
Picture
Microscale manipulation of fluids.
Thermoplastic chips with built-in valves and controllers.
We have previously pioneered the development a simple and versatile method to fabricate a novel category of 3D porous scaffolds, i.e. the inverse opal scaffolds. These scaffolds possess highly uniform and tightly controlled spherical pores, which can be used as a generic platform for generating functional tissue substitutes. A series publications reflect our endeavors in the development of a series of scaffolds made of biocompatible/biodegradable materials that could modulate neovessel formation, promote osteogenesis by inclusion of mineral nanoparticles, and regenerate skeletal muscles, through precise control over the pore properties of the scaffolds. Our recent focus in this area has shifted towards 3D bioprinting and hydrogel microengineering for spatiotemporally controlled fabrication of biomimetic tissues and tissue models. We have further innovated minimally invasive techniques to facilitate cell delivery.
Picture
Three-dimensional bioprinting for tissue and tissue model fabrication.
Picture
Hydrogel biomaterials for tissue and tissue model fabrication.
Picture
Three-dimensional porous scaffolds for tissue and tissue model fabrication.
Picture
Porous microbeads for minimally invasive cell delivery.
The photoacoustic tomography (PAT) has been extensively applied to biomedicine for non-invasive imaging of blood vessels and objects with absorption contrasts at great penetration depth. We pioneered the application of PAT to interrogate biomaterial-tissue interactions. We have also invented the expansion mini-microscopy, where high-resolution imaging of biological specimens can be achieved at extremely low cost. In addition, we are pioneer in integrating modular biochemical, biophysical, and optical sensing units with organ-on-a-chips platformsto enable in situ, continual, and automated analyses of physicochemical parameters in a noninvasive manner.
Picture
Biomedical Imaging for interrogating biomaterial-tissue interactions.
Picture
Mini-microscopy for applications in lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care diagnosis.
Picture
Biosensing systems for characterizing organoid behaviors and responses in organ-on-a-chip platforms.
We have designed and developed micro-/nano- drug formulations using both polymers and noble metals for use in controlled drug release, drug delivery, and cancer theranostics. For example, novel microparticles made from temperature-sensitive phase-change material were fabricated for multi-stage controlled drug release, and smart gold nanocages were coated with thermosensitive biopolymers as a smart vehicle for laser-assisted drug delivery.
Picture
Nanomedicine.
Picture
Controlled drug release with stimuli-responsive particles.
Picture
Contrast agents for cell labeling and tracking.

Location

Engineered Living Systems

Biofabrication · Organs-on-Chips · Microfluidics
Biomaterials
 · Tissue Engineering · Tissue Models
Bioanalysis
 · Biomedical Imaging · Nanomedicine

Social Links

© Yu Shrike Zhang 2018
✕