Stem cells
Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), 3D culture
Research
Our lab works where nanomaterials meet stem cell engineering. We design non-viral carriers that deliver genes into stem cells, use stem cells and nanomaterials against cancer, and build 3D culture systems and injectable matrices that improve cell therapy.
Non-viral gene delivery
Viral vectors raise safety and cost concerns in gene therapy. We develop non-viral carriers, including magnetic ternary nanohybrids (MTNs), lipid vesicles, and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), to deliver genes into stem cells and cancer cells. Engineered stem cells can express therapeutic proteins such as VEGF for therapeutic angiogenesis, TRAIL for cancer therapy, SOX9 for chondrogenic differentiation, and IL-12 for immunotherapy. Our MPGene technology, built on MTNs, is used to engineer VEGF-expressing human mesenchymal stem cells.
What students learn
- Non-viral gene carriers (MTNs, LNPs)
- Stem cell culture (ADSCs, MSCs)
- Transfection of stem cells and cancer cells
Nanomaterials for photoactivated cancer therapy
Photothermal therapy uses agents that convert light into local heat to kill cancer cells, and may cause fewer side effects in normal tissue than conventional treatments. We design gold nanorods and photosensitizer-loaded nanocomplexes, and use tumor-homing stem cells as carriers to bring them into tumors for combined photothermal and photodynamic therapy.
What students learn
- Gold nanorod synthesis and surface modification
- Photothermal and photodynamic treatment in cells and animals
- Tumor models, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
3D stem cell culture and injectable matrices
Transplanted stem cells often lose viability in the harsh environment of an injury, which limits their therapeutic effect. We build 3D culture systems, including hanging-drop spheroids and microfluidic microgels, and injectable self-healing matrices that protect cells during delivery. In our recent work, hanging-drop culture reshaped the mesenchymal stem cell transcriptome, enhanced chemotaxis, and helped the cells pass through the lungs after intravenous injection. Applications include vascularized adipose tissue, nerve regeneration, and spinal cord injury.
What students learn
- 3D spheroid culture and microfluidics
- Hydrogels and extracellular matrix
- 3D bioprinting
Nano-sensors for cancer cell isolation
Multidrug resistance remains a major challenge in cancer therapy, and cancer cells with inherent resistance are hard to identify. We designed a lipid/PLGA core-shell nanoparticle that delivers molecular beacons into living cells to image MDR1 mRNA. Cells with high MDR1 expression light up and can then be isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) for further study.
What students learn
- Nanoparticle formulation (lipid/PLGA core-shell)
- Molecular beacons for live-cell mRNA imaging
- Flow cytometry and cell sorting
Techniques in the lab
Non-viral gene delivery
Magnetic ternary nanohybrids (MTNs), lipid nanoparticles (LNPs)
Biomaterials
Microfluidic systems, hydrogels, extracellular matrix
Nanoparticles
Gold nanorods, boron-10 agents for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT)
Animal models
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), post-surgical models, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) toxicity