Keynote Speakers

Professor Luming Li    Tsinghua University, China   Technology Advances in Deep Brain Stimulation

 

Abstract: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a functional neurosurgery therapy is widely used to treat movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease, dystonia etc. Recently, more and more researches show that DBS can help patients out of psychiatric disorders, such as depression, OCD etc. On the other hand, an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of DBS is still inaccessible. One problem is how to find the suitable stimulation frequency. Contrasting to the conventional high frequency stimulation, a novel therapy called various frequency stimulation(VFS), which combining low and high frequency stimulation into a sequence, was invented for gait problem treatment. The clinical outcome of VFS is presented in this talk.

To further understand why the stimulation frequency has significant impacts and to know more about the mechanism of DBS, DBS device was modified and considered not only as a therapy but also a research tool. Two studies will be presented in this talk. 1. DBS can do real time recording during stimulation. 2. DBS was designed to be functional MRI compatible which means the devices, implanted in patient, could fulfill the safety requirement during scanning with DBS power on. This progress can let us compare the differences of the brain between stimulus state and non-stimulus state.

There are a lot of bio-materials and fabrication challenges in the development of the implanted devices. In this talk, a short summary will be presented.

 

Biography: Luming Li, Ph.D. & Cheung Kong Scholar Chair Professor, Dean of School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, founding director of National Engineering Laboratory for Neuro-modulation. 

Professor Zhiwu Han   Jilin University, China   Scorpion-Inspired Ultrasensitive Mechanosensors toward Comprehensive High-Performance

 

Abstract: Sensors which regarded as the basis of intelligent manufacturing are the source of information acquisition. Among various types of sensors, mechanosensors can convert mechanical signals including sound, pressure, vibration, air/water flow, etc. into electrical responses. However, development of mechanosensors with excellent comprehensive performance (ultrasensitive, micro/nanoscale, anti-interference, low-power, low hysteresis, etc.) has always been a great challenge. Fortunately, animals have evolved sophisticated mechanosensors with excellent comprehensive performance to survive in the cruel natural environment. The visual system of scorpions has highly degraded and they rely heavily on the slit-based mechanosensors to accurately detect nanoscale amplitude vibration signals from noise environment. Hence, the scorpions provide broad bioinspired strategies for designing new generation mechanosensors. In this work, the compositions of functional units, structural characteristics, material compositions, mechanical properties as well as the coupling sites between mechanosensory neuron and slit units of scorpion Heterometrus petersii were thoroughly investigated. The experimental results and theory analysis indicate that the slit-based mechanoreceptor can effectively collect the tiny mechanical signals through utilizing the near-tip stress field of slit, and then convert the mechanical signals into electrical responses through mechanosensory neuron. Meanwhile, two bionic models of mechanosensors based on the structural characteristics and functional mechanism were established, respectively. The results indicate the scorpion-inspired mechanosensors based on the two bionic models can possess comprehensive high-performance.

 

Biography: Prof. Zhiwu Han is the Dean of Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering of Ministry of Education (KLBE), Jilin University. He was selected as the Changjiang Scholar, and the Distinguished Young Scholar of NSFC. He was also the Senior Visiting Scholar at Oxford University in the UK, the State Representative of International Society of Bionic Engineering (ISBE), and the ISBE Fellow. His research interests include machinery biomimetics, biomimetic functional surfaces, bioinspired sensors, and bionic technologies applied in engineering, etc. In the past decades, he has published more than 100 SCI articles in high-level journals，such as Nature, Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, ACS Nano, Small, ACS AMI, Nanoscale, Langmiur, APL, etc.

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Professor Zhongze Gu   Southeast University, China   Organs-on-Chips based on Multi-Scale Two-Photon Polymerization

 

Abstract: Organs-on-chips systems are physiological platforms that reconstitute the critical features of human organs and the interactions between different tissues. They bring benefits to a diversity of applications, including drug discovery, toxicity testing, and disease modeling. To mimic living organs and tissues faithfully, microfluidic channels and 3D scaffolds are integrated into one system for cell culture in vitro and viability monitoring in situ. However, current fabrication technologies cannot satisfy complex geometrical configurations as well as the feature sizes from micrometer to nanometer.
As an emerging additive manufacturing technology, two-photon polymerization (TPP) has shown the enormous potential of being a general fabrication method for complex microstructures due to its unique advantage in direct laser writing of 3D architectures with high resolution. For organ-on-chips systems, traditional TPP needs improvements in the working range up to the centimeter scale and biocompatible materials. Here, we developed a multi-scale TPP platform with advanced optical setup, a processing algorithm, and the hydrogel materials. Considering the resolution of different regions in an organ-on-a-chip, the feature size of TPP could be tuned from 100 nm to 10 μm by the numerical aperture of the objective, the laser power, and the scanning speed. A processing algorithm for optimal scanning path is applied to control the translation stages with different displacement ranges of 300 μm and 26 mm. Moreover, some biocompatible hydrogel materials have demonstrated the ability for TPP and their physical properties could be tuned to obtain different stiffness and stimuli response, which opens a new avenue for cell scaffolds and biosensors.

 

 

Biography: Zhongze Gu is currently the professor and the dean of School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering of Southeast University, the director of JITRI Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Devices. He is also the council member of the Chinese Society of Biomaterials, the Chinese Society of Biomedical Engineering, and the Chinese Society for Cognitive Science. He graduated from Southeast University (China) in 1989 and got his M.S. in 1992 there. He received his Ph.D. degree in 1998 from the University of Tokyo (Japan). From 2003, he has been a Cheung Kong Scholars Professor at Southeast University. His research interests include bio-inspired intelligent materials, colloidal crystals, and organ-on-a-chip. He is now a leader of a National Key R&D Program of China, which is responsible for promoting the development of Organ-on-a-chip in China.

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Professor Miguel Oliveira   Universidade do Minho, Portugal   Advanced biomaterials for am and imaging

 

Biography: J. Miguel Oliveira BSc, PhD (Portuguese, M, 40 years old) is a Principal Investigator “Investigador FCT 2012 and Investigador FCT 2015” at the PT Government Associate Laboratory ICVS/3B’s (http://www.3bs.uminho.pt/users/migueloliveira). He is the Director of Pre-Clinical Research at the FIFA MEDICAL CENTER, Estádio do Dragão, Porto, PT since Fev. 2013 and Pro-Director of the 3B's Research Group, Univ. Minho, PT. Currently, he is a Lecturer in Doctoral Program in Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells (TERM&SC) at UMinho, PT (since Dec. 2013). He is also an Invited lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, U. Porto (since Sept. 2013) and Dept. of Polymer Eng., UM, PT (2009-present). Along the years he has focused his work on the field of biomaterials for tissue engineering, nanomedicine, stem cells and cell/drug delivery. More recently, he set-up a new research line within the ICVS/3B’s on 3D in vitro models for cancer research. As result of his proficiency, he has published so far more than 260 scientific contributions in scientific journals with referee, being 4 of those review papers produced under invitation. Miguel Oliveira was approved 16 patents, published 5 books, 2 special issues in scientific journals, and more than 70 book chapters in books with international circulation. He has participated in more than 250 communications in national/international conferences and has been invited/keynote speaker in more than 40 plenary sessions. He has an h-index of 34, i10 of 82 and received more than 4935 citations. He has been awarded several prizes including the prestigious Jean Leray Award 2015 from European Society for Biomaterials for Young Scientists for Outstanding Contributions within the field of Biomaterials. He is very active on the elaboration and scientific coordination of several PT and international funded projects. In addition, he is member of the advisory /editorial board of the Journal Bio-Design and Manufacturing, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, International Journal of Tissue Engineering, Journal ISRN Biomaterials, The Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics, Journal “Recent Patents on Corrosion Science”, and referee in more than 40 international journals.

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Professor Shaohua Ma   Tsinghua University, China   Microfluidics synthesis of injectable angiogenic microgels

 

Abstract: Implanting microgels loaded with cells promotes soft tissue repair, via tissue remodeling and microvessel formation within the implants. The biomaterials mimicking the pericellular microenvironment, such as collagen, are slow-gelling and lack of the pro-angiogenic property. Herein, we rendered collagen fast-gelling and angiogenic, without altering its ultra-softness that accelerated tissue remodeling. Monodisperse cell-laden functionalized collagen microgels were synthesized in microfluidics in 40 s on the surfactant-free condition, over 30 times faster than native collagen. The microgels were also rendered angiogenic via dual functionalization. When encapsulated with cells, the angiogenic microgels were remarkably improved in wound healing and liver regeneration, against the non-angiogenic or acellular microgels. After cryopreservation, cell-laden microgels were retrieved with over 80% cells viable and retained their therapeutic potential. Thus, these angiogenic, fast-gelling and ultra-soft microgels are promising candidates as injectable biomaterials for non-invasive repairs of soft organ injuries.

 

Biography: Shaohua Ma is a tenure-track assistant professor at Tsinghua University and a core-PI at Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, China. He obtained BEng from Sun Yat-sen University (China) in 2009, and MPhil and PhD degrees from the University of Cambridge in 2010 and 2013, under the supervision of Prof. Wilhelm T. S. Huck. After that, he was a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Oxford (Supervisor: Prof. Hagan Bayley FRS) until August 2017. Prof. Ma works on microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinting and micro-fabrications, towards translational developments in precision and regenerative medicine.

Abstract: Due to the frequency of complications resulting from autografting and a desire to create a better environment for the regeneration of the damaged nerve, functional nerve conduits are desired for repairing the injured peripheral nerves. In clinical practice to date, the efficiency of conduits in repairing peripheral nerve is still not satisfying. Hence, we propose to fabricate enhanced conduits for nerve regeneration by providing the appropriate biological, structural, and chemical properties. Here, we are going to discuss a functional nanoparticle-enhanced conduit that can promote the regeneration of peripheral nerve. This conduit, which consists of customized structure and drug-loaded nanoparticles decorated in the hydrogel matrix, is rapidly fabricated by a continuous 3D printing process. It is proved that the 3D-printed hydrogel conduit with personalized size, shape and structure provides a physical channel for axonal elongation. In the meantime, the nanoparticles offer drug release to promote the migration and remyelination of Schwann cells. Our results indicate that this conduit can efficiently induce the recovery of sciatic injuries in morphology, histopathology and functions in vivo, showing potential clinical applications.

 

Biography: Maling Gou is a professor at State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University. His research is focused on 3D printing and nanotechnology enabled or improved advanced treatments for cancers and nerve injury.  He has published more than 90 peer-reviewed papers in the international journals, such as Nature Commun, Adv Funct Mater, ACS Nano, Adv Sci, Nanoscale, Adv Drug Deliver Rev. H-index has been above 30. In the meantime, he is the vice-chairman of 3D Printing Branch, China Medicinal Biotech Association (CMBA), Beijing, China and editorial members of more than 5 international journals. As well, he holds over 10 National Invention Patents, some of them have been transferred to pharmaceutical companies for further development. In 2014, he wined National Outstanding Youth Science Foundation.

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Professor Ting Zhang   Tsinghua University, China   Biomanufacturing of complex tissue with 3D printing technologies

 

Abstract: Most of the tissues have complex structures and functions in cells, extracellular matrix, and protein levels. As an emerging field, various functional biomaterials and advanced bio-manufacturing techniques have been developed to create three-dimensional (3D) complex tissues precursors, which can recapitulate certain tissue-level function, and show great potential in different biological applications, such as tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug screening, tissue/organ-on-chip, etc. Usually, the macro-, micro-, and hierarchical architecture of the tissue constructs, as well as micro/macro environment, greatly influence cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, and are capable of directing functional tissue formation. Rapid-prototyping techniques, also named 3D printing, which is capable of fabricating personized, complex 3D structured constructs, have become one of the most potent techniques in this interdisciplinary field. In this talk, we will report our recent progress on the design and fabrication of complex tissue with a series of bio-3D printing strategies, including fabrication of tri-layered osteochondral scaffolds for cartilage regeneration in vivo, engineering of vascularized myocardial tissue and brain-like drug screen model in vitro. Those technologies and platforms provided new opportunities for constructing complex tissues and had the potential for further applications in both fundamental biological studies and translational research. Challenges, opportunities and future trend of the techniques will also be discussed.

 

Biography: Ting ZHANG is currently an Associate Professor at Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University. She is also affiliated to Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, and Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base). She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from Tsinghua University. She also obtained an Engineering Diploma (M.S.) from Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France. She once worked in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University as a visiting Ph.D. student, and in Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School as a visiting scholar. Dr. Zhang’s research is focused on bio-manufacturing of biomimetic models and complex tissue precursors with advanced bio-3D printing technologies, tissue/organ-on-a-chip, as well as application in tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, drug screening studies, biobots, etc.

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Professor Xiaobin Xu   Tongji University, China   Fabrication and Assembly of Nanostructured Materials for Biomedical Applications

 

Abstract: Developing affordable nanofabrication and manipulation techniques is important in a broad range of applications including biology, electronics and optics. Several nanofabrication strategies will be described in this talk. 1. Polymer pen chemical lift-off lithography utilizes nanoscale mechanical deformation of polymer pen and in combination with chemical lift-off lithography. It can realize sub-20 nm resolution surface chemical patterning. 2. Multiple-patterning nanosphere lithography, which can fabricate tunable 3D hierarchical nanostructures at a resolution of 50 nm through precisely control the size of templating nanospheres multiple times. In addition, multifunctional microrobots which can perform precise mechanical actions including movement and ultrahigh-speed rotation will be presented in this talk. Function such as perform ultrasensitive chemical sensing, single cell bioanalysis, and tunable release of molecules, and real-time monitoring have been demonstrated.

 

Biography: Xiaobin Xu received B.S. (2007) and M.S. (2010) degrees from Zhejiang University in Materials Science and Engineering, and received Ph.D. (2014) degree from the University of Texas at Austin (Prof. Donglei Fan’s Group). Between 2015/07 to 2018/09, he was a Postdoctoral Scholar at University of California Los Angeles (Prof. Paul S. Weiss’s group). In 2018/09, he return to China and started his research group at Tongji University as a professor. Prof. Xu is the receipt of Shanghai Oversea High-Level Introduction Plan (Innovation Long Term Project), Shanghai Export and Tongji 100-Talents Project. Dr. Xu’s research focuses on developing smart nanodevices, nanorobotics and their biomedical applications. Dr. Xu has published > 30 papers in leading journals including Angew Chem Int Ed, Adv Mater, ACS Nano, Nat Commun, Nano Lett, and receive citation >1400 times. His research were highlighted by Science in Editor's Choice, featured on journal covers multiple times (including Adv Mater, ACS Nano), as well as interviewed and reported by NBC and NSF.

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Professor Kaihui Nan   Wenzhou Medical University, China   The Application of Tissue Engineering in Optic Nerve Repair and Regeneration

 

Abstract: Traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is a perplexing world problem in Ophthalmology and Neurology. The incidence rate of TON in closed brain injury is about 5% and the patients are mainly young or mid- aged people. Statistically, 79% of the patients are male under 31 years old and 21% of the patients are under 18 years old. With the rapid development of transportation, tourism, industry and mining in our country, the incidence rate of TON has increased. As a result, TON becomes common ocular trauma leading to blindness. It is widely believed that after optic nerve injury, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) apoptosis caused by microcirculation disturbance, inflammatory lesion and abiotrophy is one of the key reasons to loss of optic nerve function. There are a number of studies that optic nerve regeneration is closely related to degree of RGCs injury, expression of cell-mediated inflammatory factors, ultrastructural injury of optical nerve and excitotoxic cell effect. In terms of improving microenvironment of optic nerve injury, addressing difficulties in axonal regeneration, our group has made some progress in comprehensive utilization of drug controlled release and building repair structures for tissue-engineered optic nerve, with the aim to promote and regulate optic nerve regeneration in many aspects. Based on researches in recent years, strategies and factors for optic nerve regeneration are analyzed. Also, tissue-engineered regeneration of optic nerve is prospected.

 

Biography: Kaihui Nan, Ph.D. is the professor of School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University. Professor Nan obtained his Ph.D. in Biomaterials from South China University of Technology in 2005. After finished his postdoctoral study at Southern Medical University, Professor Nan joined Wenzhou Medical University as a professor and doctoral supervisor in 2007. He was chosen as one of Youth Discipline Leaders in Zhejiang Province and appointed as the research center director at Wenzhou Institute of Biomaterials and Engineering. Also, professor Nan was selected to join the 151 Talent Project of Zhejiang Province and the 551 Talent Project of Wenzhou. So far, he has had 50 peer-reviewed publications and holds five national invention patents. His main research interests include surface modification of biomedical materials, drug-controlled release technology, development of substrate materials, repair and regeneration of optic nerve injury.

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Professor  Yuanyuan Liu   Shanghai University, China   Bio-micro-nano Composite 3D Printing and the Process Control

 

Abstract: Bio-3D printing technology involves materials, biology, medicine, machinery, control, computer and other disciplines. This report will focus on the printing process and equipment, elaborate and analyze the challenges and requirements of the current construction of artificial biological tissue/organ. On this basis, this report will focus on the design of bio micro-nano composite 3D printing process, equipment development, and its role or impact on the active regulation of the performance of artificial tissue/organ. At the same time, this report will also introduce some printing research work on repairing bone, blood vessel and skin defects.

 

Biography: Yuanyuan Liu is a Professor and Doctoral Tutor of Shanghai University. Her research focus is in the area of bio-3D printing, bio-manufacturing, micro-nano manipulation and so on, and more research has been accumulated in the construction and active regulation of artificial biological tissues/organs. During the research  period, she has visited the University of Michigan in the United States and the University of Toronto in Canada as a visiting scholar. She has been granted more than 30 patents for invention, and has published more than 80 academic papers , including many TOP journal papers in the field. The bio-3D printing equipment developed by her team has been publicized and reported by many authoritative media such as CCTV and Science and Technology Daily, and won the first prize in the University exhibition area of the 20th China International Industrial Exposition.

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Professor  Xuetao Shi   South China University of Technology, China   A rapidly self-healing supramolecular hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility for soft tissue repair and    reconstruction engineering

 

Abstract: We has successfully constructed a new type of “three-arm” host-guest supramolecular (HGSM) through host-guest interaction to improve the mechanical strength and biocompatibility in traditional hydrogels. This host-guest supramolecules can not only be used as a general cross-linking agent for various natural polymer hydrogels, but also a novel supramolecular hydrogel (HGSMGel) can be formed by UV-initiated self-crosslinking. Due to the host–guest inclusion and covalent networks, the hydrogel can offer an energy-dissipation mechanism to buffer the applied internal stress and were able to delay or avert fracture. HGSMGel have high compression modulus up to 9.13 MPa and possess excellent mechanical properties such as compression resistance, fatigue resistance and slicing resistance. In addition, the reversible host-guest hydrophobic inclusion crosslinking network in HGSMGel enabled the hydrogel to rapidly self-heal. Meanwhile, the HGSMGel has good biocompatibility which gives it a significant superiority in performance and function over traditional hydrogels. The research results provide a new reference for promoting the application of polymer hydrogels in the field of tissue repair and reconstruction engineering.

 

Biography: Xuetao Shi received a Ph.D. degree of Technology from South China University of Technology in 2010 and joined WPI-Advanced Institute for Materials Research at Tohoku University as a post-doctor researcher and assistant professor in 2010. He is now the professor of South China University of Technology, and the research fellow of Key Laboratory of Human Tissue Regeneration and Restoration at Peking University Shenzhen Institute. His research interests cover biomedical materials, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and biomicrofluidics. He has published several scientific papers in the preeminent journals such as Advanced Materials, Advanced Function Materials, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Materials Horizons, and Biomaterials.

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Professor  Wenguang Liu   Tianjin University, China   PNAGA-based high-strength hydrogel bioinks

 

Abstract: It has been fifty-four years since N-acryloyl glycinamide (NAGA) monomer and its polymer (PNAGA) were reported in 1964. It is characterized by two amides in its side chain. The concentrated aqueous solution of PNAGA has been shown to form supramolecular polymer (SP) hydrogels which are physically crosslinked by dual-amide hydrogen bonds, and the SP hydrogels’ mechanical properties can be tuned by varying initial monomer concentration, substitution groups as well as feature monomer copolymerization. Recently, our group has reported on high strength and soft PNAGA SP hydrogels by modulating hydrogen bonding density, and these SP hydrogels are developed as 3D printing bioinks for regeneration of osteochondral defect as well as a instant adhesive hydrogel for emergency self-rescue.

 

Biography: Dr. Wenguang Liu is a full Professor of School of Materials Science and Engineering at Tianjin University. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 1999 from Tianjin University. Dr. Liu was a visiting scholar at The University of Hong Kong from July 2003 to January 2004. He did postdoctoral research at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa (Canada) from March 2005 to November 2006. His current research interests are biofunctional hydrogels, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Dr Liu is the recipient of 2013 National Natural Science Funds for Distinguished Young Scholar.

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Professor Tao Xu   Tsinghua University, China   3D bioprinting for personalized tumor model and tissue regeneration

 

Abstract: While the current paradigm of utilizing combinations of biomaterial scaffolds and cells for tissue construction has shown to be effective, only a limited number of these technologies have been successfully translated to patients. 3D bio-printing has emerged as an innovative scientific field that focuses on development of new approaches for repairing cells, tissues and organs. In particular, living tissues maintain inherent multi-cellular heterogeneous structures, and rebuilding of such complex structures requires subtle arrangements of different cell types and extracellular matrix components at specific anatomical target sites. 3D bio-printing has been proposed as a tool to address these concerns. Here, we introduce a multi-level customized 3D printing strategy by implementing autogenous implants for repairing skull defect. Besides, we have compared the characteristics on the stemness properties, the expression of tumor angiogenesis-related genes and vascularization potential between 3D bioprinted brain tumor models and those in 2D culture in vitro. In this paper we will discuss the progress we have made with this emerging technology over the last decade, including the applications from the bench to bedsides.

 

Biography: Dr. Xu obtained his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Clemson University, SC, USA in 2005 and had worked as Research Scientist at Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, NC, USA from 2005 to 2008. Before moved back to China, Dr. Xu had been appointed as a tenure-track Assistant Professor at University of Texas at El Paso from 2008-2013, and also been served as Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest University and Texas Tech University from 2010-2013. 

As one of the pioneers to develop cell and organ printing, Dr. Xu owns the first patent of inkjet printing of viable cells (US7051654) which had been indexed in Wikipedia, and published the first article on cell inkjet printing, which was reported by Science as a major breakthrough in the field. Besides, Dr. Xu has obtained various supports from U.S. and China federal agencies, such as US NSF, NIH, and Chinese High-Tech 863 Program. Dr. Xu has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts, and owned 53 licensed US, Europe, China and other international patents. Moreover, Dr. Xu has successfully commercialized a series of regenerative medical devices including the dural repair patch, which was approved by CE, Chinese FDA, Korean FDA and has been applied clinically in over 60 countries with more than 200,000 patients.

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Professor Liang Ma   Zhejiang University, China   Design and manufacturing of Liver Tissue Model and Tumor Microenvironment with 3D Bioprinting

 

Abstract: A three-dimensional micro-scale perfusion-based two-chamber (3D-mPTC) tissue model system was developed to test the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs in conjunction with liver metabolism. To further mimic the three-vessel structure of the liver, a microfluidic liver tissue model system was designed to mimic the unique feature of liver acinus.

The 3D in vitro tumor model can be a simple and effective way to study tumor characteristics with ability to replicate of the tumor milieu. A Glioblastoma (GBM) tumor microenvironment model was developed with Hyaluronic acid (HA) with and human glial cells to mimic the brain composition using 3D bioprinting. GBM tumor spheroids were then seeded into the engineered brain. Our approach of establishing 3D in vitro tumor model provides realistic results and proves itself a powerful tool for understanding the inner nature of GBM and can be considered as potential platform for drug screening.

 

Biography: Dr Liang Ma got both B.Eng in Material Science & Engineering and B.Sc in Bioinformatics in Zhejiang University in 2005.He obtained his PhD degree from the University of Washington (Supervisor: Prof Wei Li) in Mar 2012. He joined School of Mechanical Engineering in 2017 collaborated with Prof. Huayong Yang for 3D bioprinting. He is now the Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical engineering, Zhejiang University.

His research interests including high resolution 3D bioprinter development, 3D bioprinting of tissues and organs especially tumor in vitro models, organs-on-chip. He adopted genomics and proteomics approaches to analysis the fundamental gene and protein variations during 3D cell culture and bioprinting. He has published more than 30 journal papers and has more than 10 patents. He now severs as an editor for the journal of Bio-Design and Manufacturing.

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Professor Zhengwei You   Donghua University, China   Bioelastomers, 3D printing and their diverse applications

 

Abstract: Biodegradable and biocompatible elastomers (bioelastomers) especially the thermoset ones can mimic the mechanical properties of soft tissues, and sustain and recover from various deformations when implanted in a mechanically dynamic environment in the body.^[1-3] Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers great power to customize sophisticated constructs for a myriad of applications. However, many thermosets require a long term curing at harsh conditions, which are not compatible with rapid 3D printing processing. 3D printing these thermosets remains a challenge. Poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) is a representative of thermoset bioelastomers and has been widely used.^[4-6] However, curing of PGS usually requires high temperature and high vacuum. The limited availability of processing methods for PGS greatly restricts the structural design freedom and restricts its further applications. Here, we develop a novel and general strategy to 3D print thermosets including PGS and demonstrated their diverse applications (Figure. 1)

 

Biography: Zhengwei You is a full professor at the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Fibers & Polymer Materials and the Chair of the Department of Composite Materials, College of Material Science & Engineering at Donghua University. He received his degrees of B.S. (2000) from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Ph.D. (2007) from Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. From 2007 to 2012, he conducted his postdoctoral research on biomaterials at Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining Donghua University in 2013, he was an innovation manager in Bayer MaterialScience. His current research involves smart polymers, 3D printing, biomaterials, regenerative medicine, and stretchable electronics. His research has been focusing on design and synthesis of a series of functional biomaterials with attractive bioactivity, bioelastomers with superior mechanical properties, dynamic bonds based smart polymers with intelligent properties such as self-healing and shape memory. Combined with advanced processing technologies especially 3D printing, these new materials have been efficiently applied for the regeneration of multiple tissues including heart, uterus and nerve, and wearable electronic devices. He has published more than 60 peer-reviewed papers in the high impact journals, such as Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Materials Horizons, Nano Energy. applied for more than 30 patents with 12 granted, and contributed one book chapter. His research has gotten funding support from various sides including National Natural Science Foundation of China, National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 program), and the Department of Defense USA. He has delivered more than 20 invited lectures in international and national conferences.

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Professor Shuqi Wang    Zhejiang University, China   Biodesign and Biofabrication for Liver Diseases

 

Abstract: Liver diseases can be caused by viral infection, metabolic disorder, alcohol consumption, carcinoma or injury, chronically progressing to end-stage liver disease or rapidly resulting in acute liver failure. In these clinical scenarios, liver transplantation is most often sought for life saving, which is, however, significantly limited by severe shortage of organ donors. So far, tremendous multi-disciplinary efforts have been dedicated to liver bioengineering. By using novel biomaterials, combined with bioreactor and liver-on-a chip, our team fabricated bioengineered liver, established cancel modeling and assessed drug toxicity under biomimetic extracellular conditions, or maintained part of liver function through in vitro support.

 

Biography: Dr. Shuqi Wang is a  Professor at the Institute of Translational Medicine, at Zhejiang University. Dr. Wang’s research interests include the bio-manufacturing of tissues and organs, organ-on-a-chip, and microfluidic chips for point-of-care testing. He has published many papers in renowned peer-reviewed papers such as ACS Nano, Chemistry Society Reviews, Small, Biotechnology Advances, PNAS, Biomaterials, etc. His work has been recognized with awards such as the BWH Biomedical Research Institute Translatable Technologies & Care Innovation Award. 

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Professor Jun Yin   Zhejiang University, China   Novel Digital Light Processing (DLP) Bioprinting and Its Application in Liver Function Recovery

 

Abstract: Currently, the liver cancer leads to the highest morbidity among all kinds of cancers in the world. Due to the shortage of liver donors for transplantation, the surgical resection is still considered as one of the most effective treatments for benign and malignant liver tumors. However, the postoperative liver failure has been found to be the most serious complication of a large number of patients with liver resection.  

In this study, a scaffold with liver cells was designed with a serrated construct and fabricated as the artificial liver support system, which is used to replace the cutting off liver part to perform some of the functions of synthesis and metabolism. A multi-material digital light processing (DLP) technology was developed to manufacture the artificial liver support system. Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) was used as the cell-laden bioink, where dECM (decellularized extracellular matrix) was also added; and the hiHep cells were printed with GelMA/dECM hydrogels to fabricate designed constructs. By measuring the printing resolution and the cell viability after printing, the optimized printing parameters and formula of GelMA/dECM bioink were obtained. It should be noticed that dECM was found to be helpful for both cell viability and printability of the bioink. The printed artificial liver support system was found to have the similar function with original liver to synthesize albumin and metabolize urea which provided a promising approach to solve liver failure for liver function recovery and regeneration.

 

Biography: Jun Yin received the Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering in 2011. From 2011 to 2013, he was a post-doctoral scholar with the School of Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Since 2014, he has been a Professor with the School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University. His main research interests are focused on the design and modeling of biofabrication processes, synthesis and application of biomaterials, and biomechanics.

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Professor Yanen Wang   Northwest University of Technology, China   Study on the mechanism of a binder droplet impacting on surface of hydroxyapatite microsphere for 3DP fabrication bone scaffolds

 

Abstract: Increasing demand for artificial bone scaffold in bone tissue engineering domain has been an important factor on how to fabricate suitable real bone substitute as sustainable as possible. And they have to possess adequate mechanical properties (similar to bone), chemical, and good biocompatibility. Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is a promising method that employs ink-jet printing technology for binding the bioceramics powder materials to fabricate human-specific individual substitute. Hydroxyapatite (HA) (Biqiong C, 2005) is a typical bioactive material and it occupies 75 wt% of the human bone regardless of water content.  It has excellent biocompatibility, non-toxicity and the capability of promoting bone growth and conjoining with human bone. Previous literatures have found that the smaller size of HA powder, the more biocompatible of HA implanted prosthesis. The combination of hydroxyapatite composite powder and three dimensional printing rapid prototyping techniques has resulted in improving skeletal interactions in orthopedic surgery applications. 3D printing methodology insure more effective bionic microstructure and shape interactions between implant and its tissue surrounding. In order to promote the printing bone scaffold model precision quality and mechanical properties, the binder droplet spreading performance on the surface of hydroxyapatite (HA) micro spheres should be studied. The piezoelectric nozzle diameter is about 10 microns, and it can spray droplets 20 microns in diameter. The HA powder particles average size is about 60 microns in diameter. However, according to the experimental conditions we owned, the phenomenon of a single droplet of 200 microns or larger in diameter impacting on a spherical surface 600 microns in diameter can easily be observed in our lab. Based on nondimensional scale similarity theory in axi-symmetric Stokes flow dynamics, therefore some experiments and simulation are conducted on the same collision conditions (droplet 200 microns in diameter, spherical surface 600 microns in diameter). The simulation results are found to be consistent with the experiment data and can be used as a basis of droplet impacting on a spherical surface.

 

Biography: Yanen Wang, Ph.D., Professor/Doctor, Director of Biomanufacturing Innovation Experimental Platform, Northwest University of Technology, National Key Specialty of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, the National Network Top-level quality Open Course "3D Printing Technology and Application" and Master's Degree Course "Decrypting 3D Printing" of Ministry of Education . as the Director of Shaanxi 3D Printing Industry Technology Alliance, Technical Adviser of Shaanxi Medical 3D Printing Expert Committee, Member of Science and Technology Committee of Shaanxi Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau, Standing Member of Shaanxi Digital Orthopaedics Society, Member of China Biomaterials, Editorial Committee of J. Tissue Sci. & Eng., Editorial Committee of J. Biotech & Bioeng. Mainly engaged in research related to 3D printing of ceramic powder, presided over the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 30 international cooperation projects, provincial and ministerial research funds; published one academic monograph; in Matials & Design, J. Mater. Sci., J. Mech. Behav. Biomed, Cell Biochem. and Biophy., Chinese Science, Mechanical Engineering. More than 60 academic papers have been published, including 30 SCI papers and 27 EI papers. He cited 1700 times, authorized 16 invention patents and successfully transferred 4. J. Mater. Sci. & Engineering C, Scientific Reports, J. Mechan. Eng. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy reviewers.

He is responsible for biological additive manufacturing lab in Mechanical Engineering School at Northwestern Polytechnical University. This laboratory focuses on 3D bionics artificial bone design and fabrication based on medical images consists of 3D external reconstruction and internal microstructure bionics design that are based on the digital disposal and analysis on medical image. What is more, we find some quicker, more effective and more sustainable ways of intelligent manufacturing and additive manufacturing products to address global engineering challenge.

He has over 20 years research experience, 10 years in project management, with breadth and depth of expertise and knowledge in three dimensional printing which is additive manufacturing tool. To instill good additive manufacturing research practice, I formulated a layout research approach and developed two special 3D printers to be used in companies in order to manufacture clinic medical instruments such as biomimic skeleton models, artificial bone scaffolds.

 

Biography: Changchun Zhou is now an associate professor and master's tutor in the National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University. He received his PhD degree from Sichuan University in 2011. From 2008 to 2010, he was a joint PhD student at the University of Washington and the University of Texas at Austin.

His research interests cover bone tissue engineering; 3D printing or biofabrication of biomaterials and implants ; Bionic design and mechanical simulation of biomaterials. He has published more than 30 scientific papers. He has applied 17 national patents, among of which 7 patents have been authorized.

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Professor Mario Domingo Monzón Verona   Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University, Spain   The effect of the manufacturing process on the properties of freeze-dried cellulose reinforced alginate-based scaffolds

 

Biography: Mario Monzón is a doctor industrial engineer and full professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria University (ULPGC). He is coordinator of the research group of Integrated and Advanced Manufacturing, which main research fields are Polymer processing, additive manufacturing (AM), rapid tooling, natural fibres and applications in composite materials and technical textiles, biomaterials for additive manufacturing and biofabrication. He is a member of the committee ISO TC261 and CEN TC438 for standardization of additive manufacturing technologies, representing Spain in such a committee. Also, He is the convenor of the Joint working group JWG7 “Additive Manufacturing for Plastics” with the participation of experts from ISO TC261 (AM), ISO TC61 (thermoplastics) and ASTM F42 (AM). Coordinator of the PhD program of Chemical, Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering of ULPGC. Member of the manager board of the doctorate school of ULPGC. Participation in 31 national and European research projects (20 of them as coordinator), 18 research projects funded by companies, 67 scientific publications (34 in indexed publications), participation in 64 proceedings of conferences, supervisor of 7 doctoral thesis, 7 national patents and 1 international patents (in 5 countries). Editor of the book “Additive Manufacturing-Developments in Training and Education (Springer) and the book “Guía de tecnologías de Rapid Manufacturing”. Member of the editorial board of the international journal “Bio-design and Manufacturing (Springer).