In native tissues, cells reside in a complex microenvironment (niche) consisting of factors including neighbor cells, soluble factors, extracellular matrices, topological and mechanical signals. Cell niche is critical in maintaining their phenotype and determining their fates and functions. Reconstituting complex cell niche factors in vitro, either individually or in combinations, in a quantitatively and spatially controllable manner, is critical for investigating the interactions between cells and their niches and hence deriving designing strategies for optimal conditions during cell culture applications and optimal scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Our lab has developed a multiphoton microfabrication and micropatterning (MMM) technology. Here, the technical capability of the MMM platform in fabricating complex protein microstructures and micropatterns with pre-designed topological features, mechanical properties, extracellular matrix, cell interaction molecules and soluble factors, and biomedical applications including cell niche factor screening for phenotype maintenance and engineering cell niche for cell fate determination will be discussed.
Professor Barbara Chan is currently a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Biomedical Engineering programme, and an Associate Dean in the Graduate School, of the University of Hong Kong. She obtained her Bachelor degree in Biochemistry and PhD degree in Surgical Science from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Postdoctoral experience in Laser Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital in USA. She joined the University of Hong Kong (HKU) since 2003. Her research interests include tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, natural biomaterials, stem cells, organoids and tumoroids, mechanoregulation, multiphoton microfabrication and cell niche engineering.
Clean water and clean air are vital for public health. This project focuses on developing high-efficiency and environmentally sustainable filters for removing harmful air/water pollutants. The team has developed novel architectures and functionalities for the filters to achieve high permeance, high removal efficiency, and excellent reusability.
