Representative Research Topics:

A. Bioenergetic-active materials (BAM): Cellular bioenergetics (CBE) plays a critical role in tissue regeneration. Physiologically, an enhanced metabolic state facilitates anabolic biosynthesis and mitosis to accelerate egeneration. This BAM material originally developed by our team was composed of energy-active units that can be released in a sustained degradation-mediated fashion once implanted. By establishing an intramitochondrial metabolic bypass, the internalized energy-active units significantly elevate mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) to supply increased bioenergetic levels and accelerate bone formation. The ready-to-use material developed here represents a highly efficient and easy-to-implement therapeutic approach toward tissue regeneration, with promise for bench-to-bedside translation (Science Advances 25 Mar 2020:Vol. 6, no. 13, eaay7608, Cover Highlight; DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay7608). A series of in vivo accelerated regenerations for challenging large segment bone defects are being performed using the innovative BAM materials.

B. 3D Bioprinting nano/micro-biomaterial species (Bio-inks) and interface tissue regeneration: Nano/micro-biomaterials (bio-inks) are the basic “architectural units”and “the soul” of 3D bioprinting, will define the precision and the overall property of biomanufacturing structures. The priority target bio-inks will be included: high bioactive nano/micro-CaP particles (functional element-doped CaP nano-particles), hybrid bioactive microspheres, gradient bioactive microsphere, etc. Based on the innovative bioactive species above, we designed and fabricated a smart biomimetic gradient scaffold for interface tissue (cartilage/subchondral bone/bone) regeneration, and a VEGF modified scaffold for enhanced blood vessel formation and bone regeneration (Biomaterials, 2017, 137: 37-48; Chemical Reviews, 2020, 120, 10744−10792; Advanced Healthcare Materials 2020, 2000727; Nanoscale, 2017, 9: 5794-5805; Biomacromolecules, 2015, 16: 1987-1996; Biotechnology Advances, 2014, 32:744–760 ).

C. The “Fourth Element” for tissue engineering---Physics factors induced tissue regeneration: It was found that some physics properties (light, magnetism, electricity, stiffness, surface micro-pattern, etc.) could, as biochemical factors, produce effects on tissue regeneration. We proposed the “Fourth Element” of tissue engineering, adding the “Fourth Element”---physics factor to “three elements” of tissue engineering in the text book, and providing the first in vivo evidence for the mineralized HA micropattern to enhance bone regeneration (Biomaterials 2021, 268, 120561; Biomaterials, 2019, 218, 119334; Chemical Reviews, 2020, 120, 10744−10792).

D. Advanced biomaterials with the therapeutic and enhanced tissue regeneration functions----Se-substituted CaP grafts for malignant bone tumor treatment and regeneration. A huge challenge after resection of malignant bone is that the recurrence rate of malignant bone tumor was over 40%. Therefore, it is a major demand to develop biomaterials with the therapeutic function and promotion of bone tissue regeneration. We created a new material in the world, Se-substituted hydroxyapatite (Se-HA), by doping a beautiful element called selenium (meaning moon in Greek) in the hexagonal lattice of hydroxyapatite crystal (China Invent Patent: CN201110127119.1; US Patent: US 15/889,235, etc.). It was found that Se-HA biomaterials demonstrated the enhanced therapeutic function and accelerated bone regeneration for resection of malignant bone tumor (Biomaterials 2020, 257, 120253; ACS Nano, 2016, 10: 9927-9937; Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2015, 4: 1813-1818, cover highlight; Interface Focus, 2012, 2: 378-386).

E. Regulatory science for medical devices: A major obstacle for innovative biomaterials devices translation is the lack of evaluation techniques, methods, criteria and tools. The purpose for developing regulatory science is to create such new techniques, new methods, new criteria, and new tools. With NMPA collaboration, we have initiated the Institute of Regulatory Science for Medical Devices at HUST, which will become a NMPA research unit in innovative medical devices evaluation fields (Chemical Reviews, 2020, 120, 10744−10792).

F. High bioactive bone repair devices and artificial skin products translation: With

more than 20 yrs. research achievement accumulation, we have developed over 10

orthopedic medical devices, artificial skin and wound dressing products, most of which

have gone into NMPA tracks for evaluation and approval. Up to now, 5 medical

devices were approved by CFDA/NMPA and FDA.