Multifunctional Soft (Bio)systems

The existing soft materials and 3D printing techniques are far from creating tissue-like complex and dynamic engineered systems. We combine adaptive soft biomaterials and unconventional 3D printing techniques to replicate the tissue’s complexity and dynamics in engineered systems. Specifically, we designed cell-instructive tough hydrogels to bioprint physiologically relevant engineered living systems (such as vascular and osteochondral tissues) for tissue repair/regeneration. We developed various functional sono-inks for through-tissue acoustic printing in minimally invasive constructive acoustic medicine, including left atrial appendage closure, bone reconstruction, and post-ablation therapy. We also fabricated biocompatible thermochromic microcapsules for high-resolution deep-tissue photoacoustic imaging by taking advantage of improved image contrast using differential images at different temperatures. The complex and dynamic multifunctional soft (bio)systems can be used to better interface with the human body for diagnosis and therapy towards precision health.

Relevant publications (# equal contribution,* corresponding authorship) (Selected)

X. Kuang#, Q. Rong#, S. Belal#, T. Vu, A. M. L. López, N. Wang, M. O. Arıcan, C. E. Garciamendez-Mijares, M. Chen, J. Yao*, Y. S. Zhang*, Self-Enhancing Sono-Inks Enable Deep-Penetrating Acoustic Volumetric Printing. Science,adi1563 (2023).
D. Wang#, S. Maharjan#, X. Kuang#, Z. Wang, L. S. Mille, M. Tao, P. Yu, X. Cao, L. Lian, L. Lv, J. J. He, G. Tang, H. Yuk, C. K. Ozaki*, X. Zhao*, Y. S. Zhang*, Microfluidic bioprinting of tough hydrogel-based vascular conduits for functional blood vessels. Sci. Adv. 8, eabq6900 (2022).doi:doi:10.1126/sciadv.abq6900.
C. Ma#, X. Kuang#, M. Chen, L. Menozzi, L. Jiang, Q. Zhou, Y. S. Zhang, and J. Yao, Multiscale photoacoustic tomography using reversibly switchable thermochromics, Journal of Biomedical Optics 28, 082804 (2023), DOI: 10.1117/1.JBO.28.8.082804.
X. Kuang, M. O. Arıcan, Vidal R. R., L. Lian, M. Wang, S. Maharjan, Y. Wu, R. S. Flores, W. Li, X. Mei, M. Xie, J. J. Fitzgibbon, P. V. Heindel, C. K. Ozaki, and Y. S. Zhang*, Biomaterialomics-Guided Design of Microstructured Cell-Instructive Tough Hydrogels (To be Submitted)
D. Wang#, J. Lv#, X. Kuang#, H. Ravanbakhsh, L. Lian, J. Li, S. Yi, G. Tang, M. Xie, C. Ezio Garciamendez-Mijares, P. Agrawal, Z. Wang, W. Chen, H. Jiang*, Z. Y. Shrike*, 4D Printing Adaptive Hydrogel Tissue Expander for Surface Organ and Tissue Reconstruction. (Submitted).
X. Kuang, Y. S. Zhang*, Leveraging synthesis-swelling relationship to precisely engineer synthetic hydrogels. Matter 4, 2676-2678 (2021).doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matt.2021.07.006.