Cell migration plays an essential role in many physiological processes, such as embryonic development, wound healing, as well as tumorigenesis. During physiological processes, cell migration is guided by various gradient stimuli, so the creation of gradient materials might be an effective way to modulate directed cell migration which is of paramount in tissue regeneration and repair.

Thus, in our group, we are focus on the designing gradient materials and elucidating their ability to control the cell directional migration.

The materials properties, e.g. the mechanical properties, surface chemistry and topography, could dominate cell responses such as adhesion, proliferation, migration and differentiation. Due to the widely study and application of stem cells in the tissue regeneration, it would be very important to study the influence of the material properties on the cell differentiations. In our lab, we firstly create materials with defined bulk and surface properties to elucidate their role in cell differentiation. Then we would like to design gradient materials based on above obtained results which could direct stem cells differentiate to different cells, shielding light on the regeneration of complicate tissues and organs with multiple types of cells.

Projects

1. National Key Research and Development Program of China (Principal): Research on surface/interface and surface modification of biomaterials, 2016.7-2020.12.

2. National Natural Science Foundation of China (Key Program, Principal): Research on smart responsive gradient medical macromolecules and their regulation of cell migration behaviour, 2015.1.1-2019.12.31.

3. National Natural Science Foundation of China (General Program, Principal): Spatial and temporal evolution of protein adhesion on the surface of cell-selective gradient materials and its effect on cell migration, 2014.1-2017.12.

4. 973 Projectd "Molecular Mechanisms and Design Principles of Tissue Induction in Biomedical Materials" (Principal): Surface/interface characteristics of materials inducing tissue formation and their quantitative relationship with protein and cell interactions, 2011.1-2015.12.

5. National Natural Science Foundation of China (Key Program, Principal): Research of gradient medical polymer materials regulating cell migration and differentiation, 2010.1-2013.12.

6. National Natural Science Foundation of China (Principal): Compression of Layered Assembled Polymer Ultrathin Films and Preparation of Patterned Biofunctional Materials, 2008.1～2010.12.