- A Bioengineered Model for Studying Vascular-Pericyte Interactions of the Placenta

Studying the placenta’s complex cellular interactions has been challenging due to ethical constraints and species differences. In vitro models offer valuable tools to investigate human placental development, particularly at the maternal–fetal interface. Accurately mimicking placental physiology requires perfusable microvessels to model oxygen and nutrient exchange. Hydrogel-based microfluidic systems now enable reproducible bioengineering of such vessels, including fetal-like vessels generated with HUVEC on a chip. This project aims to engineer a triculture vasculature-on-chip model to study placental pericyte–endothelial interactions, detailing vessel generation and methods to assess vascular structure and function.

-Hydrogel–Piezoelectric Biohybrid Systems Direct Neural Morphogenesis in Bone

Bone regeneration requires coordinated nerve and bone growth, yet most grafting strategies fail to address both processes simultaneously. This project develops a hydrogel–piezoelectric biohybrid system in which aligned hydrogel filaments guide and promote nerve growth, while embedded piezoelectric nanomaterials stimulate bone regeneration through electromechanical cues. By integrating structural guidance for neural morphogenesis with mechanically activated electrical stimulation for osteogenesis, we aim to create a multifunctional scaffold that supports neuro–osseous integration. This strategy establishes an instructive biomaterial platform designed to enhance functional bone repair.

-Development of a functionalized ultrasound contrast agent for in vivo detection of cardiac conditions 

Endocarditis is a life-threatening cardiac infection with nearly 100% mortality if untreated and up to 40% mortality despite optimal care. Because of its severity, clinicians must reliably rule out the disease, yet current diagnostic pathways rely on invasive, resource-intensive, and highly specialized imaging. There is a critical need for a sensitive, non-invasive, and accessible diagnostic tool that can be integrated into routine clinical evaluation. We propose to develop a functionalized ultrasound contrast agent capable of detecting cardiac infection in-vivo. The strategy builds on recent advances in targeted imaging, combining molecular sensing with clinically established ultrasound technology. Specifically, in collaboration with Prof Vladimir Matchkov at Dept Biomedicine, we aim to engineer microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents conjugated to pathogen-sensitive biomarkers, enabling site-specific signal amplification at infectious site. This approach has the potential to significantly enhance the diagnostic performance of conventional cardiac ultrasound.