Research

The research in the Laboratory for Advanced Biomaterials, directed by Dr. Tzu-Wei Wang, focuses on the applications of tissue engineering principles, biomedical science, and bionanotechnology, with the goal of enhancing tissue repair, regeneration, and drug delivery. Lab members include backgrounds from life science, medicine, and different engineering disciplines. We are a team with multidisciplinary areas to work together in the design of functional smart biomaterials, novel devices, and processes to solve biomedical problems, and the development of new methodologies for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Our long-term goal is to improve human health and life.

The impact of Dr. Wang’s research lies in designing smart biomaterials with various stimuli-sensitive properties or functionalities to promote tissue regeneration and controlled drug release in nanomedicine.  He is particularly known for his work in hydrogel systems for broad biomedical applications. 

Hydrogels developed in his lab include, but are not limited to: 

1) injectable multi stimuli-responsive hydrogel for programmable degradation with spatial and temporal controlled drug release

2) self-assembling nanopeptide hydrogel for hemostasis, angiogenesis, and neural regeneration

3) brain ECM-mimetic nanocomposite hydrogel for ischemic stroke rescue 

4) double network hydrogel with shape memory effect for intervertebral disc regeneration 

4) supramolecular nucleic acid crosslinked hydrogel for combating multidrug resistance in cancer 

5) bioinspired adhesive nanofibrous hydrogel for enhancing immunochemotherapy 

6) zwitterionic antifouling hydrogel for intraocular lens replacement 

7) tension-shielding hydrogel for scar-free wound healing, etc. 

He also works on interfacial polyelectrolyte complexation techniques to fabricate hierarchical fibrous scaffolds with tissue-like viscoelasticity, high tensile durability, anti-fatigue properties, low creep, and stress relaxation rate suitable for ligament and tendon regeneration. By establishing multidisciplinary strategies to mimic the extracellular microenvironment and biological systems, he creates platforms that enable in vitro studies and are implantable in in vivo conditions, thereby translating these technologies and understanding into more practical clinical applications. 

Collectively, his research has led to the discovery of novel knowledge in biomaterial design and the development of new therapeutic methodologies to treat cancer and pathological conditions, such as ischemic stroke and chronic wounds. To date, his group has made significant strides in using the above-developed hydrogel system to elucidate the developmental biology stages in the central nervous system that underlie 3D brain organoid-driven discoveries. 

The research studies in Wang’s lab mainly launch from the most cutting-edge research area not only with novelty but also clinical applicability!  Main areas of expertise including:

1. Development of Novel and Smart Biomaterials

2. Multifunctionalized NanoMedicine Biotechnology

3. Tissue Engineering for Regenerative Medicine

4. Drug Delivery for Theranostics

5. Biologically Inspired Engineering