We have established 3D bioprinting as a central platform for engineering functional tissues. Our work focuses on developing printable, cell-laden bio-inks that enable precise spatial deposition of cells and biomaterials. We have demonstrated that tissue-specific bio-inks significantly improve cell viability, organization, and phenotype maintenance after printing.

We systematically optimize printing parameters (pressure, nozzle diameter, crosslinking conditions) to achieve constructs with high shape fidelity and structural stability. Our studies further show that layer-by-layer fabrication enables controlled microarchitecture, which is critical for mimicking native tissue organization. These contributions position our work as a foundation for next-generation biofabrication of clinically relevant tissues.

We have been among the early contributors to the development of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM)-based biomaterials, demonstrating their ability to retain native biochemical complexity, including growth factors and structural proteins.

Our publications highlight that dECM-derived hydrogels provide a tissue-specific microenvironment, which significantly enhances stem cell differentiation and lineage commitment. We have also addressed key challenges such as printability, mechanical weakness, and batch variability, developing strategies for bio-ink stabilization and reproducibility.

This body of work forms the core scientific foundation of our research, enabling translation across multiple tissues including cornea, cartilage, and bone.

We have translated our dECM and bioprinting expertise toward corneal tissue engineering, addressing the global shortage of donor corneas. We developed human cornea-derived dECM bio-inks, enabling the fabrication of transparent, biomimetic stromal constructs.

Our studies demonstrate that these constructs achieve appropriate light transmittance, curvature, and thickness, while supporting keratocyte viability and phenotype maintenance. We have further enhanced these systems using hybrid biomaterials (e.g., silk fibroin) to improve mechanical strength without compromising optical clarity.

Importantly, our work shows that one donor cornea can be processed into multiple implants, significantly improving scalability and clinical feasibility.

We have developed 3D printed composite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, integrating synthetic polymers (e.g., PCL) with natural biomaterials such as dECM and silk fibroin. Our designs incorporate highly interconnected porous architectures, which facilitate cell infiltration, vascularization, and nutrient diffusion.

Our publications demonstrate that these scaffolds significantly enhance osteogenic differentiation of stem cells, supported by both biochemical cues and mechanical properties. We also explore patient-specific scaffold fabrication, leveraging imaging data to design implants tailored to complex bone defects.

We extend conventional 3D printing into 4D printing, where materials exhibit time-dependent or stimuli-responsive behavior. Our work focuses on designing smart biomaterials that respond to environmental triggers such as temperature, pH, or hydration.

We demonstrate that these systems can undergo controlled shape transformation or functional changes, enabling applications such as minimally invasive implantation and adaptive tissue regeneration. This represents a forward-looking direction in our research, integrating materials science with dynamic biological functionality.

A defining feature of our research is its strong emphasis on clinical translation. We actively collaborate with clinicians to develop patient-specific, scalable solutions that address real medical needs.

Our work includes bench-to-bedside validation, where biomaterials and constructs are evaluated for biocompatibility, functionality, and translational feasibility. The development of bioprinted corneal implants serves as a key example of how our research bridges fundamental science and clinical application.