Bioengineering

ABOUT

Bioengineering brings together knowledge in molecular and cell biology, materials science, and engineering principles, in order to develop fresh and novel approaches to address challenges in various fields. The work can be broadly divided into two areas:

1. Bioprinting – We develop bioprinting instruments, methods, and materials, as well as cell differentiation protocols to create cell-containing constructs. These constructs can serve as a way to deliver cellular therapeutics, or may be employed to create matrices with tunable properties for high density culture of cellular therapeutics. Working closely with biologists, the tissues of interest include skin, pancreatic, and neural tissues. In addition to mammalian cells, microbial cells have also been printed, with an aim to create biosynthetic factories.

2. Device design and prototyping – Leveraging on the team’s ingenuity and experience with fluidics, we develop easily deployable tools for various applications that have minimal requirements in terms of instrumentation, so as to encourage adoption. These include a RT-LAMP assay that is wholly contained in the cap of a sample tube and which requires no pipetting or complex fluidic control; a device that enables sample preparation for digital PCR as well as cell encapsulation, that requires only a standard centrifuge; and a cell transfection device that can process huge numbers of cells rapidly, using only a peristaltic pump, designed to be compatible with existing clinical cell preparation instruments.

The research fellows and scientists working in this area include Cyrus Beh, Steven Sim, and Ruth Chai. We are also involved in a large number of collaborative projects with researchers at IMCB, IBB, SIMTech, and A*SRL. As every application is unique and requires a different approach, we welcome potential collaborators who have problem statements that require a bioengineering approach to get in touch.

Cyrus Beh, PhD (Research Scientist - IMCB)(Team Leader - IBB)beh_cyrus@ibb.a-star.edu.sgLinkin Add Publications

I am a Principal Investigator at the Institute of Bioengineering and Bioimaging (IBB), with a joint appointment at the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB). After obtaining my PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University, I joined the Molecular Engineering Laboratory as a Research Fellow.My primary research interest is in the development of 3D printing technologies for biomedical applications. These include a 3D bioprinter designed to fabricate complex structures out of soft hydrogel biomaterials, as well as novel strategies to promote vascularization of the printed structures. I was a Co-Investigator on the Wound Care Innovation for the Tropics (WCIT) Industry Alignment Fund – Pre-Positioning (IAF-PP) grant, as well as the PI of an Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) Young Investigator Research Grant (YIRG). I am also a Co-PI in the Additive Manufacturing for Biological Materials (AMBM) programme, where I am developing tools, materials, and techniques for the treatment of burns with a bioprintable epidermis.

Jinfen Chai, PhD (Senior Research Fellow)chai_jinfen@imcb.a-star.edu.sgLinkedin AddPublications

12 years of research experience in the biomedical research field, in key topics of ageing, heart treatment and muscle regeneration. A driven, goal oriented and highly motivated problem solving scientific researcher working on heart failure for the past 5 years. I developed a treatment for heart failure and filed a technology disclosure for the discovery. Successfully coordinated and organized collaborative projects from five research laboratories locally and overseas. Lived in Australia for 6 years and worked at multicultural institutes, interact well with others, communicate efficiently in English and Mandarin languages. Involved in organizing the social lab gatherings.

Steven Sim, PhD (Senior Research Fellow)steven_sim@imcb.a-star.edu.sgPublications

I am a research fellow at the Molecular Engineering Lab (MEL) at IMCB, ASTAR. I have expertise/experience in applying microfluidic technologies for both chemical analysis (BSc) and synthesis (MRes, PhD). Some of my previous works involve the manipulation of water-in-oil micro-droplets for PCR (PhD), and also for nanoparticles synthesis (MRes). My recent interest (at MEL) is the development of a simple chip-free, centrifugation-based device for the generation of the micro-droplets and beads. I will be applying this development to conduct droplet-PCR and also to encapsulate microbes/cells in these generated micro-droplets for downstream applications and analyses. Besides droplets and microfluidics, I also have interest in POCT diagnostics. During the COVID period, I have the opportunity to develop a custom lyophilizable colorimetric RT-LAMP (Reverse Transcription Loop--Mediated Isothermal Amplification) mix for use in a COVID-19 POCT test kit. Besides COVID-19, I am also exploring to use this development for other infections/diseases of interest.

Dionis Yew (Senior Research Officer)dionis_yew@imcb.a-star.edu.sgLinkedin Add Publications

Graduated from NTU with a degree in Materials Science and Engineering specializing in biomedical engineering. Currently working as a Research assistant where we work on fabricating immunomodulatory interface layers for medical implants through Additive Manufacturing.

Wong Wan Ling (Research Officer)wong_wan_ling@imcb.a-star.edu.sg

I am working on the Additive Manufacturing of Biological Materials (AMBM) Project in which our team is developing a bioink for formation of in situ epidermis. We also design and prototype a skin bioprinter for application of the bioink.