Lab Introduction & Major Research Interests
We work on developing polymeric biomaterials to facilitate nerve regeneration. One of our research topics is to bridge transected peripheral nerve across a critical gap by nerve guidance channels or so called nerve conduits. Nerve conduits are fabricated from biodegradable polymers with novel structural designs of aligning microgrooves and asymmetric microporosity. The microgrooved/microporous conduits serve as a delivery vehicle for neurotrophic factors or/and cells. After the efficacy of the nerve conduits was evaluated in rats, rabbits, and pigs, we transferred the associated technology to industry. We also design injectable self-healing hydrogel for the treatment of brain injury and stroke. Through these research efforts, we seek to develop new biomaterials and answer some fundamental biological questions for example regarding the proper milieu including the extracellular environment for nerve regeneration. Our main interest is to use materials technology to deliver therapeutic agents (growth factors/genes/cells) to dysfunctional tissue as well as to combine all of these technologies to develop possible new therapeutics for nerve repair. We are seeking serious collaborators in the hope that the associated medical products mentioned above may be realized in the future.
Recent Representative Publication ( * corresponding author)
1. Y. Liu, Y. Hsu, P. Huang, Shan-hui Hsu*. Semi-interpenetrating polymer network of hyaluronan and chitosan self-healing hydrogels for central nervous system repair. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2020; 12: 40108-40120.
2. K. Cheng, C. Huang, Y. Wei, Shan-hui Hsu*. Novel chitosan-cellulose nanofiber self-healing hydrogels to correlate self-healing properties of hydrogels with neural regeneration effects. NPG Asia Materials 2019: 11:25.
3. F. Hsieh, H. Han, X. Chen, C.Yang*, Y. Wei, Shan-hui Hsu*. Non-viral delivery of an optogenetic tool into cells with self-healing hydrogel. Biomaterials 2018; 174:31-40.
4. F. Hsieh, A. Zhilenkov, I. Voronov, E. Khakina, D. Mischenko, P. Troshin,, Shan-hui Hsu*. Water-soluble fullerene derivatives as brain medicine: surface chemistry determines if they are neuroprotective and antitumor. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2017; 9:11482-11492.
5. T. Tseng, F. Hsieh, N. Dai, Shan-hui Hsu*. Substrate-mediated reprogramming of human fibroblasts into neural crest stem-like cells and their applications in neural repair. Biomaterials 2016; 102: 148-161.
6. F. Hsieh, H. Lin, Shan-hui Hsu* 3D bioprinting of neural stem cell-laden thermoresponsive biodegradable polyurethane hydrogel and potential in central nervous system repair. Biomaterials 2015; 71: 48-57.
7. T. Tseng, L. Tao, F. Hsieh, Y. Wei, I. Chiu, Shan-hui Hsu*. An injectable, self-healing hydrogel to repair the central nervous system. Advanced Materials, 2015; 27: 3518-3524.