Send your CV to Prof. Changyou Gao, cygao@zju.edu.cn.

Research project: Gradient polymeric biomaterials with stimuli-response for regulating the migration of cells

The cell migration is one of the important processes in biology and physiology, and takes a pivotal role in immune response, would healing and tumor metastasis. While it is mediated by various gradient cues including biological, chemical, physical, and matrix signals, the cell milieu is in turn remodeled as a result of dynamic secretion of extracellular matrix by cells. In this study, intelligent and gradient polymeric biomaterials such as stimuli-responsive, adaptive and cell-selective gradient biomaterials shall be prepared and used to regulate cell migration in an intelligent manner. To better mimic the physiological milieu in vivo, the models of single cell, cell sheet and cell clusters shall be adopted to explore the phenomena, discipline and mechanism of cell migration on the intelligent and gradient biomaterials. Adsorption of key proteins and their spatial and time evolution on the gradient biomaterials before and after the intelligent response and cell culture shall be clarified, which can be further correlated with the cell migration behaviors to figure out the mediating methods and models of the intelligent and gradient biomaterials. The gradient biomaterials with spatially aligned physical features are intended to be applied for repair and regeneration of typical tissues such as blood vessel and nerve in vivo.

Research Project:Fabrication of responsive polymeric colloidal particles and their influences on cellular uptake and functions

Understanding the correlation between the molecular structure and physicochemical properties of the responsive colloidal particles and their intracellular uptake and response is one of the most paramount perquisites for the applications. In this study, novel polymeric particles with tunable chemical structure and responsiveness to external stimuli (temperature, pH, ionic strength and biomolecular concentration) shall be designed and fabricated. Their in vitro cellular uptake and intracellular response process shall be clarified in terms of cellular uptake rate, amount, pathways and intracellular distribution. Studies also cover the responsiveness of the particles inside the cells. The alteration of cell viability, specific functions, phenotype and genetic toxicity shall be studied too. Cellular uptake and transportation principles shall be summarized and models shall be suggested. Finally, the in vivo tissue accumulation and alteration of the particles shall be studied in a rat model.