(14bg) Application of Zwitterionic Materials in Stem Cell Expansion and Immunosuppression

Ultra-low fouling zwitterionic hydrogels offer unique advantages over conventional biomaterials in biomedical applications. By exclusively using zwitterionic monomer and crosslinker, pure zwitterionic hydrogels can be prepared with highly tunable mechanical properties and functionalities for diverse applications. Uniform zwitterionic hydrogels with controllable mechanical and/or chemical gradients can also be developed. My research focuses on the development and application of zwitterionic hydrogels. Examples include zwitterionic hydrogels allow differentiation-free expansion of stem cells, implanted zwitterionic hydrogels resisting foreign-body capsule formation in mice, zwitterionic hydrogel coatings significantly enhancing the longevity and sensitivity of glucose sensors, functionalized hydrogels encapsulating and preserving cells with high viability and long-circulating zwitterionic nanogels.

Research Experience:

1) Development and Applications of Zwitterionic Hydrogel

l Differentiation-free expansion of stem cells and T cells in zwitterionic hydrogels

l Directed differentiation of stem cells in functionalized zwitterionic hydrogels

l Zwitterionic hydrogels resistant to the immunogenicity and fibrous encapsulation in mice

l Time-independent self-healing zwitterionic hydrogels

l Long-life zwitterionic material-coated biosensors in whole blood

2) Development of Long-circulating Zwitterionic Nanomaterials

l Long-circulating and therapeutic protein-encapsulated zwitterionic nanogels

l Immunogenicity-free zwitterionic nanoparticles

3) Development and Applications of High-strength Hydrogels

l Construction of ultra-high strength hydrogels

l High-strength hydrogel-based gene transfection platform

l Develop shape-memory effect for high-strength hydrogel

l Directed differentiation of MSCs on a shape-memory hydrogel

Teaching Interests:

In my five-year graduate student career, I have been served as teaching assistance for many different chemical engineering courses like transport and thermodynamic. I am interested in teaching any chemical engineering course as well as polymer science course.

AWARDS

2015 National Award for Outstanding Chinese Students Study Abroad ($6000)

 

SELECTED JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS (Total: 28, Citations: 800+)

 

1. Tao Bai, Fang Sun, Lei Zhang, Andrew Sinclair, Sijun Liu, Jean�Rene Ella�Menye, Ying Zheng, and Shaoyi Jiang, 'Restraint of the Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells by a Nonfouling Zwitterionic Hydrogel', Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 126 (2014), 12943-48.

2. Lei Zhang, Zhiqiang Cao, Tao Bai, Louisa Carr, Jean-Rene Ella-Menye, Colleen Irvin, Buddy D Ratner, and Shaoyi Jiang, 'Zwitterionic Hydrogels Implanted in Mice Resist the Foreign-Body Reaction', Nature Biotechnology, 31 (2013), 553-56.

3. Tao Bai, Andrew Sinclair, Fang Sun, Priyesh Jain, Hsiang-Chieh Hung, Peng Zhang, Jean-Rene Ella-Menye, Wenguang Liu, and Shaoyi Jiang, 'Harnessing Isomerization-Mediated Manipulation of Nonspecific Cell/Matrix Interactions to Reversibly Trigger and Suspend Stem Cell Differentiation', Chemical Science, 7 (2016), 333-38.

4. Tao Bai, Sijun Liu, Fang Sun, Andrew Sinclair, Lei Zhang, Qing Shao, and Shaoyi Jiang, 'Zwitterionic Fusion in Hydrogels and Spontaneous and Time-Independent Self-Healing under Physiological Conditions', Biomaterials, 35 (2014), 3926-33.

5. Tao Bai, Yanjiao Han, Peng Zhang, Wei Wang, and Wenguang Liu, 'Zinc Ion-Triggered Two-Way Macro-/Microscopic Shape Changing and Memory Effects in High Strength Hydrogels with Pre-Programmed Unilateral Patterned Surfaces', Soft Matter, 8 (2012), 6846-52.

6. Tao Bai, Peng Zhang, Yanjiao Han, Yuan Liu, Wenguang Liu, Xiaoli Zhao, and William Lu, 'Construction of an Ultrahigh Strength Hydrogel with Excellent Fatigue Resistance Based on Strong Dipoleâ??Dipole Interaction', Soft Matter, 7 (2011), 2825-31.

7. Yanjiao Han, Tao Bai (Co-first Author), and Wenguang Liu, 'Controlled Heterogeneous Stem Cell Differentiation on a Shape Memory Hydrogel Surface', Scientific reports, 4 (2014).

8. Yanjiao Han, Tao Bai (Co-first Author), Yuan Liu, Xinyun Zhai, and Wenguang Liu, 'Zinc Ion Uniquely Induced Triple Shape Memory Effect of Dipoleâ??Dipole Reinforced Ultraâ?High Strength Hydrogels', Macromolecular rapid communications, 33 (2012), 225-31.

9. Peng Zhang, Fang Sun, Caroline Tsao, Sijun Liu, Priyesh Jain, Andrew Sinclair, Hsiang-Chieh Hung, Tao Bai, Kan Wu, and Shaoyi Jiang, 'Zwitterionic Gel Encapsulation Promotes Protein Stability, Enhances Pharmacokinetics, and Reduces Immunogenicity', Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2015), 201512465.

10. Xiyang Dai, Yinyu Zhang, Lina Gao, Tao Bai, Wei Wang, Yuanlu Cui, and Wenguang Liu, 'A Mechanically Strong, Highly Stable, Thermoplastic, and Self�Healable Supramolecular Polymer Hydrogel', Advanced Materials (2015).