Wei Zhang, MBBS, PhD
Postdoctoral FellowAbout
Research
Publications
2025
3D bioprinting of cell-laden constructs: technologies, bioink design, and biomedical applications
Xing Q, Liu Y, Thomas J, Zhang W, Riaz M, Mak M, Qyang Y. 3D bioprinting of cell-laden constructs: technologies, bioink design, and biomedical applications. Biomedical Materials 2025, 21: 012001. PMID: 41330064, DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/ae2725.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell printingBioprinting of cell-laden constructsCapability of 3D printingCell-laden structuresCell-laden constructsHigh-resolution capabilityDecellularized extracellular matrixPrinting parametersBio-inkTissue-like functionsCartilage repairBioink designTissue fabricationPrinting factorsBiomedical applicationsSeed cellsVascular graftsSkin regenerationOrgan-on-chip modelsThree-dimensionalPrintingDelivery of live cellsInert scaffoldBioinkExtracellular matrixReliable Surface Modification of ePTFE Using a Photoreactive Hemocompatible Peptide to Promote Endothelial Affinity and Antiplatelet Efficacy
Zhang W, Fukazawa K, Mahara A, Le H, Soni R, Yamaoka T. Reliable Surface Modification of ePTFE Using a Photoreactive Hemocompatible Peptide to Promote Endothelial Affinity and Antiplatelet Efficacy. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering 2025, 11: 3467-3476. PMID: 40325826, DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.5c00236.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEPTFE surfaceExpanded polytetrafluoroethyleneEPTFE graft surfacesMechanical propertiesUV exposure timeExpanded polytetrafluoroethylene graftsSurface modificationChemical inertnessEnhanced hemocompatibilityReduced platelet adhesionGraft surfacePrevent platelet adhesionChemical stabilityPhenylazide groupPlatelet adhesionSurfaceArgon plasmaEfficient modificationMedical devicesPhotoreactive peptides
2024
Vascular endothelial cells derived from transgene-free pig induced pluripotent stem cells for vascular tissue engineering
Batty L, Park J, Qin L, Riaz M, Lin Y, Xu Z, Gao X, Li X, Lopez C, Zhang W, Hoareau M, Fallon M, Huang Y, Luo H, Luo J, Ménoret S, Li P, Jiang Z, Smith P, Sachs D, Tellides G, Anegon I, Pober J, Liu P, Qyang Y. Vascular endothelial cells derived from transgene-free pig induced pluripotent stem cells for vascular tissue engineering. Acta Biomaterialia 2024, 193: 171-184. PMID: 39681154, PMCID: PMC12212065, DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.12.033.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchInduced pluripotent stem cellsVascular tissue engineeringPig induced pluripotent stem cellsPluripotent stem cellsEndothelial cellsLarge animal modelStem cellsAnimal modelsTissue engineeringInferior vena cava graftHuman induced pluripotent stem cellsEffective differentiation protocolsPreclinical large animal modelExpression of endothelial markersCell-based therapiesExtensive preclinical testingPig endothelial cellsFunctional endothelial cellsIn vivo functional studiesTreatment of cardiovascular diseasesVascular endothelial cellsTissue engineering therapiesTransplant therapeuticsEfficacy of tissueImmunodeficient ratsFully biologic endothelialized-tissue-engineered vascular conduits provide antithrombotic function and graft patency
Park J, Riaz M, Qin L, Zhang W, Batty L, Fooladi S, Kural M, Li X, Luo H, Xu Z, Wang J, Banno K, Gu S, Yuan Y, Anderson C, Ellis M, Zhou J, Luo J, Shi X, Shin J, Liu Y, Lee S, Yoder M, Elder R, Mak M, Thorn S, Sinusas A, Gruber P, Hwa J, Tellides G, Niklason L, Qyang Y. Fully biologic endothelialized-tissue-engineered vascular conduits provide antithrombotic function and graft patency. Cell Stem Cell 2024, 32: 137-143.e6. PMID: 39644899, PMCID: PMC11698629, DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.11.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTissue-engineered vascular conduitsSingle-ventricle congenital heart defectsEndothelial cellsBiodegradable polymeric scaffoldsGraft patencyAutologous bone marrow cellsAntithrombotic functionCongenital heart defectsInferior vena cava graftHiPSC-derived endothelial cellsBone marrow cellsHuman umbilical arteryDecellularized human umbilical arteriesPolymeric scaffoldsHost endothelial cellsHuman induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived endothelial cellsUmbilical arteryHeart defectsVascular conduitsMarrow cellsFlow bioreactorVena cava graftNude ratsGraft stenosisClinical trialsDownregulation of RhoA/ROCK1/YAP/F-actin causing decreased aortic smooth muscle cell stiffness promotes aortic dissection formation
Zhang W, Wang M, Wang E, Lu W, Li Z, Zhang Y, Hu G, Zhang Q, Shan W, Dang Y, Zhao Z, Zheng L, Fu W, Wang L. Downregulation of RhoA/ROCK1/YAP/F-actin causing decreased aortic smooth muscle cell stiffness promotes aortic dissection formation. Life Metabolism 2024, 3: loae022. PMID: 39872140, PMCID: PMC11749839, DOI: 10.1093/lifemeta/loae022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPhoto-induced universal modification of small-diameter decellularized blood vessels with a hemocompatible peptide improves in vivo patency
Zhang W, Fukazawa K, Mahara A, Jiang H, Yamaoka T. Photo-induced universal modification of small-diameter decellularized blood vessels with a hemocompatible peptide improves in vivo patency. Acta Biomaterialia 2024, 176: 116-127. PMID: 38232911, DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.01.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDecellularized vesselsDecellularized blood vesselsNatural collagenPhenylazide groupIn vivo patencyPromote endothelializationSurface modificationMultiple materialsImproved hemocompatibilityDecellularized graftsRat abdominal aortaFunctional endotheliaLuminal surface modificationSmall diameterHemocompatibilityPhotoreactive peptidesEfficient approach
2023
Upregulated desmin/integrin β1/MAPK axis promotes elastic cartilage regeneration with increased ECM mechanical strength
Zhang W, Lu W, Yu Q, Liu X, Jiang H. Upregulated desmin/integrin β1/MAPK axis promotes elastic cartilage regeneration with increased ECM mechanical strength. International Journal Of Biological Sciences 2023, 19: 2740-2755. PMID: 37324935, PMCID: PMC10266073, DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.83024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCartilage tissue engineeringAuricular chondrocytesCartilage regenerationMechanical strengthTissue engineeringNative auricular cartilageInsufficient mechanical strengthSensitivity of chondrocytesCartilage scaffoldElastic cartilageCartilage formationReparative cellsChondrocytesAuricular cartilageEngineeringStrengthScaffoldsCartilageChondrogenesisRegenerative tissueStrong interactionsGenetically engineered chondrocytes overexpressing elastin improve cell retention and chondrogenesis in a three‐dimensional GelMA culture system
Zhang W, Lu W, Sun K, Jiang H. Genetically engineered chondrocytes overexpressing elastin improve cell retention and chondrogenesis in a three‐dimensional GelMA culture system. Biotechnology And Bioengineering 2023, 120: 1423-1436. PMID: 36621901, DOI: 10.1002/bit.28330.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCartilage tissue engineeringCartilage regenerationTissue engineeringControl systemCartilage tissue regenerationChondrogenesis of chondrocytesIn vivo implantationFiber productionCell retentionElastic cartilageUntreated chondrocytesDegree of elasticityIncreased cell retentionTissue regenerationThree-dimensionalChondrocytesChondrogenesisCartilageFibersEngineeringSystemElastic fibersRegenerationElasticity
2021
A Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Endovascular Repair Versus Open Surgery for Ruptured Descending Thoracic Aorta
Xie X, Shu X, Zhang W, Guo D, Zhang W, Wang L, Fu W. A Comparison of Clinical Outcomes of Endovascular Repair Versus Open Surgery for Ruptured Descending Thoracic Aorta. Journal Of Endovascular Therapy 2021, 29: 307-318. PMID: 34779300, DOI: 10.1177/15266028211057087.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRe-intervention rateDescending Thoracic AortaOpen surgeryThoracic aortaRe-interventionPulmonary complicationsCardiac complicationsPerioperative mortalityPulmonary embolismAssociated with lower perioperative mortalityOdds ratioThoracic endovascular aortic repairYear mortalityEarly postoperative complicationsEndovascular aortic repairLow perioperative mortalityMeta-analysisRuptured thoracic aortaCochrane Library databasesAssociated with lower ratesConfidence intervalsTEVAR groupOS outcomesAortic repairPerioperative morbidityComment on “A photo-crosslinkable cartilage-derived extracellular matrix bioink for auricular cartilage tissue engineering” by Visscher et al.
Zhang W, Liu X, Jiang H. Comment on “A photo-crosslinkable cartilage-derived extracellular matrix bioink for auricular cartilage tissue engineering” by Visscher et al. Acta Biomaterialia 2021, 135: 723. PMID: 34601104, DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.058.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
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