Theme：Engineering stem cell niche for tissue regeneration: a biomaterials-based approach

Host：Dr. Xinming Tong

Time：5th May, 2020, 10:00-11:40

Location: Zoom

Abstract: 

Stem cells are promising recourses in cell-based therapies and tissue regeneration due to their capacity for self-renewal and differentiation. Optimal outcomes rely on the differentiation of stem cells into desired lineages, which is determined by both soluble factors and insoluble niche cues. In this talk, I will talk about examples of our research on engineering biomaterials to understand and modulate stem cell-niche interactions, as well as enhance tissue formation in 3D. We have developed hydrogel platforms with independently tunable cell niche properties including both biochemical and mechanical cues as useful tools to study cell-niche interactions and in a high-throughput manner. We have also exploited the molecular mobility to enhance cell differentiation in 3D hydrogels. To facilitate stem cell-mediated tissue formation, we recently developed a bottom-up approach to build macroporous scaffolds using injectable microribbon-like hydrogels as building blocks. Such biomaterials provide useful tools to enhance cell engraftment, guide desirable cell fates, and provide tissue-mimicking mechanical properties.

Biography: 

Xinming Tong is an Instructor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University. His current research is focused on developing novel biomaterials as a stem-cell niche for elucidating how complex niche cues regulate stem cell fate, as well as enhancing stem cell-based skeletal tissue repair. Xinming did a Ph.D. in material science at Beijing Institute of Technology, China, followed by a two-year postdoc at Tsinghua University, China. He then moved to Stanford University to expand his research from basic polymer science to biomaterials and stem cell-based tissue engineering in 2011.Xinming’s early research focused on polymer chemistry, in which he worked on developing novel methods that allow control of the sequence of and structure of cyclodextrin based polyrotaxanes. He has comprehensive experience in polymer design, synthesis, and characterization. He then expanded his research from basic polymer chemistry to designing biomaterials for medical applications such as vitreous substitute through two-year postdoctoral research at Tsinghua University in China. Since 2011, he joined the Stem Cells and Biomaterials Engineering Laboratory at Stanford University under the guidance of Prof. Fan Yang, which enabled him to learn new research fields such as stem cell biology and tissue engineering. His research has been focusing on developing novel biomaterials as a stem-cell niche for elucidating how complex niche cues regulate stem cell fate, as well as enhancing stem cell-based bone repair.