標題
✕Wei-Wen Hu, Professor
Research Interests
Due to the scarcity of donor organs for transplantation, inducing the regeneration and reconstruction of human tissues using scientific methods has become a significant clinical challenge. Since Robert Langer at MIT successfully induced ear-shaped tissue on the backs of mice using biodegradable biomaterial scaffolds, tissue engineering has become a prominent new field in biotechnology. The principle of tissue engineering involves combining cells, growth factors, and biomaterials. Biomaterial scaffolds are created to repair structural defects, facilitating cell attachment and growth, while appropriate signals, such as growth factors, induce cell proliferation and differentiation into specific tissues to achieve reconstruction.
Our laboratory primarily utilizes biomaterial scaffolds as carriers for controlled release, applying them to clinical tissue engineering repair. Previous research focused on gene delivery, specifically immobilizing adenoviruses carrying specific genes onto biomaterial scaffolds via physical adsorption and chemical bonding. This allows for the in situ transduction of host cells attached to the scaffold, secreting the necessary growth factors for tissue regeneration. As these systems effectively control viral transfection solely within the lesion area, experiments have confirmed that they not only successfully repair calvarial defects in rats but also significantly enhance viral transduction efficiency, minimizing viral usage and increasing safety. Furthermore, we utilize surface modification techniques to add functional groups to the surface of biomaterials, allowing these viral delivery systems to be widely applied to various biomaterials.
Current development priorities of the laboratory include:
- Non-viral vector gene delivery
- Spatiotemporal controlled release of genes
- Regulating tissue interface regeneration via multiple gene delivery
- Surface modification of scaffolds for the conjugation of specific growth factors to control specific tissue regeneration
- Using lyophilization, adenovirus encoding BMP-2 was physically adsorbed within gelatin scaffolds to facilitate bone regeneration in calvarial defects Hu et al gene Therapy 14 (2007) 891
-
Adenovirus immobilization on CVD modified poly (ε-caprolactone) scaffolds.
Hu et al Biomaterials 30 (2009) 5785
Dual adenoviral vector immobilization to demonstrate the spatial control of in situ transduction.
Hu et al Journal of Controlled Release 135 (2009) 250
Publications
Publications since joining NCU (2016~present):
-
Hu W.W., Ward B., Wang Z., & Krebsbach P.H., "Bone Regeneration in Craniofacial Defects Compromised by Preoperative Radiotherapy" in Journal of Dental Research (in press)
- Hu W.W., Elkasabi Y., Chen H.Y., Zhang Y., Lahann J., Hollister S.J., & Krebsbach P.H. "The use of reactive polymer coatings to facilitate gene delivery from poly (ε-caprolactone) scaffolds" in Biomaterials (in press)
- Hu W.W., Lang, M.W., Krebsbach P.H. "Adenovirus modification to spatially control in situgene delivery from biomaterials" in Journal of Controlled Release 135 (2009) 250-8
- Hu W.W., Lang, M.W., Krebsbach P.H. "Development of Adenovirus Immobilization Strategies for in situ Gene Therapy" in Journal of Gene Medicine 10 (2008)1102-12
- Hu W.W., Wang Z., Hollister S.J., & Krebsbach P.H., "Localized Viral Vector Delivery to Enhance in situ Regenerative Gene Therapy" in Gene Therapy 14 (2007) 891-901
- Hu W.W.Wang Z., & Krebsbach P.H., "Viral Vector Immobilization on Biomaterials Scaffolds Using Biotin-Avidin Conjugation to Control Gene Delivery for Bone Reconstruction" (Submitted)