MSE Seminar: Yanyi Xu, Using Matrix Properties to Control Stem Cell Fates for Cardiac and Skeletal Tissue Regeneration

Ph.D. candidate advised by Dr. Jianjun Guan, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University

Abstract

Stem cell transplantation has been widely used for tissue engineering. One of the main issues of this approach is how to induce successful differentiation of the stem cells into desired cell phenotypes. By controlling the mechanical and structural properties of the 3D matrices, we successfully differentiated the stem cells into cardiac and skeletal muscle cells in vitro. The differentiation is very likely controlled by the traction force the cells exerted to their surrounding matrix. The cell-matrix systems were also further studied in vivo using animal models and significant improvement of cell survival and differentiation, as well as muscle functional recovery was observed. 

Bio

Yanyi Xu is a current Ph.D student of Prof.Jianjun Guan and Prof.Peter Anderson at Department of Materials Science and Engineering, originally from Ningbo, China. Interested in material science ever since high school, she is going to get her doctoral degree in MSE this summer. Her graduate research focuses mainly on stem cell fates especially cell differentiation control through 3D biomaterial-based structures including thermo-sensitive hydrogels and electrospun fibrous scaffolds for cardiac and skeletal muscle regeneration in vitro and in vivo, drug-delivery, as well as the study of cellular traction force effect on cell fates within matrices through finite element modeling. While enjoying the rich research life, Yanyi usually spend her spare time doing sports (running, fencing and taekwondo are her favorite sports), writing Chinese calligraphy and sewing.