Life Forward Biomedical and Biomaterial Lab
Research Field
Prof. Chi-Yun Wang is a Project Investigator at Ming Chi University of Technology, where she leads research in regenerative biomaterials and tissue engineering. Her work integrates bioactive ceramics (e.g., nano-hydroxyapatite) with natural polymer hydrogels and electrospun matrices to create multifunctional platforms that support tissue repair and translational evaluation. A key focus is microenvironmental regulation of cell fate—particularly for intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration—by combining material design with biomechanical cues such as dynamic compression. Prof. Wang emphasizes rigorous characterization (physicochemical and mechanical testing) and biocompatibility-oriented validation aligned with ISO 10993 thinking. She actively collaborates with industry partners to bridge fundamental discovery and clinically relevant product development in bone regeneration and musculoskeletal repair.
The Life forward Biomedical and biomaterial Lab at Ming Chi University of Technology develops next-generation regenerative biomaterials and tissue engineering strategies aimed at clinically meaningful musculoskeletal repair. We engineer multifunctional scaffolds and bioactive matrices by integrating bioactive ceramics (including nano-hydroxyapatite and mineralized composites) with natural polymers such as alginate, gelatin, and chitosan. These platforms are designed to deliver structural support and biological instruction simultaneously—enabling optimized cell adhesion, controlled degradation, and enhanced tissue integration.
Our lab combines advanced fabrication approaches—3D bioprinting for spatially defined constructs, hydrogel crosslinking engineering for injectability/printability, and electrospinning for nanofibrous membranes—to tune microarchitecture and mechanics. We investigate how material chemistry and mechanical cues shape cell behavior, with particular emphasis on bone regeneration and intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. By coupling engineered matrices with microenvironmental regulation (e.g., inflammatory modulation and biomechanical stimulation), we study mechanisms governing cell fate, extracellular matrix deposition, and tissue remodeling.
A distinguishing strength of the lab is its translational workflow. We connect material synthesis with multiscale characterization (morphology, physicochemical properties, and mechanical performance) and biocompatibility-oriented evaluation aligned with ISO-style thinking. This integrated pipeline supports rapid iteration from hypothesis to prototype, and ultimately to application-driven validation.
Beyond research outputs, we are committed to training students and early-career researchers through hands-on project execution, rigorous experimental design, and data-driven decision making. The lab welcomes interdisciplinary collaboration and works closely with industry and clinical partners to bridge fundamental science and product-relevant development in bone repair, IVD regeneration, and related biomedical applications.
- Multifunctional regenerative biomaterials for bone repair
Design ceramic–polymer composites (e.g., nano-hydroxyapatite with natural polymers) with tunable mechanics, degradation, and bioactivity to enhance osteogenesis and bone integration. - Bioactive mineralized interfaces and surface functionalization
Engineer mineralized coatings and ligand-/metabolite-enabled modifications to regulate protein adsorption, cell adhesion, antibacterial effects, and immune responses. - Injectable and 3D-printable hydrogels for tissue engineering
Develop shear-thinning / dual-crosslinked hydrogel systems (ionic/thermal/chemical) enabling injectability, shape fidelity, and controlled microstructure for cell delivery and regeneration. - 3D bioprinting of musculoskeletal and intervertebral disc (IVD) constructs
Build spatially organized constructs to model tissue hierarchy and to support long-term cell viability and matrix deposition for bone and IVD applications. - Intervertebral disc degeneration and microenvironmental regulation
Study how degenerative cues (inflammation, acidity, nutrient limitation, oxidative stress) alter cell phenotypes, and develop biomaterial strategies to restore a pro-regenerative environment. - Nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPCs) and mechanobiology
Investigate NPPC fate decisions under controlled biomechanical stimulation (e.g., dynamic compression) and define design rules linking matrix mechanics to disc regeneration. - Electrospun nanofibrous membranes for bone–soft tissue interfaces and wound-related applications
Create composite electrospun membranes with structural support, hemostatic/antibacterial properties, and immunomodulatory functions for complex defect repair. - Immune modulation and inflammation-informed biomaterials design
Examine macrophage polarization and osteoimmune crosstalk; design materials that mitigate chronic inflammation and improve tissue remodeling outcomes. - Materials characterization and structure–property–function relationships
Establish multiscale characterization pipelines (morphology, chemistry, mechanics) to connect composition/crosslinking/microarchitecture with biological performance. - Biocompatibility-oriented and translation-ready evaluation (ISO-style thinking)
Develop practical testing workflows spanning cytocompatibility, irritation/sensitization risk awareness, and application-driven safety/performance benchmarks to support translation and industry collaboration.
Honors & Recognition (PI + Lab)
PI Academic & Teaching Honors
Young Scholar Award (2025) — awarded by 中華民國生醫材料及藥物制放學會.
Best Paper Award (2021) — Biomaterial International 2021.
Teaching Awards (2025) — Department Teaching Dedication Award and College Teaching Innovation Award.
Teaching materials / courseware recognitions (AY 109–113) — multiple university grants/awards for digital & practical teaching materials (rated Excellent/Good/Merit, etc.).
Student Awards (Conference/Competition)
Merit Poster Paper Award (2025) — The 7th International Symposium of Materials on Regenerative Medicine (ISOMRM): Alginate Hydrogel with Nanofiber for IVD Degeneration Therapy (TEEP student Sachin Mishra).
Merit Poster Paper Award (2025) — ISOMRM: Peptide-Conjugated nHA for Localized α-Ketoglutarate Delivery… (Ph.D. student Thi-Tam-An Tran).
Best Poster Paper Award (2024) — Polymer Engineering & Science International (PESI): Chicken Egg White-Modified Ion Exchange Nanofiber Membrane… (Ph.D. student Edouard Gnoumou).
Best Poster Paper Award (2023) — Biomaterials International 2023 (Sapporo): Dynamic Compression Pressure Regulates… NPPCs… (intern Y.W. Kung).
Best Poster Paper Award (2023) — International Symposium on Advanced Functional Materials (ISAFM2): Antibacterial Efficacy of Lysozyme Immobilized… (Ph.D. student Edouard Gnoumou).
Best Poster Paper Award (2022) — Biomaterials and Controlled Release Society (BCRS) annual meeting: Dynamic compression pressure improves 3D-cultured… NPPCs. (RA K.T. You).
Best Poster Paper Award (2024) — Biomaterials International 2024 (Bangkok): Enhanced hydrophilicity and bioactivity via surface modification in Ti-6Al-4V intervertebral fusion cage. (Ph.D. student Y.J. Wu).
Best Poster Paper Award (2023) — Biomaterials International 2023 (Sapporo): Ti-6Al-4V intervertebral fusion cage with compatible stiffness… (Ph.D. student Y.J. Wu).
3rd Place (School Division) (2023) — 18th Formosa Plastics Group Application Technology Symposium: Bioactive glass-ceramic composite material with osteoinductivity. (Ph.D. student 洪貫壹).
Best Poster Paper Award (2024) — 台灣機電工程國際學會 annual meeting & 9th National Symposium: Calcium alginate microsphere technology for novel drug delivery systems. (Master student 鄭余宏).
Patents & Innovation Awards
Taiwan invention patent (No. 814496) — glass-ceramic composite material (patent term shown as 2023/09/01–2042/07/20).
Silver Medal Award (2023) — Taiwan Innotech Expo: bioglass material patent recognized with a silver medal.
Silver Medal Awards (2023 & 2024) — electrospinning-related patents (incl. “modified nanofiber layer and its fabrication method”) recognized with silver medals (2023 and 2024).
Ph.D. in Basic Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan (2006.07–2012.06)
M.S. in Molecular Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan (2004.07–2006.06)
B.S. in Medical Technology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taiwan (2000.09–2004.06)
Professional Appointments
Assistant Professor (full-time), Ming Chi University of Technology — since Aug 2020 (5 years as of the document period).
Postdoctoral Research Fellow (full-time), National Cheng Kung University, Institute of Clinical Medicine — Jul 2012 – Jan 2014.
Research Scientist (PhD-level) (full-time), MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Molecular & Cellular Oncology (Lab of Academician Hui-Kuan Lin) — Feb 2014 – Jul 2015.
Research Scientist (PhD-level) (full-time), Wake Forest University / Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Department of Cancer Biology (Lab of Academician Hui-Kuan Lin) — Jul 2015 – Sep 2018.
Research Scientist (PhD-level) (full-time), Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Bone & Joint Research Center (Lab of Dr. Po-Liang Lai) — Oct 2018 – Jul 2020.