| Abstract Scope |
Innovative hydrogel-based biomaterials that enable 3D cell culture, enhance cell transplantation, and probe cell-matrix interactions hold tremendous potential for advancing tissue engineering. This talk will present the development of such cutting-edge biomaterials to address critical challenges in regenerative medicine. It will begin with a mechanically robust hydrogel film designed to support the growth and transplantation of human corneal endothelial cell layers for treating corneal blindness, including recent strategies to improve graft integration through stimuli-responsive degradation. The presentation will then describe engineered hydrogels that enable light-triggered, spatially controlled Notch signaling to drive liver bile-duct organoid formation, with applications in building functional liver tissue. Finally, the talk will highlight novel hydrogel crosslinking strategies that yield dynamic, multifunctional, and immune-modulatory materials, offering a versatile platform to regulate cell behavior and promote tissue regeneration. |