(Lecture) Nanobiomaterials for Medical Applications
Topic: Nanobiomaterials for Medical Applications
Speaker: Prof Min Wang (University of Hong Kong)
Time: November 19, 2018 (Monday) 10:00 a.m.
Venue: B2-101, University Town Campus
Abstract
In recent years, nanoscience and nanotechnology have advanced rapidly and are making an enormous impact in the biomedical field. Using existing as well as emerging nanotechnologies, nanobiomaterials are being developed mainly along two directions: (1) nano-structured biomaterials, and (2) biomaterials of nano-sizes or nano-feature(s). Nano-structured biomaterials can provide desired properties which are not attainable with conventional, micro-structured biomaterials. On the other hand, biomaterials of nano-sizes or nano-feature(s) can affect/direct cellular and tissue responses; and nano- or micro-sized biomaterials can be used as drug, biomolecule or gene carriers for their targeted, controlled and sustained delivery. Nanomedicine and tissue engineering are two important areas for the application of nanobiomaterials. Nanomedicine emerged a decade ago and involves the use of nanotechnologies to detect and treat diseases or even to identify and stop potential sources of diseases before they get started. For example, nanoparticles (polymer-, metal- or ceramic-based) have attracted great attention for their potential as diagnostic and/or therapeutic tools in oncology due to their unique properties. A major direction in cancer nanotechnology is the design and development of multifunctional nanodevices, the so-called “theranostics”. With advances in nanodevice design, fabrication and functionalization, many lives will be saved by using advanced theranostics. Tissue engineering can provide long-term solutions in human tissue repair and potentially offer treatments for medical conditions that are currently untreatable. It has made rapid advances over the past two decades and simple tissues such as skin or bone can now be successfully regenerated in the body using appropriate tissue engineering strategies. For scaffold-based tissue engineering, nanofibrous scaffolds can be made using different technologies and materials and have been shown to have particular advantages over conventional scaffolds. This lecture will give an overview of our research on nanobiomaterials and discuss a few factors in nanobiomaterials design and development.
Biography
Min Wang is a tenured professor at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and as Programme Director, has led HKU’s interfaculty Medical Engineering Programme (retitled as Biomedical Engineering Programme in 2018) from 2013 to 2018. He has also been a Guest Professor or Adjunct Professor of several universities in mainland China (Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, Tianjin University, etc.). He was Chairman of the Biomedical Division of Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and has served in the HKIE Council. He earned his BSc (1985) and PhD (1991) in Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, and University of London, UK, respectively. He is a Chartered Engineer (CEng, 1995, UK) and Chartered Scientist (CSci, 2005, UK). He is an elected fellow of professional societies in the UK, USA, Hong Kong and internationally (FIMMM, 2001; FIMechE, 2007; FHKIE, 2010; FBSE, 2011; FAIMBE, 2012; WAC Academician, 2013). He has worked in universities in the UK (1991-97), Singapore (1997-2002) and Hong Kong (2002-now) for research and teaching. He started biomaterials research in 1991 in UK’s Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials. His current interests include biomaterials, tissue engineering, controlled release, bionanotechnology, and 3D printing. He has published a large number of book chapters, journal articles and conference papers and has given many conference presentations, including more than 160 invited talks. He was Chairman/Organizer of many conferences and has served in committees of over 70 international conferences. He has been the book Series Editor of Springer Series in Biomaterials Science and Engineering and Editor or Associate Editor of several journals. He has served in the Editorial Board of 19 international printed journals. He has been a Council Member of the Chinese Society for Biomaterials, Asian Biomaterials Federation, WACBE, and IFMBE. He is a member of the Steering Committee of International College of Fellows in IUSBSE.
Announced by School of Biomedical Science and Engineering