Research

Neural Regeneration

Biomedical Devices

Assistive Devices

Soft Robotics

Biomaterials

Bio-printing

Wearables

Neuroprosthetics

Sensors

Student Highlights

 

Neural Regeneration

Nerve trauma and neurodegenerative disease can cause debilitating and life-changing impacts. The complex nature of the neural systems, especially for injury to the spinal cord and brain, means that very little regeneration, repair or healing happens, such that damage is often permanent and devastating, creating tremendous burden on patients, families and society. Research into technological methods to enhance neural regeneration and rehabilitation to restore function will have a huge impact in restoring independence and ability for those who suffer form these conditions.


Pre-Programmed Rod-Shaped Microgels to Create Multi-Directional Anisogels for 3D Tissue Engineering

Braunmiller, D.L., Babu, S., Gehlen, D.B., Seuß, M., Haraszti, T., Falkenstein, A., Eigen, J., De Laporte, L. & Crassous, J.J. 2022, "Pre‐Programmed Rod‐Shaped Microgels to Create Multi‐Directional Anisogels for 3D Tissue Engineering", Advanced functional materials, vol. 32, no. 50, pp. 2202430-n/a.

Tissue bioprinting for biology and medicine

Akbari, M. & Khademhosseini, A. 2022, "Tissue bioprinting for biology and medicine", Cell, vol. 185, no. 15, pp. 2644-2648.

Protocol for printing 3D neural tissues using the BIO X equipped with a pneumatic printhead

Chrenek, J., Kirsch, R., Scheck, K. & Willerth, S.M. 2022, "Protocol for printing 3D neural tissues using the BIO X equipped with a pneumatic printhead", STAR protocols, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 101348-101348.

Smart Bioinks for the Printing of Human Tissue Models

Maan, Z., Masri, N.Z. & Willerth, S.M. 2022, "Smart Bioinks for the Printing of Human Tissue Models", Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 141.

3D Bioprinting Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Neural Tissues Using a Fibrin-Based Bioink

Restan Perez, M., Sharma, R., Masri, N.Z. & Willerth, S.M. 2021, "3D Bioprinting Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Neural Tissues Using a Fibrin-Based Bioink", Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 11, no. 8, pp. 1250.

Emerging frontier of peripheral nerve and organ interfaces

Shahriari, D., Rosenfeld, D. & Anikeeva, P. 2020, "Emerging Frontier of Peripheral Nerve and Organ Interfaces", Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.), vol. 108, no. 2, pp. 270-285.

An Injectable Hyaluronan–Methylcellulose (HAMC) Hydrogel Combined with Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (WJ-MSCs) Promotes Degenerative Disc Repair

Choi, U.Y.; Joshi, H.P.; Payne, S.; Kim, K.T.; Kyung, J.W.; Choi, H.; Cooke, M.J.; Kwon, S.Y.; Roh, E.J.; Sohn, S.; Shoichet, M.S.; Han, I. An Injectable Hyaluronan–Methylcellulose (HAMC) Hydrogel Combined with Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (WJ-MSCs) Promotes Degenerative Disc Repair. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 7391. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21197391.

Printing of single cells

E. Cheng, H. Yu, A. Ahmadi, and K. C. Cheung, Investigation of the hydrodynamic response of cells in drop on demand piezoelectric inkjet nozzles, Biofabrication 2016 8, 015008
Single cell printing is being developed using piezoelectrically actuated inkjet printing towards cell printers for tissue engineering and fine-control over heterogeneous tissue structure at the interface with artificial materials.

Robot-guided recovery of proprioception

B. A. Valdes, M. Khoshnam, J. L. Neva, C. Menon, Robot-aided upper-limb proprioceptive training in three-dimensional space, IEEE 16th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), 2019, 18920185
Robotic devices can be used to track and facilitate arm movements, and therefore can help establish recovery protocols aimed at enhancing proprioception.

Building an artificial peripheral nerve sensor

C. Hamilton, K. Tian, J. Bae, C. Yang, G. Alici, G. M. Spinks, Z. Suo, J. J. Vlassak, and M. in het Panhuis, “A Soft Stretchable Sensor: Towards Peripheral Nerve Signal Sensing,” MRS Advances, vol. 3, no. 28, pp. 1597–1602, 2018
Dr. in het Panhuis’s research in soft robotics draws inspiration from biological systems to 3D print structures that enhance human aquatic mobility and build soft structures that sense human nerves.

 

Biomedical Devices

Biomedical bionic devices can include implantables or other devices that assist in carrying out a medical function involving an interface or coordinated operation between human systems and a device. Implantables are devices that are implanted into the body, traditionally to augment or restore function. Examples include pacemakers, orthopaedic implants, and Cochlear implants. These devices have been tremendously successful over the past 40+ years in restoring function to those with health conditions or who have suffered injury. Active devices have the ability to restore sensation and control. For example, new brain-machine interfaces can allow users to control a prosthetic arm. By integrating with the central nervous system, it's possible to form a closed-loop with two-way communication between the user and the device. This could be used to restore a wide variety of functions, where the user's intentions are conveyed through worn or implanted devices.


A Polymeric Piezoelectric Tactile Sensor Fabricated by 3D Printing and Laser Micromachining for Hardness Differentiation during Palpation

Ge, C. & Cretu, E. 2022, "A Polymeric Piezoelectric Tactile Sensor Fabricated by 3D Printing and Laser Micromachining for Hardness Differentiation during Palpation", Micromachines (Basel), vol. 13, no. 12, pp. 2164.

3D-Printed Stacked Ionic Assemblies for Iontronic Touch Sensors

Odent, J., Baleine, N., Biard, V., Dobashi, Y., Vancaeyzeele, C., Nguyen, G.T.M., Madden, J.D.W., Plesse, C. & Raquez, J. 2022, "3D‐Printed Stacked Ionic Assemblies for Iontronic Touch Sensors", Advanced functional materials, , pp. 2210485.

A hybrid thread-based temperature and humidity sensor for continuous wound monitoring

Hasanpour, S., Karperien, L., Walsh, T., Jahanshahi, M., Hadisi, Z., Neale, K.J., Christie, B.R., Djilali, N. & Akbari, M. 2022, "A hybrid thread-based temperature and humidity sensor for continuous wound monitoring", Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical, vol. 370, pp. 132414.

Novel Grasping Mechanisms of 3D-Printed Prosthetic Hands

Moeinnia, H., Su, H. & Kim, W.S. 2022, "Novel Grasping Mechanisms of 3D‐Printed Prosthetic Hands", Advanced intelligent systems, vol. 4, no. 11, pp. 2200189-n/a

Dynamic laser-based photomodulation of endovascular hydrogel embolization for the treatment of various cerebrovascular disorders

Jerry C. Ku, Yuta Dobashi, Christopher R. Pasarikovski, Joel Ramjist, John D. Madden, Konrad Walus, Victor X. D. Yang. Dynamic laser-based photomodulation of endovascular hydrogel embolization for the treatment of various cerebrovascular disorders. Proceedings Volume 11945, Clinical and Translational Neurophotonics 2022; 1194503 (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2605294.

Studying the effects of externally applied pressure on soft tissue oxygenation

Justin K. M. Wyss, Leili Ghazi, John D. W. Madden, Babak Shadgan. Studying the effects of externally applied pressure on soft tissue oxygenation. Proceedings Volume 11956, Biophotonics in Exercise Science, Sports Medicine, Health Monitoring Technologies, and Wearables III; 119560A (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2620725.

Bionic MEMS for Touching and Hearing Sensations: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Solutions

Ge, C. & Cretu, E. 2022, "Bionic MEMS for Touching and Hearing Sensations: Recent Progress, Challenges, and Solutions", Journal of bionics engineering, vol. 19, no. 3, pp. 590-615.

Fabrication and characterization of a microneedle array electrode with flexible backing for biosignal monitoring

Lozano, J., Stoeber, B. Fabrication and characterization of a microneedle array electrode with flexible backing for biosignal monitoring. Biomed Microdevices 23, 53 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-021-00583-y.

Unraveling DNA inspires artificial muscle

Madden, J.D.W. 2021, "Unraveling DNA inspires artificial muscle", Science robotics, vol. 6, no. 53.

Review of design considerations for brain-on-a-chip models

Cameron, T.; Bennet, T.; Rowe, E.M.; Anwer, M.; Wellington, C.L.; Cheung, K.C. Review of Design Considerations for Brain-on-a-Chip Models. Micromachines 2021, 12, 441. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12040441.

 

Assistive Devices

Assistive devices include many technologies that are designed to assist a person to perform a particular task, ranging from day-to-day or superior to ordinary capabilities. They can often be necessary to enable people to carry out daily activities and participate actively in community life. Examples include mobility, hearing or cognitive aids, screen reading software, and prosthetic and robotic devices that can help to enable many ordinary activities by those with and without impairments. These can have transformative impacts on lives of people who use them in allowing them to enjoy high quality of life and independence. Some exciting technological developments include robotic exoskeletons, artificial hearts, and prosthetics that use sensors to detect electrical signals in the muscles and transmit and translate them to motor-controlled precise actions.


A method for using neurofeedback to guide mental imagery for improving motor skill

Riahi, N., Ruth, W., D'Arcy, R.C.N. & Menon, C. 2022, "A Method for Using Neurofeedback to Guide Mental Imagery for Improving Motor Skill", IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering, vol. PP, pp. 1-1.

Novel Grasping Mechanisms of 3D-Printed Prosthetic Hands

Moeinnia, H., Su, H. & Kim, W.S. 2022, "Novel Grasping Mechanisms of 3D‐Printed Prosthetic Hands", Advanced intelligent systems, vol. 4, no. 11, pp. 2200189-n/a

Human–Robot Collaboration in 3D via Force Myography Based Interactive Force Estimations Using Cross-Domain Generalization

Zakia, U. & Menon, C. 2022, "Human-Robot Collaboration in 3D via Force Myography Based Interactive Force Estimations Using Cross-Domain Generalization", IEEE access, vol. 10, pp. 35835-35845.

Perception of autonomy among people who use wheeled mobility assistive devices: Dependence on the type of wheeled assistive technology

Mahsa Khalili, Chelsea Jonathan, Nicole Hocking, Mike Van Der Loos, Ben Mortenson & Jaimie F. Borisoff (2022) Perception of autonomy among people who use wheeled mobility assistive devices: Dependence on the type of wheeled assistive technology, Assistive Technology, 34:6, 725-733, DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2021.1934611.

Development of a Learning-Based Intention Detection Framework for Power-Assisted Manual Wheelchair Users

Mahsa Khalili, Yang Zhang, Alexandra Gil, Leo Zhao, Calvin Kuo, H.F. Machiel Van der Loos, and Jaimie F. Borisoff, "Development of a Learning-Based Intention Detection Framework for Power-Assisted Manual Wheelchair Users," 2020 29th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), Naples, Italy, 2020, pp. 118-123, doi: 10.1109/RO-MAN47096.2020.9223508.

Pressure detection device

J. D. W. Madden et al., Proximity and touch sensing using deformable ionic conductors, Proceedings Volume 10163, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2017, 2017, 1016305
The Madden lab is developing a prevention pressure-sensing mat for pressure ulcer prevention, by detecting pressure, proximity and touch during active deformation of a surface, for integration into bed sheets to detect pressure points.

Building technology to increase autonomy of spinal cord injury population

M. Khalili, H. F. M. Van der Loos, J. Borisoff, Towards and autonomy-based approach to design and develop mobility assistive technologies for spinal cord injury population 2018, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistave Technology Society of North America Conference
Mobility impairment is the third most common form of disability in Canada, and a large number of the mobility impared population relies on wheeled mobility devices, but classical wheeled devices are limited in their range of autonomy. By incorporating new designs, device-specific restrictions on mobility can be addressed to give the user more autonomy.

Tactile sensor technology and smart tactile sensing systems

L. Zou, C. Ge, Z. J. Wang, E. Cretu, X. Li, Novel tactile sensor technology and smart tactile sensing systems: A review, Sensors 2017, 17(11), 2653
Dr. Cretu’s lab is focused on developing bio-medical devices through research of adapted microsystems and microstructures. They are looking for impactful ways to use his research with tactile sensors to create advanced biofeedback devices.

Human-like movement of fingers stimulated by bionic taste

T. Kim, M. Kaur, W. S. Kim, Humanoid Robot Actuation through Precise Chemical Sensing Signals, Advanced Materials Technologies, 2019, 4, 1900570
Kim's lab integrates a taste sensor for salts in the tips of robotic fingers that bend to various degrees when they encounter different ion concentrations.

Artificial muscles

C. S. Haines, M. D. Lima, G. M. Spinks, J. Foroughi, J. D. W Madden, et al., Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line and Sewing Thread, Science 2014, Vol. 343, Issue 6173, pp. 868-872
The Madden lab is developing an artificial muscle made of nylon that has similar contraction length to human muscle, but 100x stronger, with potential application in biomedical and robotic devices.

 

Soft Robotics

To bring robots into the home and into contact with humans, researchers have turned to biology for inspiration in the design of so-called ‘soft robots’. These robots incorporate soft materials that are inexpensive and provide a continuously deformable structure that enables extensive movement and safe interaction with humans. The addition of ‘smart’ materials further provides opportunities to reduce the weight, size and power requirements of robots, for example by using a material that passively adapts to surroundings, thus reducing computational requirements. Recent advances in soft robotics seek to mimic the properties of human tissues. Examples include artificial muscles that can be faster, lighter and more energy-efficient than conventional actuators and produce fine motion control along multiple axes, as well as compliant support structures that can store elastic energy mid-movement in the same way as the human skeleton. The inspiration for such advances comes from nature, whether from humans or even invertebrates like cephalopods, which achieve locomotion and manipulation without a skeleton. The next step in this journey, and the focus of Bionics@UBC, involves the use of smart materials to integrate sensation, actuation, computation, power storage and communication into a soft structure that is suitable for human interaction.


Active cooling techniques for coiled nylon actuators

Dhillon, S., Kianzad, S., Pandit, M., Farajollahi, M. & Madden, J. 2022, "Active cooling techniques for coiled nylon actuators", , eds. I.A. Anderson, J.D.W. Madden & H.R. Shea, SPIE, , pp. 1204218.

Unraveling DNA inspires artificial muscle

Madden, J.D.W. 2021, "Unraveling DNA inspires artificial muscle", Science robotics, vol. 6, no. 53.

Hybrid Printing Using Cellulose Nanocrystals Reinforced GelMA/HAMA Hydrogels for Improved Structural Integration

Fan, Y., Yue, Z., Lucarelli, E., Wallace, G. G., Hybrid Printing Using Cellulose Nanocrystals Reinforced GelMA/HAMA Hydrogels for Improved Structural Integration. Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2020, 9, 2001410. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202001410.

Autonomously self-healing hydrogels

D. L. Taylor, M. In Het Panhuis, Self-Healing Hydrogels, Adv Mater. 2016, 28(41), 9060-9093
Self healing hydrogels facilitate soft, deformable materials and components that can confirm to complex and changing environments such as biological interfaces and can regain shape and functionality after large deformations.

Transparent sensor array

M. S. Sarwar, Y. Dobashi, C. Preston, J. K. M. Wyss, S. Mirabbasi, J. D. W. Madden, Bend, stretch, and touch: Locating a finger on an actively deformed transparent sensor array. Science Advances 2017, 3, e1602200
John Madden's research team has created a stretchable transparent soft tactile sensing skin towards flexible wearables and humanoid soft robotics

Tactile sensor technology and smart tactile sensing systems

L. Zou, C. Ge, Z. J. Wang, E. Cretu, X. Li, Novel tactile sensor technology and smart tactile sensing systems: A review, Sensors 2017, 17(11), 2653
Dr. Cretu’s lab is focused on developing bio-medical devices through research of adapted microsystems and microstructures. They are looking for impactful ways to use his research with tactile sensors to create advanced biofeedback devices.

Human-like movement of fingers stimulated by bionic taste

T. Kim, M. Kaur, W. S. Kim, Humanoid Robot Actuation through Precise Chemical Sensing Signals, Advanced Materials Technologies, 2019, 4, 1900570
Kim's lab integrates a taste sensor for salts in the tips of robotic fingers that bend to various degrees when they encounter different ion concentrations.

Artificial muscles

C. S. Haines, M. D. Lima, G. M. Spinks, J. Foroughi, J. D. W Madden, et al., Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line and Sewing Thread, Science 2014, Vol. 343, Issue 6173, pp. 868-872
The Madden lab is developing an artificial muscle made of nylon that has similar contraction length to human muscle, but 100x stronger, with potential application in biomedical and robotic devices.

Robot-guided recovery of proprioception

B. A. Valdes, M. Khoshnam, J. L. Neva, C. Menon, Robot-aided upper-limb proprioceptive training in three-dimensional space, IEEE 16th International Conference on Rehabilitation Robotics (ICORR), 2019, 18920185
Robotic devices can be used to track and facilitate arm movements, and therefore can help establish recovery protocols aimed at enhancing proprioception.

Building an artificial peripheral nerve sensor

C. Hamilton, K. Tian, J. Bae, C. Yang, G. Alici, G. M. Spinks, Z. Suo, J. J. Vlassak, and M. in het Panhuis, “A Soft Stretchable Sensor: Towards Peripheral Nerve Signal Sensing,” MRS Advances, vol. 3, no. 28, pp. 1597–1602, 2018
Dr. in het Panhuis’s research in soft robotics draws inspiration from biological systems to 3D print structures that enhance human aquatic mobility and build soft structures that sense human nerves.

 

Biomaterials

In the area of bionics, our biomaterials can interact safely with biological systems while inducing minimal undesired bio-response. They are commonly used for medical applications to augment or replace natural function, for example in a passive artificial meniscus or an active neural interface. The goal of these materials is to integrate seamlessly with the body, avoiding any compatibility issues or immune responses, such as scar tissue formation, which can negatively effect the performance of a device over time. They can be hard, like ceramic bone-fillers, or soft and pliable, like hydrogel coatings for implants. They cover a wide range of applications, from orthopaedic implants to skin grafts, and a similarly wide range of materials, from ceramics to polymers to engineered tissues. Advanced materials bridge the gap between engineered devices and human tissues and the field of bionics is dependent on these materials to realistically apply breakthroughs in areas like brain machine interfaces, prosthetic limbs, surgical implants, and many others.


Piezoionic mechanoreceptors: Force-induced current generation in hydrogels

Dobashi, Y., Yao, D., Petel, Y., Nguyen, T.N., Sarwar, M.S., Thabet, Y., Ng, C.L.W., Scabeni Glitz, E., Nguyen, G.T.M., Plesse, C., Vidal, F., Michal, C.A. & Madden, J.D.W. 2022, "Piezoionic mechanoreceptors: Force-induced current generation in hydrogels", Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), vol. 376, no. 6592, pp. 502-507.

A Polymeric Piezoelectric Tactile Sensor Fabricated by 3D Printing and Laser Micromachining for Hardness Differentiation during Palpation

Ge, C. & Cretu, E. 2022, "A Polymeric Piezoelectric Tactile Sensor Fabricated by 3D Printing and Laser Micromachining for Hardness Differentiation during Palpation", Micromachines (Basel), vol. 13, no. 12, pp. 2164.

3D-Printed Stacked Ionic Assemblies for Iontronic Touch Sensors

Odent, J., Baleine, N., Biard, V., Dobashi, Y., Vancaeyzeele, C., Nguyen, G.T.M., Madden, J.D.W., Plesse, C. & Raquez, J. 2022, "3D‐Printed Stacked Ionic Assemblies for Iontronic Touch Sensors", Advanced functional materials, , pp. 2210485.

A hybrid thread-based temperature and humidity sensor for continuous wound monitoring

Hasanpour, S., Karperien, L., Walsh, T., Jahanshahi, M., Hadisi, Z., Neale, K.J., Christie, B.R., Djilali, N. & Akbari, M. 2022, "A hybrid thread-based temperature and humidity sensor for continuous wound monitoring", Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical, vol. 370, pp. 132414.

Development of 3D printable graphene oxide based bio-ink for cell support and tissue engineering

Jianfeng Li, Xiao Liu, Jeremy M. Crook, Gordon G. Wallace, "Development of 3D printable graphene oxide based bio-ink for cell support and tissue engineering", Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 18 October 2022 Sec. Biomaterials https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.994776.

Pre-Programmed Rod-Shaped Microgels to Create Multi-Directional Anisogels for 3D Tissue Engineering

Braunmiller, D.L., Babu, S., Gehlen, D.B., Seuß, M., Haraszti, T., Falkenstein, A., Eigen, J., De Laporte, L. & Crassous, J.J. 2022, "Pre‐Programmed Rod‐Shaped Microgels to Create Multi‐Directional Anisogels for 3D Tissue Engineering", Advanced functional materials, vol. 32, no. 50, pp. 2202430-n/a.

Tissue bioprinting for biology and medicine

Akbari, M. & Khademhosseini, A. 2022, "Tissue bioprinting for biology and medicine", Cell, vol. 185, no. 15, pp. 2644-2648.

Biomaterial and cellular implants: foreign surfaces where immunity and coagulation meet

Kizhakkedathu, J.N. & Conway, E.M. 2022, "Biomaterial and cellular implants: foreign surfaces where immunity and coagulation meet", Blood, vol. 139, no. 13, pp. 1987-1998.

Development and Testing of a Novel Hydrogel Embolization Treatment for Neurovascular Diseases: Preliminary Animal Results

Ku, J., Dobashi, Y., Pasarikovski, C., Ramjist, J., Madden, J., Walus, K., & Yang, V. (2021). P.191 Development and Testing of a Novel Hydrogel Embolization Treatment for Neurovascular Diseases: Preliminary Animal Results. Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences / Journal Canadien Des Sciences Neurologiques, 48(S3), S75-S75. doi:10.1017/cjn.2021.467.

Rapid Assembly of Infection-Resistant Coatings: Screening and Identification of Antimicrobial Peptides Works in Cooperation with an Antifouling Background

Kai Yu, Amal Alzahrani, Sara Khoddami, John T J Cheng, Yan Mei, Arshdeep Gill, Haiming D Luo, Evan F Haney, Kai Hilpert, Robert E W Hancock, Dirk Lange, Jayachandran N Kizhakkedathu, Rapid Assembly of Infection-Resistant Coatings: Screening and Identification of Antimicrobial Peptides Works in Cooperation with an Antifouling Background. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2021 Aug 11;13(31):36784-36799. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c07515.

 

Bio-printing

The ability to print complex 3D structures has led to significant innovation in fields such as soft sensors and actuators, prosthetics, medical implants and tissue engineering. These fields, among many others, contribute to the advancement of bionics towards lightweight, durable, highly-functional and biologically-integrated devices. One such advance has come from Aspect Biosystems, winner of the BC Tech Association’s ‘Most Promising Startup 2016’, co-founded by one of our members. This Canadian company is producing complex, living tissues using 3D printing technology and examining the application of these tissues in medical devices.


Printed Wireless Sensing Devices using Radio Frequency Communication

Kalhori, A.H. & Kim, W.S. 2022, "Printed Wireless Sensing Devices using Radio Frequency Communication", ACS applied electronic materials, .

3D Structural Electronics Via Multi-Directional Robot 3D Printing

Bao, C., Moeinnia, H., Kim, T., Lee, W. & Kim, W.S. 2022, "3D Structural Electronics Via Multi‐Directional Robot 3D Printing", Advanced materials technologies, , pp. 2201349.

Development of 3D printable graphene oxide based bio-ink for cell support and tissue engineering

Jianfeng Li, Xiao Liu, Jeremy M. Crook, Gordon G. Wallace, "Development of 3D printable graphene oxide based bio-ink for cell support and tissue engineering", Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 18 October 2022 Sec. Biomaterials https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.994776.

Protocol for printing 3D neural tissues using the BIO X equipped with a pneumatic printhead

Chrenek, J., Kirsch, R., Scheck, K. & Willerth, S.M. 2022, "Protocol for printing 3D neural tissues using the BIO X equipped with a pneumatic printhead", STAR protocols, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 101348-101348.

Smart Bioinks for the Printing of Human Tissue Models

Maan, Z., Masri, N.Z. & Willerth, S.M. 2022, "Smart Bioinks for the Printing of Human Tissue Models", Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 141.

3D Bioprinting Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Neural Tissues Using a Fibrin-Based Bioink

Restan Perez, M., Sharma, R., Masri, N.Z. & Willerth, S.M. 2021, "3D Bioprinting Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Neural Tissues Using a Fibrin-Based Bioink", Biomolecules (Basel, Switzerland), vol. 11, no. 8, pp. 1250.

Hybrid Printing Using Cellulose Nanocrystals Reinforced GelMA/HAMA Hydrogels for Improved Structural Integration

Fan, Y., Yue, Z., Lucarelli, E., Wallace, G. G., Hybrid Printing Using Cellulose Nanocrystals Reinforced GelMA/HAMA Hydrogels for Improved Structural Integration. Adv. Healthcare Mater. 2020, 9, 2001410. https://doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202001410.

Autonomously self-healing hydrogels

D. L. Taylor, M. In Het Panhuis, Self-Healing Hydrogels, Adv Mater. 2016, 28(41), 9060-9093
Self healing hydrogels facilitate soft, deformable materials and components that can confirm to complex and changing environments such as biological interfaces and can regain shape and functionality after large deformations.

Printing of single cells

E. Cheng, H. Yu, A. Ahmadi, and K. C. Cheung, Investigation of the hydrodynamic response of cells in drop on demand piezoelectric inkjet nozzles, Biofabrication 2016 8, 015008
Single cell printing is being developed using piezoelectrically actuated inkjet printing towards cell printers for tissue engineering and fine-control over heterogeneous tissue structure at the interface with artificial materials.

3D bio-printing neural tissue

L. De la Vega, K. Karmirian, S. M. Willerth, Engineering Neural Tissue from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Using Novel Small Molecule Releasing Microspheres, Advanced Biosystems 2018, 2, 1800133
The Willerth lab is designing bio-printed heterogeneous tissue constructs to develop spinal cord-mimicking tissue with novel drug delivery systems using microparticles.

 

Wearables

Wearable devices fit on the outside of the body and can be worn like clothing. Commercial examples like smart watches have already made an impact on the market and coming products have the potential to dramatically change our understanding of health and wellbeing. Imagine a set of stretchable devices that conform to the body and provide health data that are easily viewable and understandable to the wearer. This information can be used to guide behaviour, track athletic progress, and warn of potential health problems. Enabling technologies such as 5G wireless and artificial intelligence can unleash the power of health data to put individuals in charge. By rapidly collecting data through soft sensors on the body and interpreting the data with advanced software, valuable insights can be provided to users in real-time. In addition to sensing applications, new actuation and energy-harvesting strategies open the door to wearables that support movement, balance and active involvement. This is important for those who want to avoid injury, reduce the burden of extreme exercise (e.g., hiking a mountain) or rehabilitate after injury.


Printed Wireless Sensing Devices using Radio Frequency Communication

Kalhori, A.H. & Kim, W.S. 2022, "Printed Wireless Sensing Devices using Radio Frequency Communication", ACS applied electronic materials, .

A Polymeric Piezoelectric Tactile Sensor Fabricated by 3D Printing and Laser Micromachining for Hardness Differentiation during Palpation

Ge, C. & Cretu, E. 2022, "A Polymeric Piezoelectric Tactile Sensor Fabricated by 3D Printing and Laser Micromachining for Hardness Differentiation during Palpation", Micromachines (Basel), vol. 13, no. 12, pp. 2164.

On-Field Deployment and Validation for Wearable Devices

Kuo, C., Patton, D., Rooks, T. et al. On-Field Deployment and Validation for Wearable Devices. Ann Biomed Eng 50, 1372–1388 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-022-03001-3.

Fabrication and characterization of a microneedle array electrode with flexible backing for biosignal monitoring

Lozano, J., Stoeber, B. Fabrication and characterization of a microneedle array electrode with flexible backing for biosignal monitoring. Biomed Microdevices 23, 53 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-021-00583-y.

Pressure detection device

J. D. W. Madden et al., Proximity and touch sensing using deformable ionic conductors, Proceedings Volume 10163, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) 2017, 2017, 1016305
The Madden lab is developing a prevention pressure-sensing mat for pressure ulcer prevention, by detecting pressure, proximity and touch during active deformation of a surface, for integration into bed sheets to detect pressure points.

Transparent sensor array

M. S. Sarwar, Y. Dobashi, C. Preston, J. K. M. Wyss, S. Mirabbasi, J. D. W. Madden, Bend, stretch, and touch: Locating a finger on an actively deformed transparent sensor array. Science Advances 2017, 3, e1602200
John Madden's research team has created a stretchable transparent soft tactile sensing skin towards flexible wearables and humanoid soft robotics

Artificial muscles

C. S. Haines, M. D. Lima, G. M. Spinks, J. Foroughi, J. D. W Madden, et al., Artificial Muscles from Fishing Line and Sewing Thread, Science 2014, Vol. 343, Issue 6173, pp. 868-872
The Madden lab is developing an artificial muscle made of nylon that has similar contraction length to human muscle, but 100x stronger, with potential application in biomedical and robotic devices.

Fabrication and testing of polymer-based capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers for medical imaging

Gerardo, C.D., Cretu, E. & Rohling, R. 2018, "Fabrication and testing of polymer-based capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducers for medical imaging", Microsystems & nanoengineering, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 19-12.

 

Neuroprosthetics

Implantable Neural Probe System for Patterned Photostimulation and Electrophysiology Recording

F. Chen, H. Wahn, T. Xue, Y. Jung, J. N. Straguzzi, S. S. Azadeh, A. Stalmashonak, H. Chua, X. Luo, P. Shah, H. M. Chameh, P. G. Lo, T. A. Valiante, W. D. Sacher, and J. K. S. Poon, "Implantable Neural Probe System for Patterned Photostimulation and Electrophysiology Recording," in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Technical Digest Series (Optica Publishing Group, 2022), paper JTh6A.7. https://opg.optica.org/abstract.cfm?URI=CLEO_AT-2022-JTh6A.7.

Toward Open-World Electroencephalogram Decoding Via Deep Learning: A comprehensive survey

X. Chen, C. Li, A. Liu, M. J. McKeown, R. Qian and Z. J. Wang, "Toward Open-World Electroencephalogram Decoding Via Deep Learning: A comprehensive survey," in IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 117-134, March 2022, doi: 10.1109/MSP.2021.3134629..

Fabrication and characterization of a microneedle array electrode with flexible backing for biosignal monitoring

Lozano, J., Stoeber, B. Fabrication and characterization of a microneedle array electrode with flexible backing for biosignal monitoring. Biomed Microdevices 23, 53 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10544-021-00583-y.

A convolutional-recurrent neural network approach to resting-state EEG classification in Parkinson’s disease

Soojin Lee, Ramy Hussein, Rabab Ward, Z Jane Wang, Martin J McKeown. A convolutional-recurrent neural network approach to resting-state EEG classification in Parkinson’s disease. J Neurosci Methods. 2021 Sep 1;361:109282. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109282.

Implantable photonic neural probes for light-sheet fluorescence brain imaging

Wesley D. Sacher, Fu-Der Chen, Homeira Moradi-Chameh, Xianshu Luo, Anton Fomenko, Prajay Shah, Thomas Lordello, Xinyu Liu, Ilan Felts Almog, John N. Straguzzi, Trevor M. Fowler, Youngho Jung, Ting Hu, Junho Jeong, Andres M. Lozano, Patrick Guo-Qiang Lo, Taufik A. Valiante, Laurent C. Moreaux, Joyce K. S. Poon, Michael L. Roukes. "Implantable photonic neural probes for light-sheet fluorescence brain imaging" Neurophotonics, Vol. 8, Issue 2, 025003 (April 2021). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.NPh.8.2.025003.

Next-Generation Diamond Electrodes for Neurochemical Sensing: Challenges and Opportunities

Purcell, E.K.; Becker, M.F.; Guo, Y.; Hara, S.A.; Ludwig, K.A.; McKinney, C.J.; Monroe, E.M.; Rechenberg, R.; Rusinek, C.A.; Saxena, A.; Siegenthaler, J.R.; Sortwell, C.E.; Thompson, C.H.; Trevathan, J.K.; Witt, S.; Li, W. Next-Generation Diamond Electrodes for Neurochemical Sensing: Challenges and Opportunities. Micromachines 2021, 12, 128. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12020128.

A fully transparent, flexible PEDOT:PSS–ITO–Ag–ITO based microelectrode array for ECoG recording

Weiyang Yang, Yan Gong, Cheng-You Yao, Maheshwar Shrestha, Yaoyao Jia, Zhen Qiu, Qi Hua Fan, Arthur Weber, Wen Li. "A fully transparent, flexible PEDOT:PSS-ITO-Ag-ITO based microelectrode array for ECoG recording" Lab Chip. 2021 Mar 21;21(6):1096-1108. doi: 10.1039/d0lc01123a.

 

Student Highlights

Mend the Gap: Spotlight – with Tanya Bennet


Eric Cheng, SFU I2I Venture Pitch Winner


Smart sock for deep vein thrombosis

Sukhneet Dhillon
PhD, Biomedical Engineering

Sukhneet is developing coating and optimizing nylon artificial muscles for application to invasive and non-invasive medical devices as well as compression socks for patients with deep vein thrombosis.

Bio-printing neural tissue

Laura de la Vega
PhD, Biomedical and Tissue Engineering

Laura has been developing 3D printed neural tissue with novel drug delivery systems.

Transparent tactile sensors

Mirza Saquib Sarwar
PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Saquib has recently published a new transparent touch sensor applicable to wearables and robotics that is flexible, stretchable and operates during active deformation.

Inkjet cell printing

Eric Cheng
PhD, Biomedical Engineering

Eric has been developing technology to perform single cell printing using piezoelectrically actuated inkjet printing towards cell printers for tissue engineering and fine-control over heterogeneous tissue structure at the interface with artificial materials.

Nylon-based artificial muscle fibres

Xu Fan, Kieran Morton
BASc, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Fan and Kieran have been developing artificial muscle technologies towards higher strength, actuation speed and lower energy usage for biomedical assistive devices.

Prevention device for pressure ulcers

Justin Wyss
MASc, Biomedical Engineering

Justin is developing a prevention device for pressure ulcers, which are one of the most expensive preventable secondary complications for patients with spinal cord injury, using a new sensor technology that that detects proximity, touch and pressure.

Stretchable electrochromic displays

Claire Preston
MASc, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Claire is developing stretchable electrochromic displays that change colour with application of voltage with application to wearable electronics for biomonitoring and camouflage as well as soft robotic skin.