University of Hong Kong researchers develop new materials that can release drugs in the human body to reduce the pain of injections in long-term patients

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Written by: Wang Yiyin

2019-12-18 00:00

Three scholars from the University of Hong Kong this year received Jue Chan's awards, including Cen Hao-chan, a professor of mechanical engineering and Yao Wang, a lecturer in the physics department, who won the Jue's Outstanding Researcher Award; and Wang Yufeng, an assistant professor in the chemistry department, won the Jue's forward-looking research award. Cen Haojin developed "all-aqueous microfluidic precision biological materials", which can carry drugs or cells to be injected into the human body, and then slowly release the drugs in the human body, so that patients can reduce the number of injections. It is expected that materials can be widely applied to drugs or drugs within 10 years. Medical use.

Yao Wang used new two-dimensional materials to explore new optoelectronic control principles and improve the functions of electronic devices. Colloidal nanoparticles studied by Wang Yufeng can be applied to three-dimensional printing, which can more accurately control the quality of materials, improve the accuracy of finished products, and can be used as artificial organs.

Cen Haoyun's biomaterials can carry a wider variety of drugs and cells without compromising their efficacy. (Photo by Wang Yanyin)

Water-soluble materials carry more drugs and cells successfully developed can bring drugs into the body

Traditional biomaterials are composed of water and oil to carry different cells or molecules, which contain traces of Glover or other chemicals. Because substances and cells will be melted in oil, and the solution containing Golomat may be harmful to the human body, it has not been applied in biomedicine. In view of this, Cen Haojin has been studying water-soluble biological materials since 2010, carrying more drugs and cells. This newly developed material is 1,000 times thinner than general building blocks, but can bring more drugs, cells and even stem cells into the body through the material.

Professor Cen Haochen, Professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong (Photo by Wang Yanyin)

Cen Haojin is working with different pharmaceutical companies and experts to study the application of materials to clinical treatment. After the new water-soluble liquid carries the drug into the body, the drug inside can be slowly released without frequent injections; patients who need to inject drugs for a long time can reduce the number of injections. In addition, the new biological material can cover the wound to prevent infection, and can release substances to make the wound heal faster. Cen Haojin estimates that biomaterials can be successfully developed within 3 to 4 years and can be widely used for pharmaceutical or medical purposes within 10 years.

Dr. Wang Yufeng, assistant professor of the Department of Chemistry, won the Qiu Ju forward-looking research award. (Photo by Wang Yanyin)

Colloidal nanoparticles regulate particles like a micro robot

The colloidal nanoparticles studied by another winner, Wang Yufeng, are only one hundredth the diameter of human hair. The material of the bonded particles comes from plastic, metal, and even semiconductors, and the movement and structure of the particles can be controlled. Wang Yufeng said that compared with traditional particles, the new nanoparticles can enter the human body as micro-robots, delivering drugs, repairing cells and building bridges.

In addition to clinical applications, nanoparticles can also be used in stereo printing. Since the structure of the particles currently used for printing cannot be changed, the softness of the printed articles cannot be adjusted. But Wang Yufeng pointed out that the structure of nanoparticles can be controlled, and the use of particles can make more accurate objects. For example, when making artificial organs, the structure of nerves, blood vessels and cells can be controlled more precisely.

Wang Yufeng has developed new nanoparticles that can be used as micro-robots to enter the body for cell repair and other tasks, and can also improve the accuracy of 3D printing. (Photo by Wang Yanyin)

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