Henry Ko
  1. Current research activities

    2. Currently, as a postgraduate research student, my project is aimed at creating biomimetic vascular architectures for tissue engineering applications. The important need for creating an in vitro microvascular system is to improve the functionality and viability of virtually all bioengineered tissues created in vitro.

    The current approach aims are to (1) use biodegradable polymeric scaffolds with defined porosity and structural features, as well as biological scaffolds, to support vascular/microvascular cell growth and function, as well as creating a supportive biological matrix; (2) isolate and characterize relevant microvascular cells to create a functional microvessel environment; (3) develop an environment that allows the survival and functionality of the hybrid constructs, and (3) to test the functionality of the hybrid constructs by observing the angiogenic function of the “microvessel” constructs and to see if they can biointegrate with other tissue engineered tissues in vitro and promote the target tissue’s survival and viability.

    Due to the complex interactions of tissues with the vasculature, the aim is not simply to create a functional microvascular system in itself, but to have created a simple “tissue” system with an in-built microvasculature (and macrovasculature). An initial target tissue to be used in this approach is bioengineered bone.

  2. Keywords

    3. Microvascular network, vascularisation, angiogenesis, biodegradable polymers, in vitro biointegration, scaffolds.

  3. End-user applications

    • Tissue engineering researchers & institutions
    • Commercial companies that create bioengineered tissues (e.g. skin, bone)

  4. Key publications

    5. I. Black, A.F., Berthod, F., L’Heureux, N., Germain, L., & Auger, F.A., 1998, “In vitro reconstruction of a human capillary-like network in a tissue-engineered_ skin equivalent”, FASEB, Vol.12, 1331-1340.
    II. Kim, S.S., Utsunomiya, H., Koski, J.A., Wu, B.M., Cima, M.J., Sohn, J., Mukai, K., Griffith, L.G., & Vacanti, J.P., 1998, “Survival and function of hepatocytes on a novel three-dimensional synthetic biodegradable polymer scaffold with an intrinsic network of channels”, Ann Surg, Vol.288, 8-13 .
    III. Nomi, M., Atala, A., De Copi, P., & Soker, S., 2002, “Principals of neovascularisation for tissue engineering”, Molecular. Aspects of Medicine, Vol.23, 463-483.
    IV. Frerich, B., Lindemann, N., Kurtz-Hoffmann, & Oertel, K., 2001, “In vitro model of a vascular stroma for the engineering of vascularised tissues”, Int. J. Oral Maxillofac. Surg., Vol.30, 414-420.
    V. Cassell, O.C.S., Hofer, S.O.P., Morrison, W.A., Knight, K.R., 2002, “Vascularisation of tissue-engineered grafts: the regulation of angiogenesis in reconstructive surgery and in disease states”, Br. J. Plast. Surg., Vol.55, 603-610.

  5. Outreach activities

    6. Biofutures 2001 (QUT/UQ/DIIE) – mentor to students discussing Biofutures, careers, bioengineering and biotechnology.

    Biofutures 2002 (QUT/UQ/DIIE) – Biofutures 2002 program coordinator.

    Australian Biotechnology Students Association (DIIE/AusBiotech/etc, 2002-2003) – committee member.

    UNSW Open Day (UNSW, 2003) – tissue engineering information display booth presenter.

    Honeywell Engineering Summer school (UNSW, 2003) – tissue engineering presentation.

  6. Key organisation membership

    Tissue Engineering Society International (TESI)

  7. Early career researcher?

    No.

  8. Young investigator?

    No.

  9. Skills and expertise

    • cell culture
    • solid modeling software (Pro/Engineer)
    • primary cell isolation(microvessels & cells)
    • design drafting software (AutoCAD)
    • porous polymer scaffold production
    • laser scanning cytometry
    • hydrogel & microsphere production
    • transfection
    • collagen purification & gel production
    • SEM & microCT use

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • MicroCT
    • SEM
    • PC2 facilities

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