Prof. Hsien-Yeh Chen’s research team uses green materials along with a dry and clean vapor-phased process to fabricate useful materials for applications in biomedical applications and have great impact in the broad field of materials sciences. Our works have been published in esteemed journals in heavyweight journals such as Nature communications, JACS, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, Chemistry of Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Applied Materials Today, and about 30 patents worldwide have been filed. Our research highlights are also shown below.
- A new technology of fabrication and modulation using a vapor-phase process to construct polymeric complex tissue engineering scaffold was invented. We demonstrated a vapor-phased fabrication of scaffolds comprised of multiple biomolecules and living cells with built-in boundaries separating the distinct compartments containing defined biological configurations and functions. The new process showed that the fabricated scaffolds have a mass production potential, and the modulated scaffolds exhibit cell co-cultures with enhanced cell proliferation, osteogenesis, and neurogenesis, which can be assembled into various geometric configurations in one scaffold construct. The works were published in Nature Communications (2021), and the work was highlighted in the National News and a spotlight of the University News. Patent application worldwide for this technology is currently underway.
- A green and sustainable vapor-phased process was used to construct nanometer and porous materials, and the control of interior asymmetrical and gradient hierarchy structures was invented. With such a novel methodology to produce particles of a green polymer: poly-para-xylylenes with flexible size control in the micrometer (< 100 μm) and nanometer (50 nm – 900 nm) scales and to additionally produce pore structures (10 nm - 30 nm) in such particles. For the first time, a simple vapor deposition process on a sublimating substrate was established to produce micro-/nanosized particles, and it is also the first time that porous particles were fabricated by vapor deposition. The works were published in Nature Communications (2018); Chemistry of Materials (2020), Applied Materials Today (2017). Related patents were also successfully filed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and USA.
- A new technology of fabrication and construction of a three dimensional and porous polymeric material was invented based on a green process using vapor-phase sublimation and polymerization process, and the work was published in Applied Materials Today (2017). Related patents were also successfully filed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and USA.
- An innovative fabrication process to build a next generation intraocular lens (IOL) was invented. The advanced IOL is fabricated by using chemical vapor deposition of highly biocompatible of the green polymer: poly-p-xylylenes, and to encapsulate liquids, and the IOL provides non-compromised design parameters for both its optical and biological properties. Designable biological property is demonstrated by synergistic guidance for attachments of eye epithelial cells, as well as the excellent biocompatibility and reduced calcification are also confirmed for the proposed IOL device. The work was published in Chemistry of Materials (2015), and the work also received a National Innovation Award of Taiwan in (2017). Related patents were also successfully filed in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, and USA.
- A multifunctional medical coating was produced based on a green process of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) The novel coating features two distinct anchoring sites: electron-deficient alkynes and unsaturated maleimides. Therefore, this material simultaneously performs specific bioorthogonal reactions, including the several promising click reactions and other specific coupling reactions. The works were published in JACS, Advanced Functional Materials, ChemComm., ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, Chemistry of Materials, and etc.