Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Monash University, Australia
B.Sc. (Honours Class I), Monash University, Australia
Research Areas of Interests
Stem cell generated cartilage is currently suboptimal, lacking in terms of biochemical and mechanical quality, and does not acquire the zonal hierarchical arrangement of a physiological articular cartilage. My research focuses on cartilage tissue engineering using adult and embryonic stem cells, with the emphasis on the investigation of various microenvironmental cues on stem cell chondrogenic differentiation. Factors including the spatial-temporal delivery of bioactive agents, extracellular matrix biological component, topographical and mechanical cues of the scaffold are being studied with the aim of gaining knowledge for the future design of functional scaffold and pre-implantation culturing conditions for stem cell-based cartilage tissue engineering. The interdisciplinary research involved collaboration with orthopaedic clinicians, chemical and mechanical engineers.
Selected Research Projects
Generation of phenotypically specific chondrogenic cells from human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
Study of the effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) cues on MSC chondrogenesis
Study on the effect of matrix elasticity to the chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells
The use of elastomeric scaffold to study the effect of mechanical stimulation on cartilage tissue engineering
Dr Yang Zheng's Selected Publications
Substrate topography determines the fate of chondrogenesis from human mesenchymal stem cells resulting in specific cartilage phenotype formation. Nanomedicine : nanotechnology, biology, and medicine (2014) Ying-Nan Wu , Jaslyn Bee Khuan Law , Ai Yu He , Hong Yee Low , James H P Hui , Chwee Teck Lim , Zheng Yang , Eng Hin Lee
Engineering cell matrix interactions in assembled polyelectrolyte fiber hydrogels for mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis. Biomaterials (2014) Deepak Raghothaman , Meng Fatt Leong , Tze Chiun Lim , Jerry K C Toh , Andrew C A Wan , Zheng Yang , Eng Hin Lee
Cells behave distinctly within sponges and hydrogels due to differences of internal structure. Tissue Eng Part A. 2013 Oct;19(19-20):2166-75. Zhang J, Yang Z, Li C, Dou Y, Li Y, Wang D, Ge Z.
Temporal Activation of b-Catenin Signaling in the Chondrogenic Process of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Affects the Phenotype of the Cartilage Generated. Stem cells and development (2011) Zheng Yang , Yu Zou , Xi Min Guo , Hwee San Tan , Vinitha Denslin , Chen Hua Yeow , Xia Fei Ren , Tong Ming Liu , James Hp Hui , Eng Hin Lee
Improved mesenchymal stem cells attachment and in vitro cartilage tissue formation on chitosan-modified poly(L-lactide-co-epsilon-caprolactone) scaffold. Tissue engineering. Part A (2011) Zheng Yang , Yingnan Wu , Chao Li , Tianting Zhang , Yu Zou , Hui Hoi Po James , Zigang Ge , Eng Hin Lee
Stage-dependent effect of TGFb1 on chondrogenic differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. Stem cells and development , Volume 18 , Issue 6 (2009) Zheng Yang , Lin Sui , Wei Seong Toh , Eng Hin Lee , Tong Cao
Cartilaginous ECM component-modification of microbead culture system for chondrogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Biomaterials , Volume 28 , Issue 28 (2007) Ying-Nan Wu , Zheng Yang , James H P Hui , Hong-Wei Ouyang , Eng Hin Lee
Effects of culture conditions and bone morphogenetic protein 2 on extent of chondrogenesis from human embryonic stem cells. Stem cells (Dayton, Ohio) , Volume 25 , Issue 4 (2007) Wei Seong Toh , Zheng Yang , Hua Liu , Boon Chin Heng , Eng Hin Lee , Tong Cao
A comparison between the chondrogenic potential of human Bone Marrow Stem Cells (BMSCs) and Adipose Derived Stem Cells (ADSCs) taken from the same donors. Tissue engineering , Volume 13 , Issue 4 (2007) Hassan Afizah , Zheng Yang , James H P Hui , Hong-Wei Ouyang , Eng-Hin Lee
