Vascular microphysiological system

Microphysiological system (MPS) technology encompasses microtissue engineering, microenvironment reconstruction, and multifunctional analytical techniques. In recent years, we employed numerical simulation techniques to design vascular microphysiological systems and construct multiscale virtual model. Key components of these systems were fabricated using soft lithography, microfluidics, and three-dimensional bioprinting technologies. Brillouin scattering imaging was utilized as a label-free method to measure the viscoelastic mechanical properties of cells and tissues. In addition, molecular and cellular biological approaches were applied to characterize the mechanobiological behaviors and responses of vascular cells. Based on these efforts, we achieved the construction of multiscale vascular microtissues and developed organ-on-chip platforms featuring dynamic curved interfaces, complex topological structures, and angiogenesis models. These platforms successfully recapitulated the complex mechanical microenvironment of blood vessels, enabling investigations into the mechanotransduction mechanisms underlying atherosclerosis development and angiogenesis as well as drug screening.

Dr. Liu is a Professor at the School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering at Beihang University. He completed all of his degrees at Beihang University — from his undergraduate studies through to his PhD — between 2003 and 2012, after which he joined the faculty and has been teaching there ever since. During his time on the faculty, he pursued visiting research at Harvard Medical School and Imperial College London. His research focuses on cardiovascular biomechanics and microphysiological systems. He has authored over 80 peer-reviewed papers in leading journals, including Advanced Materials, Applied Physics Reviews, Science Advances, and Advanced Science. He has also contributed to five books and played a key role in developing China's first national standard for vascular-on-a-chip technology. He collaborates actively with international institutions such as Harvard Medical University, Imperial College London, and the University of Copenhagen.