Prof. Zhao Xin

Academic Staff

PolyU Scholars Hub

Limin Young Scholar in Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering & Professor

PolyU Scholars Hub

ORCID ID

SCOPUS ID

Research Overview

Prof. Zhao’s research interest is on Translational Regenerative Medicine, where she integrates multi-disciplinary approaches including material science, cell biology, engineering and medicine to modulate cell microenvironments, control cell behaviors and generate tissue-engineered organs, for addressing clinical issues.

Research Interests

Education and Academic Qualifications

Bachelor of Engineering, South China Normal University
Master of Science, University of London
Doctor of Philosophy, University of London

Academic and Professional Experience

Member, Hong Kong Young Academy of Sciences (YASHK) (2026)
Associate Editor, Mater. Today Bio. (2024 – Present)
Associate Editor. Bio-Des. Manuf. (2020 – Present)
Founding Editor. Eng. Reg. (2019 – Present)
Outreach Committee Member, Chinese Association of Biomaterials (CAB)
Young Member, Hong Kong Academy of Engineering
Permanent Member, International Chinese Musculoskeletal Research Society (ICMRS)
Permanent Member, World Association for Chinese Biomedical Engineers (WACBE)
Committee Member, Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society (TERMIS) -AP (Asia-Pacific)

Achievements

The World’s Top 2% Scientists by Stanford University (2023, 2024)
Prize of the Croatian Union of Innovators and Silver Award, Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) (2024)
International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (Gold Medal) (2024)
The Biomaterials Award for Young Investigator, Elsevier Ltd (2024)
TechConnect Global Innovation Award (2023)
Mid-Career Award of 2022, Chinese Association for Biomaterials (CAB) (2022)
Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers (2022)
Gold Medal, 6^th China International Exhibition of Inventions
PolyU President’s Award, Individual Award – Research and Scholarly Activities: Outstanding Young Researcher (2022)
Limin Endowed Young Scholar in Biomedical Engineering (2022)
Silver Medal, International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva (2021)

Zhao X, Xu TP, Yang Y, Injectable, self-contained, subaqueously crosslinking laminous adhesives for biophysical-chemical modulation of osteochondral microenvironment, U.S. Patent 63/480.698 (2023)
Zhao X, Xu TP, Yang YH, Preparation and application of bilayered scaffolds for osteochondral repair. China Patent 202210228465.7 (2022)
Zhao X, Yang YH, Xu TP, Preparation and application of an adhesive artificial periosteum China Patent 202210360549.6 (2022)
Zhao X, Yang YH, Xu TP, Directing cell fates towards osteogenesis and angiogenesis with triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) structured scaffolds, U.S. Patent P23483US00 (2021)
Zhao X, Yang YH, A preparation method of photocrosslinkable nanocomposite and bone tissue engineering scaffolds, China Patent 201911078331.6 (2019)
Yang ZL, Guo RQ, Huang N, Tu QF, Xiong KQ, Zhao X, A bimolecule thin film and preparation method with regionally selective controllable immobilization. China Patent 201910027335.5 (2019)
Ni Q, Wu W, Zhao X, Cui WG, Dai Y, Wan LP. NO releasing blood vessel scaffolds. National utility model patent, China Patent 201610397559.1 (2016)
Cui WG, Zhu YQ, Yuan TW, Cheng YS, Zhao X, Gao F, Degradable esophagus scaffolds. National utility model patent, China Patent 201520876939.4 (2015)

Yang, Y.; Suo, D.; Xu, T.; Zhao, S.; Xu, X.; Bei, H.-P.; Wong, K. K.-y.; Li, Q.; Zheng, Z.; Li, B.; Zhao, X. Sprayable biomimetic double mask with rapid autophasing and hierarchical programming for scarless wound healing. Science Advances 2024, 10, eado9479. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado9479
Xu, T.; Yang, Y.; Yeung, E. H.-L.; Chen, Q.; Bei, H.-P.; Yang, Q.; Yang, M.; Hao, Y.; Li, B.; Zhao, X. Injectable, Self-Contained, Subaqueously Cross-Linking Laminous Adhesives for Biophysical-Chemical Modulation of Osteochondral Microenvironment. Advanced Functional Materials 2023, 33, 2213428. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202213428
Peng, X.; Li, Y.; Liu, M.; Li, Z.; Wang, X.; Zhang, K.; Zhao, X.; Li, G.; Bian, L. Complex coacervate-derived hydrogel with asymmetric and reversible wet bioadhesion for preventing UV light-induced morbidities. Bioactive Materials 2023, 30, 62–72. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.07.016
Gan, Q.; Chen, L.; Bei, H.-P.; Ng, S.-W.; Guo, H.; Liu, G.; Pan, H.; Liu, C.; Zhao, X.; Zheng, Z. Artificial cilia for soft and stable surface covalent immobilization of bone morphogenetic protein-2. Bioactive Materials 2023, 24, 551–562. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.12.029
Yang, Y.; Xu, T.; Bei, H.-P.; Zhang, L.; Tang, C.-Y.; Zhang, M.; Xu, C.; Bian, L.; Yeung, K. W.-K.; Fuh, J. Y. H.; Zhao, X. Gaussian curvature–driven direction of cell fate toward osteogenesis with triply periodic minimal surface scaffolds. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2022, 119, e2206684119. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2206684119
He, W.; Bai, J.; Chen, X.; Suo, D.; Wang, S.; Guo, Q.; Yin, W.; Geng, D.; Wang, M.; Pan, G.; Zhao, X.; Li, B. Reversible dougong structured receptor–ligand recognition for building dynamic extracellular matrix mimics. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2022, 119, e2117221119. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117221119
Yang, Y.; Xu, T.; Bei, H. P.; Zhao, Y.; Zhao, X. Sculpting Bio-Inspired Surface Textures: An Adhesive Janus Periosteum. Advanced Functional Materials 2021, 31, 2104636. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202104636
Chen, Z.; Zhang, Q.; Li, H.; Wei, Q.; Zhao, X.; Chen, F. Elastin-like polypeptide modified silk fibroin porous scaffold promotes osteochondral repair. Bioactive Materials 2021, 6, 589–601. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2020.09.003
Yang, Z.; Zhao, X.; Hao, R.; Tu, Q.; Tian, X.; Xiao, Y.; Xiong, K.; Wang, M.; Feng, Y.; Huang, N.; Pan, G. Bioclickable and mussel adhesive peptide mimics for engineering vascular stent surfaces. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2020, 117, 16127–16137. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2003732117
Zhao, X.; Liu, S.; Yildirimer, L.; Zhao, H.; Ding, R.; Wang, H.; Cui, W.; Weitz, D. Injectable Stem Cell-Laden Photocrosslinkable Microspheres Fabricated Using Microfluidics for Rapid Generation of Osteogenic Tissue Constructs. Advanced Functional Materials 2016, 26, 2809–2819. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201504943

Tianyu Yu, Xun Sun, Yang Liu, Xin Zhao*, Qiang Yang, ‘Bioactive materials for cartilage regeneration’ in Bioactive Materialsfor Soft Tissue Regeneration, Elsevier. 2024, 453-468
Yun Piao, Ho Pan Bei, Allison Tam, Yuhe Yang, Qiang Zhang, Mo Yang, Xin Zhao*. Calcium phosphate nanoparticle-based systems for therapeutic delivery. In Theranostic Bionanomaterials. Elsevier, 2019, Page 147-164.
Yildirimer L, Hobson D, Lin ZY, Cui WG, Zhao X*. ‘Tissue-engineered human skin equivalents and their applications in wound healing’ in ‘Tissue Engineering for Artificial Organs: Regenerative Medicine, Smart Diagnostics and Personalized Medicine’. 2017, vol 2, 215 - 241
Zhao X, Yildirimer L, Lin ZY, Cui WG. ‘Bionanofibers in drug delivery’ in ‘Nanobiomaterials in Drug Delivery’. Editor. Grumezescu AM. Elsevier. 2016, 403-446.
Zhao, X, Hobson, D, Lin, ZYW & Cuia, W Electrospun biodegradable polyester micro-/nanofibers for drug delivery and their clinical applications. in Handbook of Polyester Drug Delivery Systems. Pan Stanford Publishing Pte. Ltd., 2016,pp. 125-158.
Wen HY, Li YY, Zhao X. ‘Redox-sensitive polymeric nanoparticles for intracellular drug delivery’ in ‘Biomedically Inspired Nanomaterials’. 2014, 21-48.
Zhao X, Selimović Š, Camci-Unal G, Dokmeci MR, Yildirimer L, Annabi N, Khademhosseini A. ‘Microfabrication of three-dimensional vascular structures’ in ‘Vascularization: Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Engineering’. Editor. Brey Eric. CRC Press. 2013, 143-162.