Biography
Rong (1984) started her study in Chemical Engineering and Technology at the Huaihai Institute of Technology. After finishing her bachelor’s in 2008, she continued her Master education in Applied Chemistry at Soochow University, China. During her master program, she performed her master’s thesis “Functional Polycarbonate Polymers for the Tissue Engineering”. Since February of 2012, she is working as a PhD student in Prof. Dr. Piet Dijkstra research group at University of Twente, The Netherlands.
Summary of research
Injectable biodegradable hydrogels based on polysaccharide tyramine conjugates have been developed in the past years especially for cartilage regeneration. These materials do allow minimally invasive surgery, optimal defect filling, and adhesion to the present ECM. Chondrocytes incorporated in these hydrogels show production of a new ECM (collagen and glycosamino-glycans). In the current project the physical, chemical and mechanical parameters that are involved in the formation of functional cartilage will be studied. Emphasis will be on incorporation and release of bioactive molecules (growth factors) and coupling of adhesion peptides. Focus on development of (printable) formulations by exploring hydrogels based on synthetic and natural polymers with pre-designed scaffold architectures and incorporated (stem) cells.
Publication and Patent
Wei Chen, Huicui Yang, Rong Wang, Ru Cheng, Fenghua Meng, Wenxiang Wei, and Zhiyuan Zhong* Versatile Synthesis of Functional Biodegradable Polymers by Combining Ring-Opening Polymerization and Post-polymerization Modification via Michael-type Conjugate Addition Reactions. Macromolecules 2010, 43, 201-207.
Rong Wang, Wei Chen, Fenghua Meng, Ru Cheng, Chao Deng, Jan Feijen, and Zhiyuan Zhong* Unprecedented Access to Functional Biodegradable Polymers and Coatings. Macromolecules 2011, 44 (15), 6009-6016.
Wei Chen, Fenghua Meng, Rong Wang, Ru Cheng, and Zhiyuan Zhong, A method of making a polymer preferably an (alkyl)acryloyl polycarbonate, the polymer and (alkyl)acryloyl polycarbonate obtained, and a biodevice comprising same, PCT/EP2009/008859.
Contact details
Rong Wang, MSc
Department of Developmental BioEngineering
Building Zuidhorst, Room no. ZH 128
Drienerlolaan 5, PO box 217
7522NB Enschede, The Netherlands
Phone: +31-(0)53-489-3569
E-mail: r.wang@utwente.nl