Will Wenmiao Shu, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow,
United Kingdom.
Email: will.shu@strath.ac.uk

Biography:

Will Wenmiao Shu is the Hay Professor in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow). He obtained his PhD at the Engineering Department from University of Cambridge, UK. His research interests cover a range of biomedical engineering topics including 3D biofabrication, biosensors, microsystems and their applications for regenerative medicine. He led the research to demonstrate the first bioprinting of human embryonic stem cells (h-ESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (h-iPSCs), paving the way for their applications on animal-free drug testing and 3D printed organs. He held a visiting position at Stanford University. He is an editorial board member for IOP Biofabrication Journal and serves as a board director of the International Society for Biofabrication (ISBF).

Abstract:

3D Bioprinting of Mature Bacteria Biofilm

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rising to dangerously high levels worldwide. Ac-cording to the World Health Organization (WHO), urgent actions are required to avoid a “post-antibiotic era”, in which common infections and minor injuries can once again kill. Unlike most acute infection caused by planktonic bacterial, that can often be treated effectively with antibiotics, biofilm infections are much harder to success-fully treat with available antimicrobials due to its complicate structures. Whilst there are recent attempts in 3D printed biofilms, none of the approaches so far have success-fully recapitulated the 3D bacterial biofilm’s complex microenvironment, life cycle and their responses to antibiotics. In this talk, we will present our recent on the 3D bioprinting of bacterial biofilm using a specially formulated hydrogel bioink. The ef-fects of thickness, porosity and printing conditions on the biofilm formation and the responses of the 3D printed biofilms to antibiotics will be discussed. It is envisaged that the in vitro 3D bioprinted biofilm model will provide a versatile platform in bio-film studies, with specific value for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets in anti-microbial resistance study and medicine.