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Research Projects

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Our immunity is one of the finest defense systems. What if we could engineer novel materials to unleash its potential across cellular, tissue, and system scale for medicine? In the Tay lab, we develop biomaterials to manipulate the immune system to study, diagnose and treat cancer, inflammatory skin disorders and infectious diseases.

Nano-structures for immune cell transfection
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Immune cell therapy such as CAR-T are saving lives, but to benefit more patients, we need to genetically engineer primary immune cells with higher efficiency while maintaining better cell viability and functionalities. We are developing high-throughput, non-viral and minimally perturbative cargo delivery technique using nanotechnology.

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Major publications:

Microneedles for tissue delivery and extraction
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Microneedles are excellent materials for direct delivery of (living) therapeutics and extraction of interstitial fluids and immune cells from tissues. We are developing the next generation of microneedles to monitor wound healing and cancer immunotherapy.

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Major publications:

Mechano-medicine with hydrogel
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Mechanobiology has shown us that cellular functions are affected by mechanics, but translating this knowledge into medicine is not trivial. We are developing 3D solutions including magnetic hydrogel to enhance tissue engineering and cell therapy.

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Major publications:

Immune organoids
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Lymphoid structures are sites for critical immune activities like T cell activation and proliferation. However, due to aging and cancer, their micro-environments can no longer support healthy immune processes. We are developing lymphoid organoids for testing vaccines and immunotherapeutics.

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Links to major publications:​

Immunogenic magnetic bacterial micro-robots​
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We are evolving magnetic bacterial micro-robots capable of precise delivery of drugs to solid tumor and awaken cancer-suppressed immunity.

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Links to major publications:

Selected Publications

Head to Google Scholar for full list

For students who wish to read our papers but do not have access, please email us.

  1. Yu Yang, N. & Andy Tay. Exploring Lymph Node Stroma Aging: Immune Implications and Future Directions (link). Aging Cell (2025).

  2. Arun R.K.K., Jessalyn L., Jet L., Ba M., Xinhong S., Ling W., Hong Sheng C., Sophronia Y., Cyrus Z.M.C., Thamizhanban M, Yingjie Q., Yufeng S., Johann S.T., Yu Yang N., Nicholas R.J.G., Nguan Soon T, Rio S., Gloryn C., Alice M.S.C., Makoto Y & Andy Tay. Non-viral, high throughput genetic engineering of primary immune cells using nanostraw-mediated transfection (link). Biomaterials (2025).

  3. Xingyue, H., Zhicheng, L., Ba M., Arun, K., Yingjie, Q., Chencheng, X., Xinhong, S., Jessalyn, L., Xuehao, T.  & Andy Tay. In vivo screening of barcoded gold nanoparticles elucidates the importance of shapes for tumor targeting (link). Advanced Functional Materials (2024). Featured by NUS News and Channel News Asia (link to video interview)

  4. Daniel, G., Ritu, R., Simone, S. & Andy Tay. Magnetic actuation for mechanomedicine (link). Advanced Intelligent Systems (2024).

  5. Intan, R.S., Christina, S. & Andy Tay. Engineering human immune organoids for translational immunology (link). Bioactive Materials (2024).

  6. Zhicheng, L., Yufeng, S., Renee R.l., Ling, L., Runcheng, T., Hong Sheng C., Christopher, J.C., Zhijia, L. Yongming. C. & Andy Tay. Sponge-like microneedles spatially sequester chemokines and deplete monocytes to alleviate inflammatory skin disorders (link). Advanced Functional Materials (2024). Featured by The Straits Times and Mediacorp Tamil News

  7. Zhicheng, L., Mayk C.R., Yufeng, S., Renee R.l., Hong Sheng C., Clarisse J.M.J., Ling, L., Chencheng, X., Xianlei, L., Hong, L., Chwee Teck, L., Nguan Soon T., Andrew D.W., Christopher, J.C., Yongming, C., Zhijia, L. & Andy Tay. Bioactive sucralfate-based microneedles promote wound healing through reprogramming macrophages and protecting endogenous growth factors (link). Biomaterials (2024). eatured by The Straits Times and Mediacorp Tamil News

  8. Renchi G., Tianxing X., Zhao W., Hong-Xia R., Gonghao Z., Yang Z., Andy Tay & Yang-Bao M. Charting a path to tumor therapy: mastery of luminescent metal–organic frameworks for precise spatiotemporal control (link). Advanced Functional Materials (2024).

  9. Yingjie, Q. & Andy Tay. Nanoscale methods for longitudinal extraction of intracellular contents (link). Advanced Materials (2024).

  10. Kenny, Z.W., Zhicheng, L., Ba M., Brian C, Ling, L., Huang, H., Swee Leong, S. & Andy Tay. Bioactive coating provides antimicrobial protection through immunomodulation and phage therapeutics (link). Materials Today Bio (2024).

  11. Xingyue H., Xianlei L. & Andy Tay. Advances in techniques to characterize cell-nanomaterial interactions (link). Nano Today (2024)

  12. Johann S.T. & Andy Tay. Progress on electro-enhancement of cell manufacturing (link). Small Methods (2023).

  13. Tianmu, H., Yikai, L., Arun, K.R. Kumar & Andy Tay. Automating CAR-T transfection with micro and nano-technologies (link). Small Methods (2023).

  14. Yufeng, S., Zhicheng L., Hong Sheng C., Qimin L., Yi Zhen N., David B., Xianlei L., Ling L., Chencheng X., Natalie JY Y., Runcheng T., Jessalyn L., Arun R.K. K., Kenny Zhuoran W., Hua L., Christine C., Chwee Teck L., Nguan Soon T., Yongming C., Zhijia L. & Andy Tay. Mechano-activated cell therapy for accelerated diabetic wound healing (link). Advanced Materials (2023). Featured by The Straits Times, Zaobao, NUS News and 20+ international media outlets.

  15. Yuwen, W. & Andy Tay. Advances in enantiomer-dependent nanotherapeutics (link). ACS Nano (2023).

  16. Bingyu, B., Chencheng, X., Yue, W., Jet L., Zhicheng, L., Yufeng, S., Sunmi, S. & Andy Tay. Cryopreservation in the era of cell therapy: revisiting fundamental concepts to enable future technologies (link). Advanced Functional Materials (2023). 

  17. Yufeng, S., Xin Yong, T., Xian, L., Kenny, Z.R. W., Bingyu, B., Arun, K.R. K., Jessalyn, L., Zhicheng, L. & Andy Tay. Dynamic stimulations with bioengineered extracellular matrix-mimicking hydrogels for mechano cell reprogramming and therapy (link). Advanced Science (2023). 

  18. Yufeng, S., Xin Yong, T., Xian, L., Zhicheng, L., Ling, L., Xinhong, S., Jonhson, W., Jun, D., Chwee Teck, L. & Andy Tay. Dynamic magneto-softening of 3D hydrogel reverses malignant transformation of cancer cells and enhances drug efficacy (link). ACS Nano (2023).

  19. Yufeng, S., Ling, L., Qimin, L., Zhicheng, L., Khang Leng, L., Hua, L. Xianlei, L., Zhangyun, D. K., Yuwen, W., Tong Ming, L., Zheng, Y., Chwee Teck, L., Christine, C. & Andy Tay. Mechano-responsive hydrogel for direct stem cell manufacturing to therapy (link). Bioactive Materials (2023).

  20. Zhicheng, L., Jinming, Y., Ying Jie, Q., Bingyu, B., Xianlei, L., Yufeng, S., Ba Myint, Chenjie, X. & Andy Tay. Design principles of microneedles for drug delivery and sampling applications (link). Materials Today (2022).

  21. Yuwen, W., L. Ling, Zhicheng, L. & Andy Tay. Analysis of nanomedicine efficacy for osteoarthritis (link). Advanced Nanomed Research (2022). 

  22. Roey, E., Andy Tay, Nicolas H. V. & Ciro C. The start-ups taking nanoneedles into the clinic (link). Nature Nanotechnology (2022)

  23. Yufeng S., Sarah C. J., Ying Jie Q., Xianlei, L. & Andy Tay. Integrative lymph node-mimicking models created with biomaterials and computational tools to study the immune system (link). Materials Today Bio (2022).

  24. Zhuoran W., Brain C., Jessalyn L., Justin Jang Hann, C., Hwee Weng Dennis, H. & Andy Tay. Microbial resistance to nanotechnologies: an important but understudied consideration using antimicrobial nanotechnologies in orthopaedic implants (link). Bioactive Materials (2022).

  25. Jessalyn L., Brian C. & Andy Tay. Targeted therapeutics delivery by exploiting biophysical properties of senescent cells (link). Advanced Functional Materials (2021). [Check out an illustration of our work]

  26. Andy Tay & Nicholas Melosh. Mechanical stimulation after centrifuge-free nano-electroporative transfection is efficient and maintains long-term T cell functionalities (link). Small (2021). #Selected as cover picture #Selected for Wiley Rising Star Initiative

  27. Arun RK Kumar, Yufeng S., Brian C., Krishaa L. & Andy Tay. Materials for improving immune cell transfection (link). Advanced Materials (2021).

  28. Xianlei L., Yufeng S. & Andy Tay. Hydrogels for engineering the immune system (link). Advanced NanoBioMed Research (2021).

  29. Andy Tay. The benefits of going small: nanostructures for mammalian cell transfection (link). ACS Nano (2020).

  30. Andy Tay & Melosh, N. Transfection with nanostructured electro-injection is minimally perturbative (link). Advanced Therapeutics (2019).  *Selected as Most Influential Paper published by Advanced Therapeutic in 2019

  31. Andy Tay & Melosh, N. Nano-structured materials for intra-cellular cargo delivery (link). Accounts of Chemical Research (2019).

  32. Andy Tay, McCausland, H., Komeili, A. & Di Carlo, D. Nano and microtechnologies for the study of magnetotactic bacteria (link). Advanced Functional Materials (2019).

  33. Andy Tay, Pfeiffer, D., Rowe, K., Tannenbaum, A., Popp, F., Strangeway, R., Schüler, D. & Di Carlo, D. High throughput microfluidic sorting of live magnetotactic bacteria (link). Applied and Environmental Microbiology (2018).

  34. Andy Tay, Sohrabi, A., Poole, K., Seidlitis, S. & Di Carlo, D. 3D magnetic hyaluronic acid hydrogels for magneto-mechanical stimulation of primary dorsal root ganglion root neurons (link). Advanced Materials (2018). *Highlighted by Science Translational Medicine, UCLA News, Nature Index, Medical XPress and many more

  35. Andy Tay. Book: Acute and chronic neural stimulation via mechano-sensitive ion channels (link). Springer (2017).  *Winner of the Springer Theses Award

  36. Andy Tay, Murray, C. & Di Carlo, D. Phenotypic selection of Magnetospirillum magneticum (AMB-1) over-producers using magnetic ratcheting (link). Advanced Functional Materials (2017).

  37. Andy Tay & Mrinal, K. M. To MOOC or not to MOOC: A review of strategies to manage high  attrition in MOOC participation (link). Asian Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (2017).

  38. Andy Tay & Di Carlo, D. Magnetic nanoparticle-based mechanical stimulation for restoration of mechano-sensitive ion channel equilibrium in neuronal networks (link). Nano Letters (2017).

  39. Andrea, P.#, Adriani, G.#, Andy Tay#, Majid, E. W., Yeap, W. H., Wong, S. C. & Kamm, R. Engineering a 3D microfluidic culture platform for tumor-treating field application (link). Scientific Reports (2016). # Equal contribution *Highlighted by Biotech Asia, Asian Scientist, MIT News, The Straits Times and many more

  40. Andy Tay & Di Carlo, D. Remote control of neuronal activities using magnetic nanoparticles (link). Current Medicinal Chemistry (2016).

  41. Andy Tay, Kunze, A, Jun, D, Hoek, E & Di Carlo, D. The age of cortical neural network affects their interactions with magnetic nanoparticles (link). Small (2016).

  42. Andy Tay, Schweizer, F. & Di Carlo, D. Micro- and nano-technologies to probe the mechano-biology of the brain (link). Lab on a Chip (2016). 

  43. Andy Tay, Kunze, A., Murray, C. & Di Carlo, D. Induction of calcium influx in cortical neural networks by nano-magnetic forces (link). ACS Nano (2016).

  44. Andy Tay, Pavesi, A., Saeed, R. Y., Lim C.T. & Majid, E.W. Advances in microfluidic in  combating infectious diseases (link). Biotechnology Advances (2016).

  45. Majid, E. W.#, Andy Tay#, Khoo, B. L., Xu, X. F., Lim, C. T. & Han, J. Malaria detection using inertial microfluidics (link). Lab on a Chip (2015). # Equal contribution

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