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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?

Nano-structures for non-viral immuno-engineering
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Despite several decades of research, it is still challenging to transfect primary immune cells with high efficiency while maintaining high 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:

Bioresorbable lymph node tissue-machine interfaces​
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Lymph nodes 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  bioresorbable hydrogels and implants to sense and modulate lymph node micro-environments in vivo.

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Links to major publications:​

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Immunogenic magnetic bacterial micro-robots​
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Targeted drug delivery to solid tumors is an pillar of cancer therapeutics. Making use of microfluidic  systems, we are evolving magnetic bacterial micro-robots capable of precise delivery of biologics and drugs to solid tumor. They can also be used concurrently with magnetic hyperthermia to awake cancer-suppressed immune systems for synergistic therapies.

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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. 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).

  2. 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).

  3. 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).

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

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

  6. 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).

  7. 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).

  8. 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]

  9. 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

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

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

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

  13. 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

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

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

  16. 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).

  17. 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

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

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

  20. 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).

  21. 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).

  22. 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

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

  24. 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).

  25. 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). 

  26. 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).

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

  28. 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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