Li Liu

CTO
EngiTissue Design

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Professor Liu’s research primarily focuses on the development of novel tools and technologies for stem cell applications, with an emphasis on microfluidic and nanofabrication strategies. Her work aims to recreate precisely defined in vitro cellular microenvironments that mimic in vivo conditions, enabling a deeper understanding of how biophysical and biochemical cues regulate cellular behavior. These engineered systems have been successfully applied to various human cell types, including pluripotent stem cells and their derivatives—neurons, cardiomyocytes, and hepatocytes.

By establishing artificial regulatory environments at nanometer to micrometer scales, Professor Liu has advanced the ability to modulate and control key cellular functions. These innovations are instrumental in preparing stem cells for downstream applications in drug discovery, cell-based therapies, and regenerative medicine. Her platform technologies offer both high reproducibility and physiological relevance, making them valuable tools in both academic and industrial settings.

Beyond stem cell modeling, her research extends into tissue engineering, scaffold design, and long-term cell culture systems supported by nanotechnology. These methods have proven effective in maintaining induced pluripotent stem cell cultures, constructing functional cardiac tissue, and reconstructing skin equivalents.

Professor Liu has made significant interdisciplinary contributions to medical and bioengineering. Her achievements include 57 peer-reviewed publications, 15 patents, and 20 research grants. She actively collaborates with seven industrial partners, translating academic innovations into potential clinical and commercial applications. Her research has attracted widespread attention from Japanese media and has helped position her laboratory as a leader in the integration of engineering and regenerative medicine.
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Speech title & Synopsis

Designing Microenvironments and Nanosurfaces for Controlling iPSCs and Their Application in Drug Screening and Regenerative Medicine

In recent years, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have made remarkable progress, with significant achievements reported in both basic and clinical research worldwide. In this presentation, I will begin by introducing several major advances in Japan’s iPSC-based clinical applications, including ongoing regenerative therapies and translational research supported by national initiatives.
Our laboratory focuses on integrating micro- and nanofabrication technologies with stem cell biology to design highly defined microenvironments and nanosurfaces that mimic in vivo conditions. These engineered systems enable precise regulation of iPSC behavior—including self-renewal, differentiation, and functional maturation. Among our key innovations is the development of gelatin-based nanofiber scaffolds, which support large-scale expansion of iPSCs while maintaining their pluripotency. In addition, these nanofibers enable label-free cell separation based on differential adhesion and morphology, offering a simple and scalable strategy for enriching specific cell subtypes.
Regarding downstream applications of iPSCs, our focus has been on iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. A common challenge in the field is the immaturity of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, which can limit their utility for drug assessment. To address this, we developed a traveling wave-based cardiac maturation platform that significantly enhances the electrophysiological and contractile properties of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. When applied to drug testing, these mature cardiomyocytes exhibited more accurate responses compared to those in the control group.
To advance the therapeutic application of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes in heart repair, we engineered fibrous scaffolds that support the formation of well-organized cardiac tissue-like constructs (CTLCs), mimicking the three-dimensional and anisotropic organization of cardiac cells in vivo. Building on this, we developed a multilayered fibrous scaffold with dynamic perfusion capability, enabling the single-step seeding of approximately 20 million hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes to generate a 1 mm-thick, viable cardiac tissue. To further enhance structural organization and functional maturation, the constructs incorporated aligned fibers, pro-angiogenic factors, and co-culture with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). These engineered 3D cardiac tissues exhibited enhanced contractility, increased cytokine secretion, and significantly improved functional recovery with reduced fibrosis in a myocardial infarction model. These findings underscore the importance of precisely evaluating hiPSC-CM dosage in clinical applications and demonstrate the high potential of engineered cardiac tissues for future regenerative therapies.