|
|
|
|
|
|
Simon Miao |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 
Profile
Qualifications, Career history and Professional and Group Associations QualificationsB.Eng. (NEU), M.Eng. (GRINM), PhD (Birmingham)
Career History and biography
Professional and Group Associations
Research
Research areas and external collaborators Research AreasWithin the broad field of Medical Engineering, Associate Professor Xigeng (Simon) Miao and his research team has defined six main research areas:
Contracting, Management and strategy formation
Roles of Biomaterials in Medicine Biomaterials include those ceramics, polymers, metals, and composites that have a unique biocompatibility with a living system especially the human body. Biomaterials have already played important roles in the replacement of damaged tissues. With the emerging tissue engineering, biomaterials are also promising for the regenerative medicine. Associate Prof. Xigeng (Simon) Miao’s research goal is to modify the existing biomaterials and also develop novel biomaterials for various biomedical applications. While Associate Professor Miao’s current research focus is on the fundamental studies of porous ceramic-polymer composite biomaterials, he has accumulated rich experience in the manufacturing and testing of biomaterials, which will enable him to generate patentable products for commercialisation. His special expertise will also be beneficial for industries involving the production, testing and analysis of other engineering materials.
External CollaboratorsWithin the broad field of Medical Engineering research, Associate Professor Xigeng (Simon) Miao and his research team has strong collaborations with:
Teaching
Teaching areas and achivements and units taught Teaching Areas
Grants
Funding and selected list of awarded projects Associate Professor Xigeng (Simon) Miao has received over $ 1.38 million in research funding since year 1999.
Associate Professor Miao and his research team has been granted funds to conduct following research projects:
Bilayered and Growth Factor-loaded Composite Scaffolds for the Guided Bi-Differentiation of Bone Marrow Stem Cells
Scanning electron micrograph showing a new bilayered scaffold prepared by a combined method First Chief Investigator: Xigeng (Simon) Miao Other Chief Investigators: Yin Xiao, Ross Crawford Funding Agency: Australia Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project Amount: $255,000, DP0881045 Period: 2008-2010 Damage to cartilage due to trauma or disease can lead to osteochondral defects (damage to both cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone). If the defects of bone and cartilage are not treated in time, severe osteoarthritis tends to occur, resulting in the necessity for costly total joint replacement. Therefore, osteochondral defects are debilitating and pose a significant social-economic problem. The methods currently used for treating osteochondral defects include allografting, biomaterial implantation, microfracturing, delivery of chondrocytes, and autografting, but they all have serious problems. Thus, a new and better way of treatment is needed and the emerging tissue engineering approach is promising as it has the potential to inherit the advantages of autografting and avoid the associated complications. The overall aim of the project is to develop novel bilayered ceramic-polymer composite scaffolds that are spatially loaded with two different growth factors to guide the differentiation of bone marrow stem cells (MSCs).
Novel Bioceramic Composites for Bone Engineering
Optical micrograph demonstrating a dense core-porous layer bioceramic composite
Scanning electron micrograph of a bioactive glass coating on a porous bioinert ceramic composite First Chief Investigator: Xigeng (Simon) Miao Partner Investigators: Michael Khor, Philip Cheang Funding Agency: Academic Research Fund, Singapore Amount: $312,190, AcRF RG26/01 Period: 2002-2004 Bioceramics and their composites play important roles in orthopedics and dentistry. The bioceramic composites here refer to not only the combinations of different types of bioceramics, but also the combinations between bioceramics and biopolymers or biometals. Bioinert ceramics such as alumina and zirconia have good mechanical properties, and thus they are suitable for applications as articulating surfaces. However, the bioinert ceramics exhibit poor interfacial integration with the surrounding tissues. To solve this problem, porous alumina and/or zirconia ceramics have been prepared and characterized. The porosities are tailored for both tissue ingrowth and mechanical integrity. In order to provide additional bioactivity to the porous bioinert ceramics, coatings of bioactive ceramics such as hydroxyapatite, bioglass, and bioglass-ceramics are applied on the porous bioinert ceramics.
Supervision
Selected list of student projects Associate Professor Xigeng (Simon) Miao’s students have undertaken following funded research projects:
Research topics currently being supervised: Surface modification with an endothelial layer for blood compatibility (Principal Supervisor)
Scanning electron micrograph showing a collagen (mesh-like)-coated porous polyurethane foam Name: Sin, Dong C Year: 2008 Course: Ph.D. College: QUT
Growth factor release from microspheres and its effect on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (Principal Supervisor)
Scanning electron micrograph of polymeric microspheres loaded with a growth factor Name: Liu, Gang Year: 2008 Course: Ph.D. College: QUT
Publications
Selected list of publications Selected List of Publications
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
