UC Research Profile - University of Canterbury

Associate Professor Yilei Zhang

Contact

Department: Mechanical Engineering

Email: yilei.zhang@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3690825

Office: Civil & Mechanical Engineering Rm E542

Languages: English, Chinese (Mandarin)

About

Research / Creative works

Networks

Fields of Research

Bioprinting and in vitro brain model
Tactile sensor and machine learning
Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing

Researcher Summary

Dr. Zhang's research focuses on the combination of advanced manufacturing and biomedical fields. This includes electrospinning/bioprinting 3D scaffolds for in vitro Alzheimer’s disease models, microfabrication of microcalorimeter arrays for cellular metabolistic heat measurement, novel high speed bioprinting of complex tissues/organs, and mimicking human neural systems for artificial tactile perception and smart sensors/devices/robotics.
Currently, Dr. Zhang is teaching the special topic on Industry 4.0, including artificial intelligence and Internet of Things for advanced manufacturing. Dr. Zhang received his PhD degree in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering from Iowa State University. Undergraduate/postgraduate students or visiting scholars are welcome to join the research.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Engineering and Technology: Bioengineering ; Bioprocess Engineering ; Manufacturing ; Mechanical ; Mechatronics ; Optical & Laser Engineering ; Signal and Image Processing

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Chapters

Chen X., Liu S. and Zhang Y. (2020) Hydrogels and hydrogel composites for 3D and 4D printing applications. In Sadasivuni KK; Deshmukh K; Al-Maadeed MAS (Ed.), 3D and 4D Printing of Polymer Nanocomposite Materials: Processes, Applications, and ChallengesElsevier.

Journal Articles

Chen X., Ranjan VD., Liu S., Liang YN., Lim JSK., Chen H., Hu X. and Zhang Y. (2021) In Situ Formation of 3D Conductive and Cell-Laden Graphene Hydrogel for Electrically Regulating Cellular Behavior. Macromolecular Bioscience 21(4) http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mabi.202000374.

Qin L. and Zhang Y. (2021) A reference spike train-based neurocomputing method for enhanced tactile discrimination of surface roughness. Neural Computing and Applications 33(21): 14793-14807. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00521-021-06119-y.

Wang Y., Lu W., Yue D., Wang M., Tian B., Li Q., Hu B., Wang Z. and Zhang Y. (2021) A strategy to enhance the up-conversion luminescence of nanospherical, rod-like and tube-like NaYF4: Yb³⁺, Er³⁺(Tm³⁺) by combining with carbon dots. CrystEngComm 23(4): 935-943. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0ce01516d.

Li Z., Feng H., Jin L., Zhang Y., Tian X. and Li J. (2020) Polymeric micelle with pH-induced variable size and doxorubicin and siRNA co-delivery for synergistic cancer therapy. Applied Nanoscience (Switzerland) 10(6): 1903-1913. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13204-020-01263-8.

Ranjan VD., Qiu L., Lee JWL., Chen X., Jang SE., Chai C., Lim KL., Tan EK., Zhang Y. and Huang WM. (2020) A microfiber scaffold-based 3D: In vitro human neuronal culture model of Alzheimer's disease. Biomaterials Science 8(17): 4861-4874. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d0bm00833h.

Ranjan VD., Zeng P., Li B. and Zhang Y. (2020) In vitro cell culture in hollow microfibers with porous structures. Biomaterials Science 8(8): 2175-2188. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9bm01986c.

Yue D., Zhang X., Tan Y., Wang Z. and Zhang Y. (2020) A novel two-photon fluorescent probe for efficiently detecting Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺ ions. Journal of Luminescence 228 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2020.117618.

Wu Y., Peng Y., Bohra H., Zou J., Ranjan VD., Zhang Y., Zhang Q. and Wang M. (2019) Photoconductive Micro/Nanoscale Interfaces of a Semiconducting Polymer for Wireless Stimulation of Neuron-Like Cells. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 11(5): 4833-4841. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b19631.

Yi Z. and Zhang Y. (2019) A spike train distance-based method to evaluate the response of mechanoreceptive afferents. Neural Computing and Applications 31(10): 6319-6330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00521-018-3465-6.

Zhang Y., Li C., Wu Y., Zhang Y., Zhou Z. and Cao B. (2019) A microfluidic gradient mixer-flow chamber as a new tool to study biofilm development under defined solute gradients. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 116(1): 54-64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bit.26852.

Chen X., Wu Y., Ranjan VD. and Zhang Y. (2018) Three-dimensional electrical conductive scaffold from biomaterial-based carbon microfiber sponge with bioinspired coating for cell proliferation and differentiation. Carbon 134: 174-182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2018.03.064.

Jin L., Hu B., Kuddannaya S., Zhang Y., Li C. and Wang Z. (2018) A three-dimensional carbon nanotube–nanofiber composite foam for selective adsorption of oils and organic liquids. Polymer Composites 39: E271-E277. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pc.24334.

Jin L., Ren K., Xu Q., Hong T., Wu S., Zhang Y. and Wang Z. (2018) Multifunctional carbon dots for live cell staining and tissue engineering applications. Polymer Composites 39(1): 73-80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pc.23903.

Kuddannaya S., Tong CS., Fan Y. and Zhang Y. (2018) Geometrically Mediated Topographic Steering of Neurite Behaviors and Network Formation. Advanced Materials Interfaces 5(7) http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/admi.201700819.

Liew WLA. and Zhang Y. (2018) Laser-based fabrication of 3D hydrogel constructs using bessel beams. Bioprinting 9: 44-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bprint.2018.02.004.

Liew WLA. and Zhang YL. (2018) Cell-laden gelatin methacryloyl fibres fabricated using bessel beams for controlled endothelial cord formation. Biomedical Physics and Engineering Express 4(4) http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2057-1976/aac1ca.

Qin L. and Zhang Y. (2018) Roughness discrimination with bio-inspired tactile sensor manually sliding on polished surfaces. Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical 279: 433-441. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2018.06.049.

Qin L., Yi Z. and Zhang Y. (2018) Unsupervised surface roughness discrimination based on bio-inspired artificial fingertip. Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical 269: 483-490. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2017.12.011.

Ranjan VD., Qiu L., Tan EK., Zeng L. and Zhang Y. (2018) Modelling Alzheimer's disease: Insights from in vivo to in vitro three-dimensional culture platforms. Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine 12(9): 1944-1958. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/term.2728.

Wu Y., Ranjan VD. and Zhang Y. (2018) A Living 3D In Vitro Neuronal Network Cultured inside Hollow Electrospun Microfibers. Advanced Biosystems 2(5) http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adbi.201700218.

Xu Q., Jin L., Li C., Kuddannayai S. and Zhang Y. (2018) The effect of electrical stimulation on cortical cells in 3D nanofibrous scaffolds. RSC Advances 8(20): 11027-11035. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8ra01323c.

Yi Z., Zhang Y. and Peters J. (2018) Biomimetic tactile sensors and signal processing with spike trains: A review. Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical 269: 41-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2017.09.035.

Jin L., Xu Q., Hu B., Huang J., Zhang Y. and Wang Z. (2017) Tuneable Three-dimensional Cytocompatible Micro-environments Designed by Controlled Alignment of PVDF Electrospun Fibres. Gaodeng Xuexiao Huaxue Xuebao/Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities 38(6): 1002-1010. http://dx.doi.org/10.7503/cjcu20160832.

Jin L., Xu Q., Kuddannaya S., Li C., Zhang Y. and Wang Z. (2017) Fabrication and Characterization of Three-Dimensional (3D) Core-Shell Structure Nanofibers Designed for 3D Dynamic Cell Culture. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 9(21): 17718-17726. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.7b02126.

Jin L., Xu Q., Li C., Huang J., Zhang Y., Wu D. and Wang Z. (2017) Engineering 3D Aligned Nanofibers for Regulation of Cell Growth Behavior. Macromolecular Materials and Engineering 302(4) http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mame.201600448.

Li C., Ding Y., Kuddannaya S., Zhang Y. and Yang L. (2017) Anti-bacterial properties of collagen-coated glass and polydimethylsiloxane substrates. Journal of Materials Science 52(17): 9963-9978. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1175-6.

Li S., Kuddannaya S., Chuah YJ., Bao J., Zhang Y. and Wang D. (2017) Combined effects of multi-scale topographical cues on stable cell sheet formation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Biomaterials Science 5(10): 2056-2067. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c7bm00134g.

Liang Q., Yi Z., Hu Q. and Zhang Y. (2017) Low-Cost Sensor Fusion Technique for Surface Roughness Discrimination with Optical and Piezoelectric Sensors. IEEE Sensors Journal 17(23): 7954-7960. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2017.2763245.

Liew AWL. and Zhang Y. (2017) In vitro pre-vascularization strategies for tissue engineered constructs – bioprinting and others. International Journal of Bioprinting 3(1) http://dx.doi.org/10.18063/ijb.2017.01.008.

Pei TH., Zhang Z. and Zhang Y. (2017) The high-birefringence asymmetric SF57 glass microstructured optical fiber at 1060.0 μm. Optical Fiber Technology 36: 265-270. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yofte.2017.03.020.

Qin L., Yi Z. and Zhang Y. (2017) Enhanced surface roughness discrimination with optimized features from bio-inspired tactile sensor. Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical 264: 133-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2017.07.054.

Xue P., Bao J., Wu Y., Zhang Y. and Kang Y. (2017) Porous Prussian blue nanocubes as photothermal ablation agents for efficient cancer therapy. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 17(1): 168-174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1166/jnn.2017.12408.

Yi Z., Zhang Y. and Peters J. (2017) Bioinspired tactile sensor for surface roughness discrimination. Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical 255: 46-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2016.12.021.

Zhengkun Y. and Yilei Z. (2017) Recognizing tactile surface roughness with a biomimetic fingertip: A soft neuromorphic approach. NEUROCOMPUTING 244: 102-111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2017.03.025.

Jin L., Wu D., Kuddannaya S., Zhang Y. and Wang Z. (2016) Fabrication, Characterization, and Biocompatibility of Polymer Cored Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanofibers. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 8(8): 5170-5177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.6b00243.

Jin L., Xu Q., Wu S., Kuddannaya S., Li C., Huang J., Zhang Y. and Wang Z. (2016) Synergistic Effects of Conductive Three-Dimensional Nanofibrous Microenvironments and Electrical Stimulation on the Viability and Proliferation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering 2(11): 2042-2049. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00455.

Jin L., Zeng Z., Kuddannaya S., Wu D., Zhang Y. and Wang Z. (2016) Biocompatible, Free-Standing Film Composed of Bacterial Cellulose Nanofibers-Graphene Composite. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 8(1): 1011-1018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5b11241.

Wang Y., Zhang Y., Qu W. and Tye YK. (2016) Bessel beam superposition based on annular reflections. Optik 127(21): 10158-10162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2016.08.015.

Xue P., Bao J., Zhang L., Xu Z., Xu C., Zhang Y. and Kang Y. (2016) Functional magnetic Prussian blue nanoparticles for enhanced gene transfection and photothermal ablation of tumor cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry B 4(27): 4717-4725. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c6tb00982d.

Yi Z. and Zhang Y. (2016) Bio-inspired Tactile FA-I Spiking Generation under Sinusoidal Stimuli. Journal of Bionic Engineering 13(4): 612-621. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1672-6529(16)60332-3.

Zhang ZF. and Zhang Y. (2016) Finite element simulation of extrusion of optical fiber preforms: Effects of wall slip. Optical Fiber Technology 28: 18-22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.yofte.2015.12.007.

Chuah YJ., Kuddannaya S., Lee MHA., Zhang Y. and Kang Y. (2015) The effects of poly(dimethylsiloxane) surface silanization on the mesenchymal stem cell fate. Biomaterials Science 3(2): 383-390. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4bm00268g.

Chuah YJ., Zhang Y., Wu Y., Menon NV., Goh GH., Lee AC., Chan V., Zhang Y. and Kang Y. (2015) Combinatorial effect of substratum properties on mesenchymal stem cell sheet engineering and subsequent multi-lineage differentiation. Acta Biomaterialia 23: 52-62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2015.05.023.

Huynh TP., Zhang Y. and Yehuda C. (2015) Fabrication and characterization of a multichannel 3D thermopile for chip calorimeter applications. Sensors (Switzerland) 15(2): 3351-3361. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s150203351.

Jiao LS., Ng EYK., Zheng HY. and Zhang YL. (2015) Theoretical study of pre-formed hole geometries on femtosecond pulse energy distribution in laser drilling. Optics Express 23(4): 4927-4934. http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.23.004927.

Jin L., Zeng Z., Kuddannaya S., Yue D., Bao J., Wang Z. and Zhang Y. (2015) Synergistic effects of a novel free-standing reduced graphene oxide film and surface coating fibronectin on morphology, adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. Journal of Materials Chemistry B 3(21): 4338-4344. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5tb00295h.

Kuddannaya S., Bao J. and Zhang Y. (2015) Enhanced in Vitro Biocompatibility of Chemically Modified Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Surfaces for Stable Adhesion and Long-term Investigation of Brain Cerebral Cortex Cells. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 7(45): 25529-25538. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.5b09032.

Li C., Zhang Y. and Yehuda C. (2015) Individual based modeling of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm with three detachment mechanisms. RSC Advances 5(96): 79001-79010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5ra11041f.

Wang Y., Qu W., Jiao L. and Zhang Y. (2015) Generation and control of Bessel beams based on annular reflections. Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 119(2): 241-245. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00340-015-6050-z.

Xu Q., Li C., Kang Y. and Zhang Y. (2015) Long term effects of substrate stiffness on the development of hMSC mechanical properties. RSC Advances 5(128): 105651-105660. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5ra17233k.

Xue P., Bao J., Wu Y., Zhang Y. and Kang Y. (2015) Magnetic Prussian blue nanoparticles for combined enzyme-responsive drug release and photothermal therapy. RSC Advances 5(36): 28401-28409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c5ra01616a.

Zhang ZF. and Zhang Y. (2015) Humidity sensor based on optical fiber attached with hydrogel spheres. Optics and Laser Technology 74: 16-19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2015.05.006.

Jin L., Yue D., Xu ZW., Liang G., Zhang Y., Zhang JF., Zhang X. and Wang Z. (2014) Fabrication, mechanical properties, and biocompatibility of reduced graphene oxide-reinforced nanofiber mats. RSC Advances 4(66): 35035-35041. http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4ra03987d.

Xu Q., Wang Y., Siew SY., Lin J. and Zhang Y. (2014) Generating self-accelerating Airy beams using a digital micromirror device. Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics 117(1): 141-144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00340-014-5813-2.

Xue P., Bao J., Chuah YJ., Menon NV., Zhang Y. and Kang Y. (2014) Protein covalently conjugated SU-8 surface for the enhancement of mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and proliferation. Langmuir 30(11): 3110-3117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la500048z.

Kuddannaya S., Chuah YJ., Lee MHA., Menon NV., Kang Y. and Zhang Y. (2013) Surface chemical modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) for the enhanced adhesion and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces 5(19): 9777-9784. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/am402903e.

Zhang Y. and Sundararajan S. (2008) Superhydrophobic engineering surfaces with tunable air-trapping ability. Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 18(3) http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0960-1317/18/3/035024.

Zhang Y. and Sundararajan S. (2007) Method to generate surfaces with desired roughness parameters. Langmuir 23(16): 8347-8351. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la063346h.

Zhang Y. and Sundararajan S. (2006) Adhesion and friction studies of silicon surfaces processed using a microparticle-based method. Tribology Letters 23(1): 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11249-006-9096-6.

Zhang Y. and Sundararajan S. (2006) Generating random surfaces with desired autocorrelation length. Applied Physics Letters 88(14) http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.2191882.

Zhang Y. and Sundararajan S. (2005) The effect of autocorrelation length on the real area of contact and friction behavior of rough surfaces. Journal of Applied Physics 97(10) http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.1914947.

Conference Contributions - Published

Kuddannaya S. and Zhang Y. (2019) Enhanced and Controllable Behaviour of Cerebral Cortex Cells on PDMS. In.

Liew A. and Zhang Y. (2019) High Speed 3D bioprinting of Vascular Tubes. In.

Liu WT. and Zhang YL. (2019) Identification of key drivers from complex network modelling. In.

Editorial Work

Displaying all items.

Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience Editor, Special Issue ( 2018 - 2021)
Coatings Editor, Special Issue ( 2016 - 2021)