Personnel
Personal | Education | Projects | Research | Publications | Presentations | Patents
Bin Li
Postdoctoral Research Associate
E-mail: bil1@pitt.edu
Tel: 412-648-9033 or 412-648-9294
Fax: 412-648-8548
Office: BSTWR E1648; 210 Lothrop St.

Education
  • Ph.D., Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 2001
  • B.Eng., Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, 1996

Current Projects
  1. Mechanobiological study on micropatterned cell monolayers
  2. Micropost force sensor arrays for cellular traction force study
  3. Fabrication of polymeric scaffolds through electrospinning

Research Interests
A polymer materials scientist, Dr. Bin Li is dedicated to regulating cell phenotypes and functions by the means of material chemistry and geometry. At MBL he is responsible for surface modification of cell culture substrates, fabrication of elastic silicone polymer substrates, development of micropost force sensor arrays (MFSAs), micropatterning of single cells and cell monolayers, fabrication of polymer scaffolds using electrospinning technique, etc. Based on these he is performing cell biological and mechanobiological studies, including regulation of cell growth and differentiation patterns, measurement of cellular traction forces, and sub-cellular manipulation of individual cells.
Selected Publications
  • F. Li, B. Li, Q-M. Wang, J.H-C. Wang. Cell shape regulates collagen type I expression in human tendon fibroblasts. Cell Motility & Cytoskeleton 2008, in press.

  • B. Li, L. Xie, Z.C. Starr, Z-C. Yang, J-S. Lin, J.H-C. Wang. Development of micropost force sensor array with culture experiments for determination of cell traction forces. Cell Motility & Cytoskeleton, 2007, 64(7):509-518.

  • B. Li, J-X. Chen, J.H-C. Wang. RGD peptide-conjugated poly(dimethylsiloxane) promotes adhesion, proliferation, and collagen secretion of human fibroblasts. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part A, 2006, 79(4):989-998.

  • C-M. Cheng, B. Li, P.R. LeDuc. Optical fabrication of three-dimensional polymeric microstructures. Applied Physics Letters, 2005, 87:Art. No.164104.

  • B. Li, Y.-X. Ma, S. Wang, P.M. Moran. Influence of carboxyl group density on neuron cell attachment and differentiation behavior: gradient-guided neurite outgrowth. Biomaterials, 2005, 26(24): 4956-4963.

  • B. Li, Y.-X. Ma, S. Wang, P.M. Moran. A technique for preparing protein gradients on polymeric surfaces: effects on PC12 pheochromocytoma cells. Biomaterials, 2005, 26(13):1487-1495.

  • M.-H. Li, P. Keller, B. Li, X.-G. Wang, M. Brunet. Light-driven side-on nematic elastomer actuators. Advanced Materials, 2003, 15(7-8):569-572.

  • B. Li, W.-G. Chen, X.-G. Wang, Q.-X. Zhou. PNIPAAm-grafted layers on polypropylene films - II. Surface properties and temperature sensitivity study. ACTA Polymerica Sinica, 2003, (1):7-12.

  • B. Li, W.-G. Chen, X.-G. Wang, Q.-X. Zhou. Fluorinated acrylate-grafted LDPE films from UV-induced photograft polymerization. ACTA Polymerica Sinica, 2002, (6):786-790.

  • B. Li, W.-G. Chen, X.-G. Wang, Q.-X. Zhou. Preparation and surface morphology of PNIPAAm-grafted layers on polypropylene films. ACTA Polymerica Sinica, 2002, (6):780-785.

  • B. Li, W.-G. Chen, X.-H. Liu, X.-G. Wang, Q.-X. Zhou. Preparation of temperature-sensitive polymer films by surface photografting techniques. Polymers for Advanced Technologies, 2002, 13(3-4):239-241.

  • B. Li, S.-H. Zhang, L.-M. Tang, Q.-X. Zhou. Preparation of a novel infrared photoinitiator and kinetics monitoring of photopolymerization by real time FTIR spectroscopy. Polymer Journal, 2001, 33(3):263-269.

  • S.-H. Zhang, B. Li, L.-M. Tang, X.-G. Wang, D.-S. Liu, Q.-X. Zhou. Study on the infrared laser induced photopolymerization employing a cationic cyanine dye-borate complex as photoinitiator. Polymer, 2001, 42(18):7575-7582.

  • S.-H. Zhang, B. Li, L.-M. Tang, R. Yang, Q.-X. Zhou. Real time kinetics study on the infrared laser induced photopolymerization of TMPTA. Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities, 2001, 22(7):1249-1253.

  • B. Li, S.-H. Zhang, Y. Chen, L.-M. Tang, Q.-X. Zhou. Synthesis of poly(ethylene glycol)diacrylates and their application in infrared laser-induced curing. Polymer Materials Science and Engineering, 2001, 17(5): 162-164.

  • B. Li, L.-M. Tang, H.-P. Dong, D.-S. Liu, Q.-X. Zhou. Synthesis and absorption characteristics of two infrared cyanine dyes. Tsinghua Science and Technology, 2000, 5(2):176-179.


Selected Presentations
  • B. Li, M. Lin, Y. Tang, B. Wang, J. H-C. Wang. Micropatterned C2C12 cells exhibit enhanced differentiation into myotubes – a novel study using cell traction force microscopy. The 54th Annual Meeting Orthopaedic Research Society, Mar. 2008, San Francisco, CA.

  • Y. Tang, B. Li, H-C. Wang, J. Huard, M. Salay, B. Wang, In vitro AAV mediated gene transfer in human fibroblast cell lines. The 54th Annual Meeting Orthopaedic Research Society, Mar. 2008, San Francisco, CA.

  • B. Li, M. Lin, Y. Liu, T. Yeager, Y. Tang, B. Wang, J. H-C. Wang. A novel in vitro model for functional assessment of C2C12 cell differentiation. The 26th Annual Scientific Conference of the Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine (SPRBM), Jan. 2008, Miami, FL.

  • B. Li, F. Li, T. Lin, J. H-C. Wang. External mechanical stress alters cell proliferation and differentiation pattern formation. The 26th Annual Scientific Conference of the Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine (SPRBM), Jan. 2008, Miami, FL.

  • B. Li, F. Li, M. Szczodry, X. Xu, H. Li, J. H-C. Wang. Mechanical stress regulates cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation patterns. The 6th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Tissue Engineering Consortium (M-TEC), Apr. 2007, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

  • F. Li, B. Li, Q.-M. Wang, J. H-C. Wang. Cell shape regulates collagen type I expression levels in human tendon fibroblasts . The 6th Annual Meeting of the Midwest Tissue Engineering Consortium (M-TEC), Apr. 2007, Ann Arbor , Michigan.

  • B. Li, F. Li, H-X. Li, X-C. Xu, M. Szczodry, Z-C. Yang, J-S. Lin, J. H-C. Wang. Cellular mechanical stress gradient regulates cell proliferation and differentiation patterns. 25th Annual Scientific Conference of the Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine (SPRBM), Jan. 2007, Hawaii.

  • B. Li, L. Xie, Z. C. Starr, Z-C. Yang, J. H-C. Wang. Micropost force sensor array (MFSA) for measuring cell traction forces. 25th Annual Scientific Conference of the Society for Physical Regulation in Biology and Medicine (SPRBM), Jan. 2007, Hawaii.

  • B. Li, F. Li, J.H-C. Wang. Mechanical stress dominates cell growth pattern. 5th World Congress of Biomechanics, Jul.- Aug. 2006, Munich, Germany.

  • B. Li, Z-C. Yang, L-F. Qin, H-X. Li, J.H-C. Wang. Use of micro-force sensor array to determine the differential effect of TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 on traction forces of human tendon fibroblasts. Regenerate World Congress on Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Technologies, Apr. 2006, Pittsburgh.

  • B. Li, Z-C. Yang, L. Xie, Z.C. Starr, J.H-C. Wang. A micro-force sensor array for detecting traction forces of individual cells. 52nd Annual Meeting of Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS), Mar. 2006, Chicago.

  • B. Li, J. Chen, J.H-C. Wang. Micro-force sensor array made of RGD peptide-conjugated PDMS microposts. Annual Fall Meeting of Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), Sept. 2005, Baltimore.

  • B. Li, J. Chen, J.H-C. Wang. RGD peptide-conjugated silicone elastomer promotes fibroblast adhesion. The 5th Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Tissue Engineering Consortium (MTEC), Apr. 2005, Cleveland.

  • B. Li, Y-X. Ma, S. Wang, P.M. Moran. Protein micropatterning on polymeric substrates and the influence on neuron growth. Biological Surfaces and Interfaces --Euroconference on Understanding and Improving Specific Interactions, Jun. 2003, Castelvecchio Pascoli, Italy.

  • B. Li, S-H. Zhang, L-M. Tang, Q-X. Zhou. IR laser-induced photopolymerization: synthesis of photoinitiator and kinetics monitoring of polymerization. The 221st ACS National Meeting, PMSE Division, Apr. 2001, San Diego.

  • B. Li, S-H. Zhang, L-M. Tang, Q-X. Zhou. Infrared laser-induced photopolymerization employing cyanine dye-borate complex as photoinitiator. The 3rd Joint China/USA Chemical Engineering Conference (CUChE-3), Oct. 2000, Beijing, China.

  • B. Li, W-G. Chen, X-H. Liu, X-G. Wang, Q-X. Zhou. Preparation of temperature-sensitive polypropylene films by surface photografting technique. International Symposium on Fine Chemistry and Functional Polymers (FCFP-X), Sept. 2000, Jinan, China.

  • B. Li, S-H. Zhang, L-M. Tang, Q-X. Zhou. Synthesis of a novel near-infrared laser sensitive photoinitiator and its application in photopolymerization. Polymeric Symposium of China, May 1999, Shanghai, China.


Patents
  • C-M. Cheng, B. Li, P. R. LeDuc. Optical fabrication of three-dimensional polymeric microstructures. PCT/US2006/038468, filed Oct. 2006.


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