Woojin Han

PhD Candidate in Bioengineering
University of Pennsylvania
hanwooj@seas.upenn.edu 

EDUCATION
M.S.E. Bioengineering,
University of Pennsylvania
B.S. Biomedical Engineering,
University of Rochester

Research Interest

My current research focuses on how joint or tissue-level mechanics affect cell/subcellular-level mechanics and mechanotransduction in fibrous tissues. The outcomes of this research have broad significances, from understanding the mechano-biological mechanisms of tissue development, repair, and degeneration, to elucidating new therapeutic and rehabilitative approaches for accelerated tissue healing, to establishing new micro-mechanical and biological benchmarks for tissue engineering.

Publications

  1. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Driscoll, DP; Boggs, ME; Duncan, RL; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Impact of cellular microenvironment and mechanical perturbation on calcium signaling in meniscus fibrochondrocytes,” European Cells and Materials, 2014, In Review.
  2. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Driscoll, TP; Mauck, RL; Smith, LJ; Elliott, DM “Macro to Micro-scale Strain Transfer in Fibrous Tissues is Heterogeneous and Tissue Specific,” Biophysical Journal, 2013, 105, 807-817.
  3. Han, WM; Nerurkar, NL; Smith, LJ; Jacobs, NT; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Multi-Scale Structural and Tensile Mechanical Response of Annulus Fibrosus to Osmotic Loading,” Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 2012, 40, 1610-1621.
  4. Han, W; Allio, BA; Foster, DG; King, MR “Nanoparticle Coatings for Enhanced Capture of Flowing Cells in Microtubes,” ACS Nano 2010, 4, 174-180.
  5. Cortes, DH; Han, WM; Smith, LJ; Elliott DM “Mechanical Properties of the Extra-Fibrillar Matrix of Human Annulus Fibrosus are Location and Age Dependent,” Journal of Orthopaedic Research, In Press.
  6. Malhotra, NR; Han, WM; Beckstein J; Cloyd, J; Chen, W; Elliott, DM “An Injectable Nucleus Pulposus Implant to Restore Spinal Range of Motion in Compression,” Spine, 2012, 37, E1099-E1105.
  7. Nerurkar, NL; Han, W; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Homologous structure-function relationships between native fibrocartilage and tissue engineered from MSC-seeded nanofibrous scaffolds,” Biomaterials 2011, 32, 461-468.
  8. Jacobs, NT; Smith, LJ; Han, WM; Morelli, J; Yoder, JH; Elliott, DM “Effect of orientation and targeted extracellular matrix degradation on annulus fibrosus shear mechanical properties,” Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, 2011, 8, 1611-1619.

Conference Proceedings

  1. Han, WM; Marcozzi, AN; Lewis, JD; Smith, LJ; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Proteoglycan-Rich Micro-Domains Increase in Number and Size with Development and Age in Outer Meniscus,” 60th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, New Orleans, LA, March 15-18, 2014.
  2. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Duncan, RL; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Intracellular Calcium Signaling in Meniscal Cells is Both Strain- and Microenvironment-Dependent,” 60th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, New Orleans, LA, March 15-18, 2014.
  3. Heo, SJ; Driscoll, TP; Thorpe, SD; Han, WM; Elliott, DM; Lee, DA; Mauck, RL “Rapid Chromatin Condensation Increases Stem Cell Nuclear Mechanics and Mechanosensitivity,” 60th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, New Orleans, LA, March 15-18, 2014 (Podium).
  4. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Driscoll, DP; Boggs, ME; Duncan, RL; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Strain Induced Calcium Signaling in Meniscal Cells is Dependent on Microenvironment,” Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering, La Jolla, CA, January 7-12, 2014.
  5. Han, WM; Elliott, DM; Mauck, RL; Duncan, RL “In situ calcium signaling in fiber-reinforced tissues is strain dependent,” Spine Research Symposium of the Philadelphia Spine Research Society, Philadelphia, PA, November 6-8, 2013.
  6. Han, WM; Smith, LJ; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Strain Transfer from Tissue to cells is Reduced in Proteoglycan-Rich Regions Compared to Fibrous Regions of the Meniscus,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA, September 25-28, 2013 (Podium).
  7. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Driscoll, TP; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Differential Micro-Scale Strain Transfer in Fiber-Reinforced Native Tissues and Cell-Seeded Aligned Nanofibrous Scaffolds,” Spine Research Symposium of the Philadelphia Spine Research Society: Advances in Intervertebral Disc Research, Philadelphia, PA, November 13, 2012 (Poster Award Winner).
  8. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Driscoll, TP; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Differential Micro-Scale Strain Transfer in Fiber-Reinforced Native Tissues and Cell-Seeded Aligned Nanofibrous Scaffolds,” Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, October 24-27, 2012.
  9. Han, WM; Nerurkar, NL; Smith, LJ; Jacobs, NT; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Multi-Scale Structural and Tensile Mechanical Response of Annulus Fibrosus to Osmotic Loading,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, June 20-23, 2012.
  10. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Driscoll, TP; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Micro-Scale Strain Transfer in Fiber-Reinforced Native Tissue is Distinct from Cell-Seeded Nanofibrous Scaffolds,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, June 20-23, 2012 (Podium).
  11. Cortes, DH; Han, WM; Smith, LJ; Elliott, DM “Extra-fibrillar Matrix Properties of Human Annulus Fibrosus are Location and Age Dependent,” ASME Summer Bioengineering Conference, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, June 20-23, 2012.
  12. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Driscoll, TP; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Micro-Scale Strain Transfer in Fiber-Reinforced Native Tissue and Cell-Seeded Nanofibrous Scaffolds,” 9th Annual Biomechanics Research Symposium, Newark, DE, April 23, 2012 (Podium; Podium Presentation Award Winner).
  13. Han, WM; Heo, SJ; Driscoll, TP; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Micro-Scale Strain Transfer in Fiber-Reinforced Native Tissue and Cell-Seeded Nanofibrous Scaffolds,” Northeast Bioengineering Conference, Philadelphia, PA, March 16–18, 2012 (Podium).
  14. Han, WM; Jacobs, NT; Nerurkar, NL; Smith, LJ; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Influence of Glycosaminoglycan, Swelling, and Ultrastructure on Annulus Fibrosus Tensile Mechanics,” Spine Research Symposium of the Philadelphia Spine Research Society: New Horizons in Intervertebral Disc Research, Philadelphia, PA, November 16–18, 2011.
  15. Han, WM; Jacobs, NT; Nerurkar, NL; Smith, LJ; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Structure-Function Mechanisms of the Inner and Outer Annulus Fibrosus in Tension,” Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 14–18, 2011 (Podium).
  16. Malhotra, NR; Han, WM; Beckstein J; Cloyd, J; Chen, W; Elliott, DM “An Injectable Nucleus Pulposus Implant to Restore Spinal Range of Motion in Compression,” Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine, Gothenburg, Sweden, June 14–18, 2011.
  17. Han, WM; Jacobs, NT; Nerurkar, NL; Smith, LJ; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Differential Tensile Mechanical Behavior of the Inner and Outer Annulus Fibrosus Following Treatment with Chondroitinase ABC and Buffer Solutions,” 57th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Long Beach, CA, January 13–16, 2011; In: Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society, vol. 36.
  18. Malhotra, NR; Han, WM; Beckstein J; Cloyd, J; Chen, W; Elliott, DM “An Injectable Nucleus Pulposus Implant to Restore Spinal Range of Motion in Compression,” 57th Annual Meeting of the Orthopaedic Research Society, Long Beach, CA, January 13–16, 2011, In: Transactions of the Orthopaedic Research Society, vol. 36.
  19. Han, WM; Jacobs, NT; Nerurkar, NL; Smith, LJ; Mauck, RL; Elliott, DM “Differential Structure-Function Mechanisms of the Inner and Outer Annulus Fibrosus in Tension,” Spine Research Symposium of the Philadelphia Spine Research Society, Philadelphia, PA, December 14, 2010.
  20. Malhotra, NR; Han, WM; Beckstein J; Cloyd, J; Chen, W; Elliott, DM “An Injectable Nucleus Pulposus Implant to Restore Spinal Range of Motion in Compression,” Spine Research Symposium of the Philadelphia Spine Research Society, Philadelphia, PA, December 14, 2010.

Patents

  1. King, MR; Foster, DG; Han, W; Allio, BA “Device And Method For Separation, Concentration, And/Or Purification Of Cells,” U.S. Patent Publication No. US 8399205 B2.