I served as Assistant Professor in the College of Biomedical Engineering at Taiyuan University of Technology. I obtained my PhD in Mechanics from in 2016 from the Tsinghua University for research on the mechanobiological behaviour of chondrocytes under mechanical environment. I spent 4 years as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. Between August 2019 and August 2020, I was academic visitor at Faculty of Biological Sciences in University of Leeds.

My research group focuses on:

• Cellular mechanics: investigating the biomechanical behavior (elastic and viscoealstic properties) of cartilage chondrocytes under different physiologically and pathological conditions.

• Chondrocyte mechanosensing mechanism: the underlying molecular mechanisms (TRPV4, PIEZOs and primary cilium) of chondrocytes sensing the mechanical microenvironmental cues (substrate mechanical properties, topography and dynamic mechanical strain).

• Engineering cellular microenvironment: using nano- and microscale technological platforms and hydrogel biomaterial to fabricate multiscale hierarchical tissue constructs that recapitulate the in vivo mechanobiological behavior of chondrocytes.

• Cartilage-on-a-chip Microsystems: combining cellular and molecular biology tools with biophysical, bioengineering and nanotechnology approaches to accurately recapitulate the disease phenotype for cartilage tissue-engineering applications.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

• Cellular biomechanics

• Chondrocyte mechanobiology

• Viscoelastic hydrogels fabrication

• Engineering matrix microenvironment

• Cartilage-on-a-chip

SELECTED JOURNAL ARTICLES (*Corresponding author)

• Zhang M, Meng N, Wang XX, Chen WY, Zhang QY*. TRPV4 and PIEZOs channels mediate the mechanosensing of chondrocytes to the biomechanical microenvironment. Membranes. 2022, 12(2):237. (Invited review)

• Zhang M, Wu XA, Du GL, Chen WY, Zhang QY*. Substrate stiffness-dependent regulatory volume decrease and calcium signaling in chondrocytes. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin, 2022, 54(1): 113–125.

• Du GL, Chen WY, Li L, Zhang QY*. The potential role of mechanosensitive ion channels in substrate stiffness-regulated Ca2+ response in chondrocytes. Connect Tissue Res. 2021:1-10.

• Zhang QY*, Bai JD, Wu XA, Liu XN, Zhang M, Chen WY. Microniche geometry modulates the mechanical properties and calcium signaling of chondrocytes. Journal of Biomechanics. 2020;104:109729.

• Du GL, Li L, Zhang X, Liu J, Hao J, Zhu J, Wu H, Chen WY*, Zhang QY*. Roles of TRPV4 and piezo channels in stretch-evoked Ca2+ response in chondrocytes. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2020; 245(3):180-189.

• Zhang QY, Yu Y, Zhao HC. The effect of matrix stiffness on biomechanical properties of chondrocytes. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin. 2016, 48(10), 958-965.

• Xie J, Zhang QY, Zhu T, Zhang YY, Liu BL, Xu JW, Zhao HC. Substrate stiffness-regulated matrix metalloproteinase output in myocardial cells and cardiac fibroblasts: Implications for myocardial fibrosis. Acta Biomater. 10(6):2463-2472, 2014.

• Zhang QY, Zhang YY, Xie J, Li CX, Chen WY, Liu BL, W XA, Li SN, Huo B, Jiang LH, Zhao HC. Stiff substrates enhance cultured neuronal network activity. Scientific Reports. 4:6215, 2014.

• Zhang QY, Wang XH, Wei XC, Chen WY. Characterization of viscoelastic properties of normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes in experimental rabbit model. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2008, 16(7): 837-840.

BOOK

• Zhang QY, Chen WY. Mechanobiology of chondrocyte and matrix. Shanxi Science and Technology Publishing House. 2020.10 (ISBN 978-7- 5377-6057-7)

CHAPTER

• Zhang QY, Zhang M, Meng N, Wei XC, Chen WY. Chapter 9: Mechanobiology of the articular chondrocyte. In: Bone cell biomechanics, mechanobiology and bone diseases. Airong Qian, Lifang Hu (Eds). Academic Press. 1st edition, 2023. (ISBN-13:978-0323961233)

RESEARCH GRANTS

• The role and mechanism of matrix viscoelasticity in inflammatory signaling regulating chondrocyte behavior. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.12272252). RMB: 560,000 (2023.01~2026.12). Principal investigator.

• Mechanosensitive ion channels regulates chondrocytes sensing matrix physical properties. Supported by Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.11872263). RMB: 630,000 (2019.01-2022.12). Principal investigator.

• The biomechanical behavior of chondrocytes from normal and osteoarthritis articular cartilage. Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.10702049). RMB: 240,000 (2008.01-2010.12). Principal investigator.

COURSES TAUGHT

• UNDERGRADUATE: Writing and Communication (Chinese); Biofluid Mechanics (Chinese)

• GRADUATE STUDENT: Cell Mechanics (English), Biomaterial Mechanics (Chinese); Biofluid Mechanics (English)

MEMBERSHIPS

• 2006- now Biomedical Engineering Society.

• 2013- now Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics

• 2022- now Shanxi Photographers Association (SXPA)

• 2023- now Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society, TERMIS