Small and Controlled Release Lab.
Research Field
Dr. Min-Hua Chen is an accomplished academic and researcher, currently serving as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU). In addition to his professorship, he holds the position of Division Chief of Extracurricular Activities at CYCU and is an Adjunct Assistant Fellow of Engineering and Nanomedicine at the National Health Research Institutes. Dr. Chen’s educational background is rooted in Material Science and Engineering, having earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Taipei Tech. He furthered his studies at National Taiwan University, where he completed his Ph.D. in 2015.
His research has crossed international borders, collaborating with esteemed institutions such as the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan. His contributions were recognized with the award of a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellowship, which he held at NIMS from 2016 to 2017. Currently, Dr. Chen’s research interests span several fields. He is exploring the development of microneedles for transdermal delivery, theranostic nanoparticles, radiosensitizer nanomedicine for cancer treatment, and bioceramics for dental applications. His work continues to push the boundaries of biomedical engineering
The Small and Controlled Release Lab, established in 2016, is a pioneer in the fields of biomaterials, controlled release, and radiobiology. Its initial work revolved around the creation of radiosensitizers nanoparticles and microneedles for skin cancer treatment. Over time, the lab’s focus has broadened to include the controlled release of various radiosensitizers, such as Hafnium-doped ceramic nanoparticles and imiquimod, which are combined with radiation for microneedle transdermal delivery to treat skin cancer. The lab also ventures into the development of dental materials using the electrospinning method for dental tissue engineering applications.
Currently, the lab is exploring the potential of theranostic nanoparticles as photothermal and radiosensitizer agents for cancer treatment. The lab synthesizes and characterizes theranostic nanoparticles of varying doping concentrations and sizes, and assesses their biocompatibility in vitro. The lab also investigates their photothermal and radiosensitizing effects both in vitro and in vivo, using a xenograft mouse model. The lab evaluates the therapeutic efficacy and safety of theranostic nanoparticles when combined with photothermal therapy and radiotherapy, and monitors the biodistribution of particles through NIR-II window fluorescent emission. The lab also employs microneedles with theranostic nanoparticles for localized delivery, photothermal therapy, and radiotherapy in an orthotopic mouse model.
The lab collaborates with the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI), National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), and Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). This collaboration provides students with comprehensive knowledge of translational research. Dr. Jen-Kun Chen from the NHRI, an expert in radioactive nanoparticles, supports the project in translational radiation research. Dr. Hsiang-Kuang Liang, a radiation oncologist at NTUH, provides ideas and consultation for developing combined therapy for cancer treatment. The Lab. also collaborates with Dr. Lokesh Agrawal from OIST, who assists in studying neurotoxicity.
- Enhancing radiotherapy in head-and-neck cancer using rare-earth-doped nanoparticles as photothermal agents (submitted)
- Development of a commercial process for microneedle patches for the treatment of skin diseases (112-2622-E-033-007-)
- Integrating the microneedle patch with radiosensitizers to facilitate the synergistic effect of radiotherapy for skin cancers (MOST 108-2218-E-033 -005 -MY2)
- Theranostic nanoparticles combined with microneedles for skin cancer radiotherapy (110-2222-E-033 -003 -MY3)
- Development of cotton-wool-like electrospun fibers carrying angiogenic growth factors for pulp-dentin regeneration
- Microneedle patch for the treatment of warts (107-CCH-CYCU-05)
Dr. Min-Hua Chen spans multiple biomedical fields, including drug delivery, radiobiology, dental materials, biomedical ceramics, biomedical electrospinning, and design thinking. In the past, Dr. Chen focused on microneedle patches, radiosensitizing materials, and near-infrared second window fluorescent nanoparticles. He has served as the principal investigator for several research projects funded by the National Science Council, including ‘Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dual-Characteristic Nanoparticles Combined with Microneedles for Skin Cancer Radiotherapy (110-2222-E-033-003-MY3)’, ‘Precision Delivery of Radiosensitizers with Microneedle Patches to Enhance the Synergistic Effect of Radiotherapy on Skin Cancer (108-2218-E-033-005-MY2)’, ‘Research on Microneedle Treatment of Viral Warts (107-CCH-CYCU-05)’, and an industry-academia collaboration project ‘Commercialization Process Development for Microneedle Patches for Treating Skin Diseases (112-2622-E-033-007)’.
Microneedle patches are a transdermal drug delivery system that combines the advantages of transdermal delivery and injection. They use micrometer-level needle tips to directly pierce the stratum corneum of the skin, forming multiple microchannels to deliver drugs. This laboratory has long been committed to the development of dissolving microneedles and has solved the problem that dissolving microneedles usually need to add cross-linking agents (such as glutaraldehyde) in actual use, which can easily cause cytotoxicity. The application of dissolving microneedles for the treatment of warts has obtained a patent in Taiwan in year 2023 (Patent No. I815406). Several academic papers have also been published in international journals, including the application of microneedles for skin cancer combined with radiotherapy (Biomaterials Advances, 2022, 141, 213113), treatment of skin warts (Pharmaceutics, 2021, 13, 607), vaccine injection (Journal of Nanomedicine, 2018, 13: 43), brain cancer treatment (Journal of Pharmacovigilance, 2018, S4: 001), diabetes treatment (Asian Journal of Pharmacovigilance, 2020, 8: 279), etc.
In addition, this laboratory has jointly developed near-infrared second window fluorescent nanoparticles with Associate Professor Cheng-An J. Lin, including (1) upconversion nanoparticles doped with rare earth elements and (2) composite nanoparticles of cisplatin-indocyanine green. These two nanoparticles have both diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics. In addition to being used as radiosensitizers, they can also serve as real-time imaging tracers, providing short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging signals to track the metabolic status of nanoparticles in tumor areas. This research has won the Future Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology in year 2021, obtained a patent in Taiwan in year 2023 (Patent No. I810117), and published an international journal (Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering, 2023).
- Ph.D. in the Institute of Biomedical Engineering from National Taiwan University, 2011-2015
- M.S. in the Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Taipei Tech, 2004- 2006
- B.S. in the Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Taipei Tech, 2000- 2004
1 Vacancy
Job Description
- Contributing to ongoing research projects through execution of planned experiments and progress report preparation collecting
- Analyzing, and interpreting experimental data for professional presentation
- Assisting in reviewing papers and writing Articles
Preferred Intern Education Level
Ph.D. student
Skill sets or Qualities
- Ideal candidate is pursuing or already holds a degree in Pharmaceutical Science or a related field
- Possesses fundamental skills in conducting experiments, as well as data collection and processing
- Has a keen interest in biomaterials, nanoparticles, and drug delivery systems