Profile
Xu Han, PhD, is a cryobiologist with unique experience in transplantation and transfusion practices and cell-based regenerative medicine, tissue engineering and other therapeutic applications. He has more than a decade of continuous research support funded by the NIH, DOD, USDA and the Coulter Foundation.
Dr. Han’s research focuses on achieving controlled manipulation of ice crystal structure and growth on a nanometer scale in biological or bioartificial systems to preserve the viability of live tissue cells for use after freezing and thawing. The discoveries from his translational research in biochemistry, biophysics and thermodynamics have enabled the establishment of a new “biocompatible” and highly efficient tissue cryopreservation technology platform, including four key inventions with Dr. Han as the leading inventor.
These inventions have not only significantly improved efficiency in the cryopreservation of transplantable donor or bioengineered cells and tissues, but also removed the need for cryogenic liquid nitrogen facilities (which typically need temperatures of -196 C) for long-term storage by enabling stable shelf-life in regular laboratory deep freezers (-80 C). His work eliminates the need for traditional cell permeating toxic cryoprotectants (e.g., Dimethyl sulfoxide) for establishing cryo-inventory of these “living drugs.”
Academic Information
Office
University of Missouri Life Science Incubator 126G
1601 S. Providence Rd
Columbia, MO 65211
United States
Research Interests
- Cell and tissue cryopreservation
- Cardiac preservation and transplantation
- Ice formation and vitrification mechanism
- Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine
Areas of Expertise
- Cryobiology and Biophysics
- Thermodynamics and phase transition
- Numerical simulation and molecular dynamics
- Biomedical device development and production
Education & Training
Fellowship
Computational Sciences Research Scholarship of Univ. of Kentucky
Post-Graduate School
PhD, University of Kentucky
Undergraduate
BS, University of Science and Tech of China
Awards & Honors
- NIH SBIR Direct Phase II Award (from NCI), 2022
- Mid-America Transplant Innovation Award, 2022
- DoD MBRP Idea Development Award, 2022
- NIH SBIR Direct Phase II Award (from NIAID), 2022
- NIH Innovation Showcase Company, 2021
- NIH SBIR Direct Phase II Award (from NEI), 2021
- NIH SBIR Phase I Award, 2020
- NIH SBIR Phase II Award (from ORIP and NIA), 2019
- MU-Coulter Translational Partnership, 2018
- NIH SBIR Phase I Award, 2018
- USDA NIFA SBIR Phase I Award, 2018
- MU Fast-Track Award, 2016
- Outstanding Reviewer for Elsevier, 2016
- NIH SBIR Phase I Award, 2015
- Coulter Translational Partnership, 2015
- MU Faculty Innovation Award, 2014
- MU Intellectual Property Fast-Track Award, 2013
- NIH SBIR Fast-track Subcontract Award, 2011
- Top Reviewer for the Journal of Cryobiology, 2011
Publications
- Corcoran J., Han X, (2022) Improved cryopreservation media formulations reduce costs of maintenance while preserving function of genetically modified insect cells. In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology, accepted for publication
- Han X, White H, Koulen P. 2022. Efficient Biocompatible Cryopreservation Medium That Eliminates the Need for Cell Permeating Cryoprotectants. PCT/USA63/170673.
- Han X, White H, Koulen P. 2019. Improved Ultra-Fast Cooling System and Methods of Use, PCT/US19/26162
- Han X, Koulen P, Crister J. 2019. An Efficient Cryopreservation Device Preventing the Direct Contact Between Samples and Extracellular Ice, PCT/US19/48986
- Mao Y, Zhang Y, Han X (2018). Cryoprotective Mechanism of Using Ficoll for Cell cryopreservation at Non-Cryogenic Temperatures: A Molecular Dynamics Study. Int. J. of Heat and Mass Transfer. 127: 319-325.
- Han X, Koulen P, Crister J. 2018. An Efficient Cryopreservation Device Preventing the Direct Contact Between Samples and Extracellular Ice, US62/724,959
- Han X, White H, Koulen P. 2018. Improved Ultra-Fast Cooling System and Methods of Use US62/652,986
- Yuan Y, Yang Y, Tian Y, Park J, Dai A, Roberts RM, Liu Y, Han X (2016). Efficient longterm cryopreservation of pluripotent stem cells at -80 °C. Scientific reports. 6:34476.
- Han X (2016). Direct microscale measurement of mouse oocyte membrane permeability to water and ethylene glycol at subzero temperatures using cryomicroscopy. Cryo letters. 2016; 37(6):394-400.
- Han X (2016). A Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Mechanical Damage to Rodent Sperm Generated by Microscale Ice Formation. Cryo letters. 2016; 37(6):388-393.
- Han X, Yuan Y, and Roberts R.M. 2017. Cryopreservation Medium And Method To Prevent Recrystallization, PCT/US2017/032606.