Zhongkui Hong

Dr. Zhongkui Hong is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University's Whitacre College of Engineering. His research focuses on biomechanics in cardiovascular diseases, cancer metastasis, and mechanics in biomaterial design and tissue engineering. He leads the Biomechanics, Mechanobiology, and Biomaterials Laboratory, developing integrated experimental and computational approaches to study biomechanics.

Education:

• Ph.D., Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2005
• M.S., Materials Science, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, 2001
• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Jilin Institute of Chemical Technology, 1991

Dr. Hong's research spans three interconnected domains: biomechanics in cardiovascular disease, biomaterials and tissue engineering, and cell dynamics with clinical relevance. His work particularly examines how vascular smooth muscle cells respond to mechanical stimuli, cholesterol levels, and substrate properties, revealing critical insights into atherosclerosis development. He has pioneered approaches combining atomic force microscopy with computational modeling to analyze cellular mechanical properties. His research on stem cell differentiation for vascular tissue engineering has significant implications for creating bioartificial blood vessels.

Analysis of Dr. Hong's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on vascular biomechanics, particularly examining how mechanical properties of vascular smooth muscle cells change in disease states like atherosclerosis. His work increasingly integrates nanotechnology with tissue engineering, exploring novel biomaterials for vascular and neural applications. A notable trend is his investigation of mechanical oscillations in cells and how these relate to disease progression.

Scientific Awards:

• 2021 University President's Award for Research Excellence (University of South Dakota)
• 2022 Richard and Sharon Cutler Outstanding Faculty Award (College of Arts and Science, University of South Dakota)

Dr. Hong has secured significant research funding from the American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and South Dakota Board of Regents. His laboratory actively mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with recent additions including Hashem Saker and Rakibul Islam. His teaching responsibilities include ME5358: Biomaterials and ME4330: Biomaterials at Texas Tech University.

The Biomechanics, Mechanobiology, and Biomaterials Laboratory maintains a robust research program with multiple ongoing projects examining vascular mechanics, tissue engineering scaffolds, and cellular mechanobiology. The lab has established collaborations with researchers at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and other institutions, particularly with Dr. Congzhou Wang on nanoparticle research.