Eng Kuan Moo

Biography

Research Interests:

• Tissue and cell biomechanics
• Mechanobiology
• Microscopic imaging (confocal, multi-photon, atomic force, etc.)
• Continuum mechanics
• Finite element modelling
• Tissue engineering
• Fibre reinforcement of hydrogels

Research

I am interested in understanding the structure-composition-function relationships and cell-tissue interactions in soft connective tissues. I have worked with biological tissues such as articular cartilage and skeletal muscles. I answer my research questions through carefully designed in vitro, in situ and in vivo experiments and theoretical modelling. By understanding how mechanical forces are transduced through multi-scales to the cells, and how cells interact with the surrounding structural network in their native environment, I hope to apply this knowledge in the field of tissue engineering with the ultimate goal of bio-fabricating a viable and functional tissue substitute for patients who suffer from soft tissue injuries/diseases.

Activities

• Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary

Journal Articles

1. Moo, E. K.; Ebrahimi, M.; Sibole, S. C.; Tanska, P.; Korhonen, R. K. The Intrinsic Quality of Proteoglycans, but Not Collagen Fibres, Degrades in Osteoarthritic Cartilage. Acta Biomaterialia 2022, 153, 178–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2022.09.002
2. Sibole, S. C.*, Moo, E. K.*, Federico, S., Herzog, W. (2022) The protective function of directed asymmetry in the pericellular matrix enveloping chondrocytes. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 50 (1): 39 – 55, doi: 10.1007/s10439-021-02900-1
3. Karjalainen, K., Tanska, P., Sibole, S. C., Mikkonen, S., Herzog, W., Korhonen, R. K., Moo, E. K. (2022) Effect of cells on spatial quantification of proteoglycans in articular cartilage. Connective Tissue Research: 1 – 12, doi: 10.1080/03008207.2022.2048827
4. Moo, E. K.*, Al-Saffar, Y.*, Le, T., Seerattan, R. A., Pingguan-Murphy, B., Korhonen, R. K., Herzog, W. (2021) Deformation behaviors and mechanical impairments of tissue cracks in immature and mature cartilages. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, doi: 10.1002/jor.25243
5. Moo, E. K., Tanska, P., Federico, S., Al-Saffar, Y., Herzog, W., Korhonen, R. K. (2021) Collagen fibres determine the crack morphology in articular cartilage. Acta Biomaterialia 126: 301–314, doi:10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.031
6. Moo, E. K., Leonard, T.R., Herzog, W. (2020) The sarcomere force-length relationship in an intact muscle-tendon unit. Journal of Experimental Biology, 223 (6): jeb215020, doi: 10.1242/jeb.215020
7. Moo, E. K.*, Sibole, S. C.*, Han, S. K., Herzog, W. (2017) Three-dimensional micro-scale strain mapping in living biological soft tissues. Acta Biomaterialia, 70: 260-269, doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.01.048
8. Moo, E. K., Herzog, W. (2017) Unfolding of membrane ruffles protects chondrocytes against death. Journal of Orthopaedic Research, 35(2), 302-310, doi: 10.1002/jor.23260
9. Moo, E.K., Amrein, M., Epstein, M., Duvall, M., Abu Osman, N.A., Pingguan-Murphy, B., Herzog, W. (2013). The properties of chondrocyte membrane reservoirs and their role in impact-induced cell death. Biophysical Journal, 105(7), 1590-1600, doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2013.08.035
10. Moo, E. K., Herzog, W., Han, S. K., Abu Osman, N. A., Pingguan-Murphy, B., Federico, S. (2012). Mechanical behaviour of in-situ chondrocytes subjected to different loading rates: a finite element study. Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology, 11(7), 983-93, doi: 10.1007/s10237-011-0367-2

* Authors contributed equally to the research work