Description:

Abstract: Transarterial embolization (TAE) is a minimally invasive procedure that selectively delivers embolic agents into arteries to occlude diseased or injured vasculature for therapeutic purposes - including the treatment of hemorrhage, aneurysms, vascular malformations, and hypervascular tumors. Clinically available agents such as metallic coils, microspheres, and liquid embolics are widely used, but they face key limitations such as imprecise deployment, risk of migration, and catheter occlusion. In this talk, we will share our efforts to develop gel-based embolic agents as a novel alternative. These materials transition from a high-viscosity gel to a fluid under shear stress, allowing smooth catheter delivery, then rapidly re-solidify in situ to achieve stable vascular occlusion. We will highlight our integrated experimental and modeling approaches that validate transcatheter injectability, offering improved predictability and physician control. Finally, we will explore the multifunctional potential of these gel embolic agents - including therapeutic delivery, imaging compatibility, and photothermal therapy - as a platform for next-generation vascular devices.

Bio: Jingjie Hu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at North Carolina State University. Her work explores the mechanical behavior of biomedical and biological materials, bridging engineering and medicine to advance applications in cancer detection and vascular embolization. She focuses on the design, fabrication, and characterization of bio-related structures through integrated mechanics, materials, and bioengineering approaches. Hu is a recipient of the NIH Trailblazer Award, the ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award, and the ASME Haythornthwaite Foundation Research Initiation Award. She received her Ph.D. from Princeton University and her B.S.E. from the University of Michigan, both in mechanical engineering. Prior to joining NC State, she completed her postdoctoral training in translational bioengineering at the Mayo Clinic.