ISTM

My main research interest is to build a new interdisciplinary field of nano-bioengineering bridging biomaterials, biomechanics, nanotechnology, microfabrication, and medicine.

I have experience in nanomechanics and nanomanipulation of soft biological materials with unique emphases on the applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, built up through academic and industrial experience in several British and overseas universities, and private companies.

In 2003 I became a Senior Lecturer in Biomedical & Cell Engineering at Keele University's Research Institute for Science & Technology in Medicine (ISTM) and was then promoted to Reader. I previously held the position of Associate Professor (1998-2003) in the Mechanical and Production School of Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Most recently I have been elected as a member of the UK Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) peer review college (2006-2010) and a fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.

In 2009 I took up a new position of Reader (Associate Professor) at Warwick University together with an honorary Visiting Reader role at Keele to continue my research collaboration with colleagues in ISTM.

ISTM research theme: 1. Bioengineering & Therapeutics

Dr Liu's current research is described on his Warwick University webpage. 

Publication List

Book Chapters:

1.K. K. Liu and K. T. Wan, 2007, “Mechanics of biomimetic/biological vesicles.” In W. Ahmed, N. Ali, and A. Öchsner, editors, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering,Trans Tech Publications: Switzerland (In Press)

2.K. K. Liu and K. T. Wan, 2008, “Cells and membranes” In M. L. Oyen, editor, Nanoindentation of Biological Materials, World Scientific (In press)

Patents

1.S. P. Lee and K. K. Liu, 2000, Bonding of micro-element, US Patent 6086705

2.S. P. Lee, R. J. Lin, H. H. Chen and K. K. Liu, 2000, Non-invasive Glucose Meter, US Patent 6043492

Selected Recent Journal Publications (*Indicates corresponding author)

1.M. Ahearne, E. Siamantouras, Y. Yang and K. K. Liu*, 2008, Mechanical characterization of biomimetic membranes by micro-shaft-poking, Journal of The Royal Society Interface (Awaiting Publication)

2.Y. B. Fu, S. P. Pearce and K. K. Liu, 2008, Post-bifurcation analysis of a thin-walled hyperelastic tube under inflation, International Journal of Non-linear Mechanics, 43, 697-706

3.M. Ahearne, Y. Yang, K. Y. Then, K. K. Liu*, 2008, Non-Destructive Mechanical Characterization of UVA/Riboflavin Crosslinked Collagen Hydrogels, British Journal of Ophthalmology,92, 268-271

4.C. Li and K. K. Liu*, 2008, “Nanomechanical Characterization of Red Blood Cells Using Optical Tweezers”, Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 19,1529-1535

5.C. Li , Y. P. Liu, K. K. Liu, and A. C. K. Lai, 2007, “Correlations between the Experimental and Numerical Investigations on the Mechanical Properties of Erythrocyte by Laser Stretching”, IEEE Trans. NanoBioscience, 7(1), 80-90

6.K. K. Liu and K. T. Wan, 2008, Multi-scale mechanical characterization of a freestanding polymer film using indentation, International Journal of Materials Research, 99, 862-864

7.

Y. Yang, P. O. Bagnaninchi1, M. Ahearne, R. K. Wang and K. K. Liu*, 2007, “A novel OCT-based micro-indentation technique for mechanical characterization of hydrogels” Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 4, 1169-1173

8.M. Ahearne, Y. Yang, K. Y. Then, K. K. Liu*, 2007, “An indentation technique to characterize the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of human and porcine corneas”, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 35(9), 1608-1616.

9.B. F. Ju, K. K. Liu, M.F. Wong, and K. T. Wan, 2007, “A novel cylindrical punch method to characterize interfacial adhesion and residual stress of a thin polymer film”, Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 74, 1101-1106

10.J. J. Foo, V. Chan, and K. K. Liu*, 2006, “Coupling bending and shear effects on liposome deformation,” Journal of Biomechanics, 39, 2338-2343.

11.K. K. Liu, 2006, “Deformation behaviours of soft particles – a review”, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 39, R189-R199

12.C. Li , Y. P. Liu, K. K. Liu, A. C. K. Lai, 2006,“The Deformation of an Erythrocyte under the Radiation Pressure by Optical Stretch”, J. BiomechanicalEng., ASME, 128, 830-836

13.J. J. Foo, V. Chan, Z. Q. Feng, and K. K. Liu*, 2006, “Human red blood cell deformed under thermal fluid flow,” Biomedical Materials, 1, 1-7

14.M. Ahearne, Y. Yang, A. El Haj, K. Then, and K. K. Liu*, 2005, “Characterising the viscoelastic properties of thin hydrogel-based constructs for tissue engineering applications”, Journal of The Royal Society Interface, 2, 455-463

15.K. K. Liu, 2005, “Nanomechanics and nanomanipulation of soft biological materials for tissue engineering applications” Euro cells and materials, 10 (S2), 5

16.K. K. Liu, Y. Yang, M. Ahearne, K. Then, A. El Haj, 2005,“A “Mechanically characterizing and stimulating tissue-engineered corneal stromal equivalent”, International Journal of Experimental Pathology, 86 (3), A29-A30

17.B. F. Ju, Y. Ju, S. A. Masumi, K. K. Liu, and K. T. Wan, 2005, “A systematic method for characterizing the elastic properties and adhesion of a thin polymer membrane”, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 47 (3), 319-332

18. H. S. Khoo, K. K. Liu, and F. G. Tseng, 2005, “Characterization of the mechanical properties of microscale elastomeric membranes”, Measurement Science & Technology , 16 (3): 653-658

19.J. J. Foo, K. K. Liu*, and V. Chan, 2004, Viscous drag of deformed vesicles in an optical trap: numerical simulation and experiments, AIChE Journal, 50, 249-254

20.B. F. Ju, K. T. Wan, and K. K. Liu*, 2004, “Indentation of a square elastomeric thin film by a flat-ended cylindrical punch in the presence of long-range intersurface forces”, Journal of Applied Physics, 96(11), 6159-6163.

21.J. J. Foo, V. Chan, and K. K. Liu*, 2004, “Shape recovery of an optically trapped vesicle: effect of flow velocity and temperature”, IEEE Transactions on NanoBioscience, 3(2), 96-100.

22.K. K. Liu, H S Khoo, and F. G. Tseng, 2004, In-situ mechanical characterization of square microfabricated elastomeric membranes using an improved micro-indentation, Review of Scientific Instruments, 75(2), 524-531.

23.V. Chan, K. K. Liu, V. L. Visage, B. F. Ju, and K. W. Leong, 2004, Bioadhesive Characterization of Poly(methylidene malonate 2.12) Microparticle on Model Extracellular Matrix, Biomaterials, 25, 4327-4332.

24.C. Li, Y. P. Liu, K. K. Liu, J. H. Hsieh, 2004, “A parameter study of the material properties in the vesicle-fluid interaction”, Computational Materials Science, 30, 504-510

25.J. J. Foo, V. Chan, and K. K. Liu*, 2003, Contact deformation of liposome in the presence of osmosis, Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 31, 1279-1286

26.J. J. Foo, K. K. Liu*, and V. Chan, 2003, Thermal Effect on a Viscously-Deformed Liposome in a Laser Trap, Annals of Biomedical Eng., 31, 354-362.

27.H. S. Khoo, K. K. Liu*, and F. G. Tseng, 2003, Mechanical strength and interfacial failure analysis of cantilevered SU-8 microposts, J. Micromech. & Microeng., 13(6), 822-831.

28.K. K. Liu, V. Chan, and Z. Zhang, 2002, Capsule-substrate contact deformation: determination of adhesion energy, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 40 (4), 491-495.

29.K. K. Liu* H. G. Wang, K. T. Wan, T. Liu, and Z. Zhang, 2002, Characterizing Capsule-Substrate Adhesion in Presence of Osmosis. Colloid & Surface B: Biointerface, 25(4), 293-298

30.B. F. Ju and K. K. Liu* 2002, Characterizing viscoelastic properties of thin elastomeric membrane, Mechanics of Materials, 34(8), 485-491.

31.B. F. Ju, K. K. Liu, S. F. Ling, and W. H. NG, 2002, A Novel Technique for Characterizing Elastic Properties of Thin Biological Membrane, Mechanics of Materials, 34 (11), 749-754.

32.K. T. Wan and K. K. Liu, 2001, Contact mechanics of a thin walled capsule adhered onto a rigid planar substrate, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 39(5), 605-608.

33.K. K. Liu and B. F. Ju, 2001, A novel technique for mechanical characterization of thin elastomeric membrane, Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, 34, L91-94.

34.K. K. Liu, Wang, H. G., Wan, K. T., Liu, T., and Zhang, Z., 2001, Characterizing cell-substrate adhesion, Tissue Engineering, 7, 644

35.K. K. Liu and K. T. Wan 2000, A new model to characterize cell-substrate adhesion in the presence of osmosis, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 38, 690-691

36.K. K. Liu, D. R. Williams, and B. J. Briscoe, 1999, A New Method to Characterize the Mechanical Properties of a Single Cell, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, 37 (S2), 1506-1507.

37.B. J. Briscoe, K. K. Liu*, and D. R. Williams, 1998, Adhesive Contact ofa singlemicroparticle, J. Colloid&Interfacial Science, 200(1), 256-264

38.K. K. Liu, D. R. Williams, and B. J. Briscoe, 1998, Deformation of a single compressive micro elastomeric sphere Journal ofPhysics D: Applied Physics, 31(3),294-303

39.K. K. Liu, 1997, A mathematical model for ultrafiltration through mammalian artery wall,Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan, 30 (3), 566-570

40.K. K. Liu, D. R. Williams, and B. J. Briscoe, 1996, Deformation of a single compressive microcapsule, Physical Review E, 54, 6673-6680

Selected Conference Papers (ISI Cited Proceedings)

1.K. T. Wan, K. K. Liu, and M. L. Oyen, 2008, “Viscoelastic behavior of a centrally loaded circular film being clamped at the circumference”, MRS proceeding (In Press)

2.Y. Yang, P. O. Bagnaninchi1, M. Ahearne, R. K. Wang and K. K. Liu*, 2007, “A novel OCT-based micro-indentation technique for mechanical characterization of soft engineered tissues” SPIE conference Proceeding of Bios Photonic West 2007 SPIE 8(16), 6439, (7)1-6

3.K. K. Liu, 2006, “Nanomechanics and Nanomanipulation of Soft Biological Materials”, Advances in Micro and Nano Technology (ISBN 1-930746-04-0), 24-27

4.M. Ahearne, Y. Yang, A. El Haj, K. Then, and K. K. Liu, 2005, “A novel indentation technique for the mechanical characterization of human cornea, IFMBE Proceeding,11(1), 1885 (5 pages)

5.K. K. Liu, 2005, “Nanomechanics and Nanomanipulation of Soft Biological Materials for Tissue Engineering Applications”, IFMBE Proceeding,11(1), 1427 (4 pages)

6.K. K. Liu, H. G. Wang, K. T. Wan, et al., 2001, “Characterising cell-substrate adhesion”,MEDICON 2001: Proceedings of the International Federation for Biomedical & Biological Engineering, PTS 1 and 2 , 820-823

7.B. F. Ju and K. K. Liu, 2001, “Novel technique for mechanical characterization of thin polymeric tissue membrane”, Proceedings of The Seventh Australian and New Zealand Intelligent Information Systems Conference , 207-210

8.K. K. Liu, Z. H. Du, F. G. Tseng, et al., 2000, “Electroplated microneedle array for biomedical applications”, Symposium on Smart Materials and MEMS, DEC 13-15, 2000, Smart Electronics and MEMS II , 44-48

9.B. F. Ju, K. K. Liu, and S. F. Ling, 2001, An new instrument for measuring mechanical compliance of micro-systems, Second International Conference on Experimental Mechanics , 252-255

10.K. K. Liu, S. P. Lee, R. J. Lin, et al. 1999, “Dynamic and spectral responses of a micromachined Fabry-Perot interferometer-based spectrometer”, Advanced Photonic Sensors and Applications , 686-69

Education: 

April 1992 - September 1995
PhD in Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College, London, UK.
Thesis: Deformation of Cellular Entities
Date of Award: 20 September 1995

September 1980 - July 1986
MSc (Eng) & BSc (Eng) in Department of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, Republic of China
MSc Thesis: Turbulent flow and dispersion in complex terrain
Date of Award: June 1986 (MSc) and June 1984 (BSc)

Professional Activities:

• EPSRC Peer Review College Member (2006-2010)
• Reviewer for journals: AmericanJournal Physiology C: Cell Physiology, Journal of Biomechanics, Langmuir, IEEE Trans. on Biomedical Engineering, Journal of the Royal Soc. Interface, IEEE Trans. on Nanobioscience, Biotechnology & Bioengineering, Journal of Artificial cells, Blood Substitutes and Biotechnology, Medical & Biological Engineering & Computing, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics.
• International Conference Chairman/Advisor:
  • Technical program committee, 1st IEEE-NANOMED, Macau, 6-9, Aug.,2007
  • Chairman, Mini-symposium on “Nonlinear elasticity and nano-technology in biomedical systems”, British Applied Mathematics Colloquium (BAMC 2006), Keele, 24-27, April, 2006
  • International Advisory Committee, the 3rd European Medical and Biological Engineering Conference(EMBEC05),Prague, 20-25, Nov., 2005
  • Chairman, Special session of nanomechanics and nanomanipulation of biological materials, EMBEC05
  • Chairman, Session of Nano-biotechnology, IEEE-EMBS Special Topic Conference on Molecular, Cellular & Tissue Engineering, 6th-9th, June, 2002, Genoa, Italy.
  • Chairman, Session of Biomaterials, Biomechanics, Soft Tissues, 1st Biennial Meeting of the European Tissue Engineering Society, 7th-10th, Nov., 2001, Freiburg, Germany

Invited/Keynote Lecturers at International Conferences (Selected):

• Models of growth and residual stress in biology workshop (2nd OxMOS workshop), Oxford University, 13th March, 2007
• Annual meeting of British Society of Rheology (BSR),University of Manchester, 11th-12th , December, 2006
• Invited Lecture, International Conference on New Trends in Biomechanical Modelling: from Molecular Statistics to Continuum Mechanics, Castro Urdiales, Spain, 25th -29th , September, 2006
• Keynote Lecture, 2nd International Nano-/Micro-technology Conference, Hsinchu, Taiwan, 29th -31th , March, 2006
• Italy-Korea-Singapore workshop on Mechatronics in Medicine and Biology (IEEE), Singapore, 12th, Feb., 2003

Invited Talks at Departmental Seminars (Selected):

• Deptartment of Engineering, Cambridge University, will be on 1st June, 2007
• Dept. of Mechanical Eng., Brunel University, 7th/ Dec./2006
• Dept.of Engineering, Leicester University, 8th/Oct./2006
• Dept. Eng. Materials, University of Sheffield, May/2005
• Dept. Applied Mathematics, University of Nottingham, Feb./2004
• Dept. of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK, Nov./2000
• Center for Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Jul./1997
• Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, USA, Oct./1995.

Memberships:

• Senior Member (2004)/Member (1997), Society for Biological Eng., AIChE
• Fellow, Institute of Nanotechnology (from 2008)
• Fellow, The Royal Society of Medicine (from 2006)