Dr Khoon Lim, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Senior Research Fellow | Sir Charles Hercus Fellow

BE Chem Eng (Hons1, UNSW), ME Biomed Eng (UNSW), PhD Biomed Eng (UNSW)

Background and research interests

Dr Khoon Lim is a biomedical engineer with specialization in polymer chemistry (PhD awarded 2014). His research focus is on adopting a class of polymers known as hydrogels as tissue engineering matrices for a variety of applications. His research technology platform involves photo-polymerizable hydrogel bioinks for 3D bioprinting of functional tissues and also delivery of bioactive molecules to promote tissue regeneration. In the last 5 years of his career, he has been awarded a total of >$1.5M research grant funding ($1.2M as PI), including the prestigious Emerging Researcher First Grant and Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship, both from the Health Research Council of New Zealand, and also a MARSDEN Fast Start Grant from the Royal Society of New Zealand. His research has also generated one full utility patent now filed in Canada, China, New Zealand, Australia, America, Europe, South Korea, where he’s the lead inventor. He is also involved in a number of collaborative projects involving national and international collaborators (Germany, Netherlands, Australia, China and Scotland). His research projects include:

Developing new bioinks for 3D Bioprinting of functional tissues
Hydrogels for smart delivery of growth factors to promote bone vascularisation
Engineering 3D cancer models for high-throughput drug screening
Delivery of brain derived growth factor for improved post-stroke recovery
Engineering silk as tissue engineering matrices.

Roles

Associate Investigator, Centre of Research Excellence in Medical Technologies
Affiliate Investigator, Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Diversity

Professional affiliations

Executive Committee member – Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE)
Editorial Board member – Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express (IOP Science)

Awards and distinctions

2018 – International Society of Biofabrication – Young Investigator Award
2017 – IOP Publishing – Outstanding Reviewer Award (Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express) *only 12 recipients worldwide
2017 – Best Early Career Researcher Oral Presentation – 25th Australasian Society of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Conference
2015 – Nominated for best PhD thesis award (UNSW Malcolm Chaikin Prize)
2013 – IEEE Technologies of the Future – Competition and Exhibition, First Place (Chemical Processes and Devices)
2012 – University of New South Wales – Dean’s Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research, Runner up (Major Research Area – Health)
2009 – Australian Postgraduate Award
2009 – University of New South Wales – Engineering Research Award

Student supervision

PhD Candidate: Christina Gee
Supervisors: Professor Warwick Duncan, Associate Professor Dawn Coates, Associate Professor Neil Waddell, Dr Khoon Lim
Topic: Bovine-derived lactoferrin in a degradable PVA-tyramine hydrogel for oral bone regeneration in a tooth socket model

PhD Candidate: Ellison Aldrich
Supervisors: Associate Professor Tim Woodfield, Dr Khoon Lim, Professor Gary Hooper
Topic: Development and in vivo Evaluation of Advanced 3D Bioassembled Allogeneic Stem Cell Constructs for Cartilage Repair

PhD Candidate: Bram Soliman
Supervisors: Dr Khoon Lim, Dr Gabriella Lindberg and Associate Professor Tim Woodfield
Topic: Spatial and Temporal Control over Tissue-specific Hydrogel Platforms for Osteochondral Tissue Engineering and Biofabrication

PhD Candidate: Pau Atienza Roca
Supervisors: Dr Khoon Lim and Associate Professor Tim Woodfield
Topic: Growth Factor Delivery System for Bone Regeneration

PhD Candidate: Cesar Alcala Orozco
Supervisors: Associate Professor Tim Woodfield, Dr Isha Mutreja, Dr Khoon Lim and Professor Gary Hooper
Topic: 3D printing of functional nano-composite scaffolds for bone regeneration

PhD Candidate: Jessika Wise
Supervisors: Dr Elisabeth Phillips, Associate Professor Tim Woodfield, Dr Khoon Lim and Dr Margaret Currie
Topic: 3D breast tumour models for drug discovery

PhD Candidate: Kenzie Baer
Supervisors: Associate Professor Tim Woodfield, Dr Khoon Lim and Prof Gary Hooper
Topic: Quantitative Spectral (MARS) CT Imaging of Cartilage and Bone Health

PhD Candidate: Jun Li
Supervisors: Associate Professor Tim Woodfield, Dr Khoon Lim and Prof Gary Hooper
Topic: Optimising the cell-implant interface of 3D printed titanium scaffolds

Completed students

Dr Gabriella Brown
Supervisors: Dr Tim Woodfield, Professor Gary Hooper and Dr Khoon Lim
Topic: Strategies for advanced and rapid cartilage tissue maturation using micro-environmental control.

Dr Naveen Mekhileri
Supervisors: Dr Tim Woodfield, Professor Gary Hooper, Dr Kenny Chitcholtan and Dr Khoon Lim
Topic: Integration and automation of a microtissue based system and its application in biofabrication

^ Top of page

Publications

Parrish, J., Lim, K., Zhang, B., Radisic, M., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2019). New frontiers for biofabrication and bioreactor design in microphysiological system development. Trends in Biotechnology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.04.009

Klotz, B. J., Oosterhoff, L. A., Utomo, L., Lim, K. S., Vallmajo-Martin, Q., Clevers, H., Woodfield, T. B. F., … Gawlitta, D. (2019). A versatile biosynthetic hydrogel platform for engineering of tissue analogues. Advanced Healthcare Materials. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201900979

Mutreja, I., Warring, S. L., Lim, K. S., Swadi, T., Clinch, K., Mason, J. M., … Chambers, S. T., … Gerth, M. L., … Woodfield, T. B. F. (2019). Biofilm inhibition via delivery of novel methylthioadenosine nucleosidase inhibitors from PVA-tyramine hydrogels while supporting mesenchymal stromal cell viability. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 5(2), 748-758. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b01141

Lim, K. S., Baptista, M., Moon, S., Woodfield, T. B. F., & Rnjak-Kovacina, J. (2019). Microchannels in development, survival, and vascularisation of tissue analogues for regenerative medicine. Trends in Biotechnology. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2019.04.004

Lim, K. S., Klotz, B. J., Lindberg, G. C. J., Melchels, F. P. W., Hooper, G. J., Malda, J., … Woodfield, T. B. F. (2019). Visible light cross-linking of gelatin hydrogels offers an enhanced cell microenvironment with improved light penetration depth. Macromolecular Bioscience, 19(6), 1900098. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201900098

Chapter in Book - Research
Journal - Research Article
Journal - Research Other
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Chapter in Book - Research

Atienza Roca, P., Cui, X., Hooper, G. J., Woodfield, T. B. F., Lim, K. S., & Khang, G. (2018). Growth factor delivery systems for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. In H. J. Chun, C. H. Park & I. K. Kwon (Eds.), Advances in experimental medicine and biology: (Vol. 1078) Cutting-edge enabling technologies for regenerative medicine. (pp. 245-269). Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-0950-2_13

Lim, K. S., Martens, P., & Poole-Warren, L. (2018). Biosynthetic hydrogels for cell encapsulation. In J. Li, Y. Osada & J. Cooper-White (Eds.), Functional hydrogels as biomaterials. (pp. 1-29). Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-662-57511-6_1

Woodfield, T., Lim, K., Morouço, P., Levato, R., Malda, J., & Melchels, F. (2017). Biofabrication in tissue engineering. In P. Ducheyne, D. W. Grainger, K. E. Healy, D. W. Hutmacher & C. J. Kirkpatrick (Eds.), Comprehensive biomaterials II: (Vol. 5) Tissue Engineering and regenerative medicine: Fundamentals. (2nd ed.) (pp. 236-266). Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-803581-8.10221-8

Ramaswamy, Y., Lim, K. S., Zreiqat, H., & Lu, Z. (2016). Stem cells for bone regeneration: Role of trophic factors. In A. Zorzi (Ed.), Advanced techniques in bone regeneration. (pp. 357-374). Rijeka, Croatia: Intech. doi: 10.5772/63357

^ Top of page

Journal - Research Article

Soltani, S., Nogaro, M. C., Rougelot, C., Newell, N., Lim, K., & Kieser, D. C. (2019). Spontaneous spinal epidural haematomas in children. European Spine Journal. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s00586-019-05975-6

Cidonio, G., Alcala-Orozco, C. R., Lim, K. S., Glinka, M., Mutreja, I., Kim, Y.-H., … Woodfield, T. B. F., & Oreffo, R. O. C. (2019). Osteogenic and angiogenic tissue formation in high fidelity nanocomposite Laponite-gelatin bioinks. Biofabrication, 11, 035027. doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/ab19fd

Lindberg, G. C. J., Longoni, A., Lim, K. S., Rosenberg, A. J., Hooper, G. J., Gawlitta, D., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2019). Intact vitreous humor as a potential extracellular matrix hydrogel for cartilage tissue engineering applications. Acta Biomaterialia, 85, 117-130. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.12.022

Mekhileri, N. V., Lim, K. S., Brown, G. C. J., Mutreja, I., Schon, B. S., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2018). Automated 3D bioassembly of micro-tissues for biofabrication of hybrid tissue engineered constructs. Biofabrication, 10(2). doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/aa9ef1

Klotz, B. J., Lim, K. S., Chang, Y. X., Soliman, B. G., Pennings, I., Melchels, F. P. W., Woodfield, T. B. F., … Gawlitta, D. (2018). Engineers of a complex bone tissue model with endothelialised channels and capillary-like networks. European Cells & Materials, 35, 335-349. doi: 10.22203/eCM.v035a23

Parrish, J., Lim, K. S., Baer, K., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2018). A 96-well microplate bioreactor platform supporting individual dual perfusion and high-throughput assessment of simple or biofabricated 3D tissue models. Lab on a Chip, (18), 2757-2775. doi: 10.1039/c8lc00485d

Lim, K. S., Levato, R., Costa, P. F., Castilho, M. D., Alcala-Orozco, C. R., van Dorenmalen, K. M. A., … Hooper, G. J., … Woodfield, T. B. F. (2018). Bio-resin for high resolution lithography-based biofabrication of complex cell laden constructs. Biofabrication, 10, 034101. doi: 10.1088/1758-5090/aac00c

Parker, J. D., Lim, K. S., Kieser, D. C., Woodfield, T. B. F., & Hooper, G. J. (2018). Is tranexamic acid toxic to articular cartilage when administered topically? What is the safe dose? Bone & Joint Journal, 100-B(3), 404-412. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.100B3.BJJ-2017-1135.R1

Bertlein, S., Brown, G., Lim, K. S., Jungst, T., Boeck, T., Blunk, T., … Hooper, G. J., Woodfield, T. B. F., & Groll, J. (2017). Thiol-ene clickable gelatin: A platform bioink for multiple 3D biofabrication technologies. Advanced Materials, 29(44), 1703404. doi: 10.1002/adma.201703404

Brown, G. C. J., Lim, K. S., Farrugia, B. L., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2017). Covalent incorporation of heparin improves chondrogenesis in photocurable gelatin-methacryloyl hydrogels. Macromolecular Bioscience, 17(12), 1700158. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201700158

Roberts, J. J., Naudiyal, P., Lim, K. S., Poole-Warren, L. A., & Martens, P. J. (2016). A comparative study of enzyme initiators for crosslinking phenol-functionalized hydrogels for cell encapsulation. Biomaterials Research, 20, 30. doi: 10.1186/s40824-016-0077-z

Lim, K. S., Schon, B. S., Mekhileri, N. V., Brown, G. C. J., Chia, C. M., Prabakar, S., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2016). New visible-light photoinitiating system for improved print fidelity in gelatin-based bioinks. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 2, 1752-1762. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00149

Lim, K. S., Roberts, J. J., Alves, M.-H., Poole-Warren, L. A., & Martens, P. J. (2015). Understanding and tailoring the degradation of PVA-tyramine hydrogels. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 132(26), 42142. doi: 10.1002/app.42142

Lim, K. S., Ramaswamy, Y., Roberts, J. J., Alves, M.-H., Poole-Warren, L. A., & Martens, P. J. (2015). Promoting cell survival and proliferation in degradable poly(vinyl alcohol)-tyramine hydrogels. Macromolecular Bioscience, 15(10), 1423-1432. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201500121

Cheong, G. L. M., Lim, K. S., Jakubowicz, A., Martens, P. J., Poole-Warren, L. A., & Green, R. A. (2014). Conductive hydrogels with tailored bioactivity for implantable electrode coatings. Acta Biomaterialia, 10(3), 1216-1226. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2013.12.032

Peterson, M. B., Le-Masurier, S. P., Lim, K., Hook, J. M., Martens, P., & Granville, A. M. (2014). Incorporation of 5-hydroxyindazole into the self-polymerization of dopamine for novel polymer synthesis. Macromolecular Rapid Communications, 35(3), 291-297. doi: 10.1002/marc.201300746

Lim, K. S., Alves, M. H., Poole-Warren, L. A., & Martens, P. J. (2013). Covalent incorporation of non-chemically modified gelatin into degradable PVA-tyramine hydrogels. Biomaterials, 34(29), 7097-7105. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.06.005

Lim, K. S., Kundu, J., Reeves, A., Poole-Warren, L. A., Kundu, S. C., & Martens, P. J. (2012). The influence of silkworm species on cellular interactions with novel PVA/silk sericin hydrogels. Macromolecular Bioscience, 12(3), 322-332. doi: 10.1002/mabi.201100292

^ Top of page

Journal - Research Other

Lim, K. S., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2015). Silk hydrogels for tissue engineering. Scripta-Ingenia, December(5), 3-7.

^ Top of page

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Aregueta-Robles, U. A., Lim, K. S., Martens, P. J., Lovell, N. H., Poole-Warren, L. A., & Green, R. (2015). Producing 3D neuronal networks in hydrogels for living bionic device interfaces. Proceedings of the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS) 37th Annual International Conference. (pp. 2600-2603). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/embc.2015.7318924

Lim, K. S., Ramaswamy, Y., Alves, M.-H., Green, R. A., Poole-Warren, L. A., & Martens, P. J. (2015). Optimization of crosslinking parameters for biosynthetic poly(vinyl-alcohol)-tyramine hydrogels. In D. A. Jaffray (Ed.), World Congress on Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (IFMBE Proceedings, Vol. 51). (pp. 284-287). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International. doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-19387-8_69

Green, R. A., Lim, K. S., Henderson, W. C., Hassarati, R. T., Martens, P. J., Lovell, N. H., & Poole-Warren, L. A. (2013). Living electrodes: Tissue engineering in the neural interface. Proceedings of the 35th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBS). (pp. 6957-6960). IEEE. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2013.6611158

^ Top of page

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Wise, J., Lim, K., Morrin, H., Woodfield, T., Currie, M., & Phillips, E. (2018). Engineering a 3D model system for studying breast cancer-adipocyte interactions within the tumour microenvironment. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Oncology (NZSO) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.nzsoncology.org.nz/

Lim, K. S., Atienza Roca, P., Anten, J., & Woodfield, T. (2018). Covalent incorporation and smart release of growth factors from photo-polymerisable PVA-Tyramine hydrogels. Proceedings of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE) 26th Annual Conference. (pp. 55). Retrieved from https://www.asbte.org

Lim, K., & Woodfield, T. (2018). Development of a visible light photoinitiating system for multiple biofabrication platforms. Proceedings of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE) 26th Annual Conference. (pp. 19). Retrieved from https://www.asbte.org

Alcala Orozco, C., Mutreja, I., Lim, K., Hooper, G., & Woodfield, T. (2018). Strontium-based nanocomposite bioinks for improved osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stromal cells. Proceedings of the Australasian Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (ASBTE) 26th Annual Conference. (pp. 53). Retrieved from https://www.asbte.org

Lim, K., & Woodfield, T. (2017). New visible light initiating system for 3D bioprinting in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Proceedings of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European Chapter Meeting (TERMIS-EU). 0079. Retrieved from http://www.ecmconferences.org

Klotz, B., Lim, K., Vallmajó Martin, Q., Pennings, I., Rosenberg, T., Woodfield, T., … Gawlitta, D. (2017). Development of a novel bio-synthetic gelatin-poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogel for pre-vascularized osteogenically differentiated tissue analogues with enhanced structural stability. Proceedings of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European Chapter Meeting (TERMIS-EU). 0194. Retrieved from http://www.ecmconferences.org

Bertlein, S., Brown, G. C., Lim, K. S., Juengst, T., Boeck, T., Blunk, T., … Woodfield, T., & Groll, J. (2017). Allyl glycidyl ether modified gelatin as a versatile bioink platform for biofabrication of tissue engineered constructs. Proceedings of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European Chapter Meeting (TERMIS-EU). 0195. Retrieved from http://www.ecmconferences.org

Phillips, E., Lim, K., Woodfield, T., & Currie, M. J. (2017). Towards 3D culture models for the investigation of adipocyte/tumour interaction. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1459), (pp. 79). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Brown, G., Soliman, B., Bertlein, S., Groll, J., Lim, K., & Woodfield, T. (2017). Photo-curable thiol-ene gelatin based hydrogel bio-inks for 3D-biofabrication of cartilage. Proceedings of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society European Chapter Meeting (TERMIS-EU). 0078. Retrieved from http://www.ecmconferences.org

Lim, K., Klotz, B., Brown, G., Melchels, F., Gawlitta, D., & Woodfield, T. (2016). Visible light polymerised hydrogels with improved cell survival and metabolic activity. Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology, (WBC2016). doi: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.01746

Lim, K. S., Levato, R., Costa, P. F., Castilho, M., van Dorenmalen, K., Melchels, F. P. W., … Woodfield, T. B. F. (2016). Biofunctional and complex hydrogel architectures fabricated via visible light photo-crosslinking with digital light processing. European Cells & Materials, 31(Suppl. 1), (pp. 185). [Abstract]

Lim, K. S., Schon, B. S., Mekhileri, N. V., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2016). 3D bioprinting of gelatin constructs with enhanced shape fidelity and cell viability via visible light photo-polymerization. Proceedings of the International Conference on Biofabrication. OP-37. Retrieved from http://www.biofabrication2016.org/

Lim, K., Levato, R., Costa, P., Castilho, M., Dorenmalen, K., Melchels, F., … Woodfield, T. (2016). Biofabrication of hydrogel based "bio resins" via high resolution digital light processing. Proceedings of the 10th World Biomaterials Congress (WBC). (pp. 2691). Retrieved from http://www.wbc2016.org/

Brown, G. C., Lim, K. S., Farrugia, B. L., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. (2016). Fabrication of gelatin-heparin hydrogels with enhanced chondrogenic differentiation and tunable degradation. Frontiers in Bioengineering & Biotechnology, (WBC2016). doi: 10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.00613

Lim, K. S., Levato, R., Costa, P. F., Castilho, M. D., van Dorenmalen, K., Melchels, F. P. W., … Woodfield, T. B. F. (2016). Novel bio-resin for 3D bioprinting of complex cell-laden constructs with high spatial resolution via visible light photo-polymerisation and digital light processing. Proceedings of the International Conference on Biofabrication. OP-39. Retrieved from http://www.biofabrication2016.org/

Lim, K. S., Brown, G. C., Mekhileri, N. V., Schon, B. S., Hooper, G. J., & Woodfield, T. B. (2015). The effect of oxygen inhibition in biofabrication of photocrosslinked hydrogels. Tissue Engineering Part A, 21(Suppl. 1), (pp. S-32). doi: 10.1089/ten.tea.2015.5000.abstracts

Brown, G., Lim, K., Woodfield, T., & Hooper, G. (2015). Strategies for temporal control of biophysical signals in biomimetic hydrogels for tissue engineering. Tissue Engineering Part A, 21(Suppl. 1), (pp. S-371-S-372). doi: 10.1089/ten.tea.2015.5000.abstracts

Lindberg, G. C. J., Lim, K. S., & Woodfield, T. B. F. (2014). Strategy for fabricating cell-laden ECM derived hydrogels in cartilage tissue engineering. Proceedings of the Alliance for Design and Application in Tissue Engineering 5th Tissue Engineering Symposium: Tissue Engineering for Organ Regeneration. (pp. 33-34). ADATE. Retrieved from http://web.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/ADATE/TESymposium2014.html

Lim, K., Alves, M.-H., Poole-Warren, L., & Martens, P. (2014). Improving cell survival in degradable biosynthetic PVA-Tyramine hydrogels: Incorporation of antioxidants. Proceedings of the Alliance for Design and Application in Tissue Engineering 5th Tissue Engineering Symposium: Tissue Engineering for Organ Regeneration. (pp. 49-50). ADATE. Retrieved from http://web.aeromech.usyd.edu.au/ADATE/TESymposium2014.html

More publications...

Dr Khoon Lim

Background and research interests

Roles

Professional affiliations

Awards and distinctions

Student supervision

Completed students

Publications

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Journal - Research Other

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Affiliations