SoftBioX · Personal research website
Lei Wu 伍磊
Research Associate · University of Bristol
From soft material mechanics to robotic and biomedical systems.
I study how material composition, structure and interfaces govern deformation, actuation and interaction with biological tissues.
SoftLab · Bristol Robotics Laboratory
About
Soft-matter mechanics for robotic and biomedical systems
I am a Research Associate in the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology at the University of Bristol, based in SoftLab at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory and working with Professor Jonathan Rossiter.
My research combines solid mechanics, polymer chemistry, robotics and biomedical engineering. My early work focused on hydrogel composites and dielectric elastomers. During my PhD at UCL, I developed photoresponsive polyurethane systems and nanofibre scaffolds for soft and biohybrid actuation. Subsequent medical-engineering research connected these material capabilities with soft-device fabrication and evaluation.
At Bristol, I develop highly entangled hydrogels, artificial muscles and tissue-mimetic systems. I investigate how composition, architecture and interfaces determine mechanical behaviour, and how those relationships can guide reliable actuation and biomedical device design.
SoftBioX is my personal research website, bringing together my research interests, publications and academic background.
Research
Three connected research directions
My approach links a physical question to a material or structural strategy, then tests the connection through experiments and device demonstrations.
01 · Materials & mechanicsSoft materials and interfaces
How can soft materials sustain large deformation while retaining strength and reliable interfaces?
I study hydrogels, elastomers and their composites, connecting material architecture with mechanical behaviour, bonding and cyclic durability.
02 · ActuationSoft and biohybrid robotics
How can material response and living muscle generate controlled motion?
My work explores soft hydraulic actuators, photoresponsive polymers and engineered skeletal muscle systems, linking structure and stimulus to actuation.
03 · Biomedical engineeringDevices and tissue interaction
How can soft systems reproduce or interact with the mechanics of biological tissues?
I work on compliant medical devices and tissue models, with an interest in quantifying the relationship between material properties, anatomical structure and device performance.
Selected work
Research highlights
Selected studies in hydrogel actuation, biohybrid systems and biomedical soft robotics.
Hydrogels · IEEE RoboSoft 2026
Printed hydrogels for hydraulic actuation
Using highly entangled hydrogels and 3D printing to develop soft hydraulic actuators, connecting material mechanics with force generation and response.
Read the actuator study ↗
Biohybrids · Interface Focus 2026
Responsive fibres and living muscle
Combining photoresponsive elastomer nanofibres with skeletal muscle to investigate how an engineered material environment can support biohybrid actuation.
Read the biohybrid study ↗
Medical devices · Advanced Functional Materials
Programmable materials for a laryngeal stent
Developing an interpenetrating elastomer network composite for a bespoke paediatric laryngeal stent, linking material design with a specific reconstructive need.
Read the stent study ↗
Medical robotics · IEEE RoboSoft 2026
Soft robotic support and simulation
A soft robotic concept and simulator for studying female stress urinary incontinence, using a controlled experimental platform to investigate device function.
Read the simulator study ↗
Publications
Journal articles and conference papers, listed by publication year. Author lists are abbreviated where indicated; follow the title to the publisher’s record.
2026
- Naghavi Zadeh, M.; Wu, L.; et al.An implantable soft robotic concept and simulator for female stress urinary incontinence treatmentIEEE RoboSoft · 2026 · Conference
- Wu, L.; Chen, Y.; Yue, T.; He, L.; Rossiter, J.3D-Printed highly entangled hydrogels for strong, fast and fatigue-resistant soft hydraulic actuatorsIEEE RoboSoft · 2026 · Conference
- Wu, L.; Huang, X.; et al.Dual-photoresponsive elastomer nanofibres enhanced myofibre hybrid for skeletal muscle actuationInterface Focus · 2026 · Journal
- Li, Z.; Wu, L.; Rossiter, J.Stretchable and conductive PAAm@PPy hydrogels with low hysteresis for strain sensingInterface Focus · 2026 · Journal
- Durkin, N.; et al. (including Wu, L.)Functional integration of an autologous engineered esophagus in a large-animal modelNature Biotechnology · 2026 · Journal
- Zhao, S.; Wu, L.; et al.A digitally programmable 3D microenvironment directs satellite cell functionBiomaterials · 2026 · JournalFirst published online in 2025.
- Maughan, E. F.; Wu, L.; et al.A Bespoke Programmable Interpenetrating Elastomer Network Composite Laryngeal Stent for Expedited Paediatric Laryngotracheal ReconstructionAdvanced Functional Materials · 2026 · JournalFirst published online in 2025.
- Gabrie, J.; Lee, C.; Wu, L.; et al.Systematic Review: Sterilization Techniques for Emerging Soft Robotics Used in Health Care ApplicationsSoft Robotics · 2026 · ReviewVolume 13(4), 543–554. First published online in 2025.
2025
- Chang, J.; et al. (including Wu, L.)Piezoelectric nanofiber–based intelligent hearing systemScience Advances · 2025 · Journal
2024
- Wu, L.; Huang, X.; et al.Tunable Light-Responsive Polyurethane-urea Elastomer Driven by Photochemical and Photothermal Coupling MechanismACS Applied Materials & Interfaces · 2024 · Journal
- Shigeta, Y.; et al. (including Wu, L.)Stomach engineering: region-specific characterization of the decellularized porcine stomachPediatric Surgery International · 2024 · JournalFirst published online in 2023.
2023
- Zhao, S.; Chen, J.; Wu, L.; et al.Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Tissue-Engineered Skeletal MusclesInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2023 · Journal
- Cheesbrough, A.; Harley, P.; Riccio, F.; Wu, L.; Song, W.; Lieberam, I.A scalable human iPSC-based neuromuscular disease model on suspended biobased elastomer nanofiber scaffoldsBiofabrication · 2023 · Journal
2020
- Yiming, B.; Wu, L.; et al.Highly Stretchable Bilayer Lattice Structures That Elongate via In-Plane DeformationAdvanced Functional Materials · 2020 · Journal
2019
- Yin, T.; Wu, L.; et al.Ultrastretchable and conductive core-sheath hydrogel fibers with multifunctionalityJournal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics · 2019 · Journal
- Hu, X.; Nian, G.; Liang, X.; Wu, L.; et al.Adhesive Tough Magnetic Hydrogels with High Fe3O4 ContentACS Applied Materials & Interfaces · 2019 · Journal
2018
- Wu, L.; Mao, G.; Nian, G.; Xiang, Y.; Qian, J.; Qu, S.Mechanical characterization and modeling of sponge-reinforced hydrogel composites under compressionSoft Matter · 2018 · Journal
- Mao, G.; Wu, L.; Fu, Y.; Liu, J.; Qu, S.Voltage-controlled radial wrinkles of a trumpet-like dielectric elastomer structureAIP Advances · 2018 · Journal
- Mao, G.; Wu, L.; et al.Design and Characterization of a Soft Dielectric Elastomer Peristaltic Pump Driven by Electromechanical LoadIEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics · 2018 · Journal
2017
- Mao, G.; Wu, L.; Liang, X.; Qu, S.Morphology of voltage-triggered ordered wrinkles of a dielectric elastomer sheetJournal of Applied Mechanics · 2017 · Journal
Background
Research experience and education
Research appointments
- University of Bristol
- Research Associate · April 2024–present
School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology; SoftLab, Bristol Robotics Laboratory.
Working with Professor Jonathan Rossiter.
- University College London
- Research Fellow in Medical Engineering · September 2023–April 2024
Research Assistant in Medical Engineering · March–September 2023
Wellcome-funded research on an intratracheal valve for intractable aspiration.
- Hokkaido University
- Research internship · September 2018–January 2019
Hydrogel composites with Professor Jian Ping Gong.
Education
- University College London
- PhD in Biomaterials and Medical Engineering · September 2019–September 2023
Thesis: Photo-responsive Polyurethane for Soft Biohybrid Actuators.
Supervisor: Professor Wenhui Song.
- Zhejiang University
- Master’s degree in Solid Mechanics · September 2016–June 2019
Research on the mechanics and applications of intelligent soft materials.
Supervisor: Professor Shaoxing Qu.
- Dalian University of Technology
- BEng in Engineering Mechanics · September 2012–June 2016
Research programmes
At Bristol, I contributed as a researcher to EPSRC emPOWER from April 2024 to February 2026 and have worked within the EPSRC VIVO Hub since March 2026. My earlier UCL research was supported through EPSRC SoRo for Health and Wellcome-funded medical engineering.
Collaboration and doctoral supervision
I co-supervise doctoral researcher Yige Chen alongside Professors Jonathan Rossiter and James Armstrong, providing guidance on biomaterials and biohybrid robotics. My collaborative work connects material fabrication and mechanical characterisation with robotic design and biomedical evaluation.
Experimental and computational expertise
Polymer and hydrogel fabrication; electrospinning; DLP and 3D printing; mechanical and actuator characterisation; material–cell integration; and finite-element modelling. I use these methods to connect material mechanisms with measurable device function.
Honours & scholarships
Awards and recognition
University College London · 2019–2022
Fully funded PhD scholarship
Awarded the UCL Graduate Research Scholarship (GRS) and UCL Overseas Research Scholarship (ORS) to support my doctoral research in biomaterials and medical engineering.
Other honours
- National Scholarship for Postgraduates
- China · 2018
- Lu’s International Exchange Fund Scholarship for Graduate Education
- Zhejiang University · 2018
- China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) Scholarship
- 2018
- Excellent Graduate
- Dalian University of Technology · 2016