Dr Ulises Aregueta Robles

Dr Ulises Aregueta Robles

Lecturer
Engineering
Biomedical Engineering

Dr. Ulises A. Aregueta Robles is an early-mid career researcher working at the School of Biomedical Engineering. Majored in Biomedical Engineering, with a Masters in Biotechnology and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Ulises leads the Tissue Engineering and Neuroprosthetics (TEN) Lab, which develops advanced in vitro human tissue models to support the testing, validation, and optimisation of medical devices and emerging biomedical technologies. Integrating hydrogel biomaterials, 3D bioprinting, microfluidics, and advanced biofabrication approaches, the lab engineers physiologically relevant tissue systems that replicate the complexity of native human tissues while reducing reliance on animal experimentation. A major research focus is the development of human cochlear and neural tissue models for evaluating neural prosthetic technologies, including cochlear implants and deep brain stimulation devices. The group’s interdisciplinary research spans tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, fibrosis modelling, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal tissue engineering, intelligent implant systems, and biomaterial-based wound healing therapies. Through collaborations with clinicians, engineers, academic institutions, and industry partners, including Cochlear Ltd., the TEN Lab aims to accelerate the translation of biomedical innovations into safer, more effective implantable technologies and regenerative therapies that improve patient outcomes.

Phone
+61-2- 9065 2010
Location
E26 Room 1001
  • Book Chapters | 2021
    Aregueta Robles U; Gelmi A; Tong W, 2021, 'Bioelectronics and Neural Interfaces', in Spicer C (ed.), The Chemistry of Inorganic Biomaterials, Royal Society of Chemistry, pp. 180 - 230, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/9781788019828-00180
  • Journal articles | 2026
    Sanhueza Ortega J; Shanmuganathan K; Poole-Warren L; Beier S; Aregueta Robles U, 2026, 'Physicochemical Reinforcement Unlocks Sterilization-Stable Anisotropic Hydrogels for Cell-Compatible Mock Arteries', Advanced Healthcare Materials, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adhm.202600010
    Journal articles | 2026
    Wan S; Esrafilzadeh D; Poole-Warren L; Kilian K; Robles UA, 2026, 'Poly-l-lysine integration in PVA hydrogels enables stable, bioactive matrices for motor neuron differentiation and neural network formation', Journal of Materials Chemistry B, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d5tb02475g
    Journal articles | 2025
    Azees AA; Thompson AC; Ruther P; Ajay EA; Zhou J; Aregueta Robles UA; Garrett DJ; Quigley A; Fallon JB; Richardson RT, 2025, 'Spatially precise activation of the mouse cochlea with a multi-channel hybrid cochlear implant', Journal of Neural Engineering, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/add091
    Journal articles | 2024
    Duan W; Robles UA; Poole-Warren L; Esrafilzadeh D, 2024, 'Bioelectronic Neural Interfaces: Improving Neuromodulation Through Organic Conductive Coatings', Advanced Science, 11, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/advs.202306275
    Journal articles | 2024
    Shah DD; Carter P; Shivdasani MN; Fong N; Duan W; Esrafilzadeh D; Poole-Warren LA; Aregueta Robles UA, 2024, 'Deciphering platinum dissolution in neural stimulation electrodes: Electrochemistry or biology?', Biomaterials, 309, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122575
    Journal articles | 2024
    Wan S; Aregueta Robles U; Poole-Warren L; Esrafilzadeh D, 2024, 'Advances in 3D tissue models for neural engineering: self-assembled versus engineered tissue models', Biomaterials Science, 12, pp. 3522 - 3549, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4bm00317a
    Journal articles | 2023
    Aregueta Robles UA; Bartlett-Tomasetig F; Poole-Warren LA, 2023, 'Growing human-scale scala tympani-like in vitro cell constructs', Biofabrication, 15, pp. 035014, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1758-5090/accfc0
    Journal articles | 2023
    Duan W; Poole-Warren L; Esrafilzadeh D; Robles UA, 2023, 'Effect of Hydrogel-based Model Fibrosis on Electrical Properties of Bioelectrodes', Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society EMBS, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/EMBC40787.2023.10340104
    Journal articles | 2023
    Shah DD; Garcia PM; Aregueta Robles UA; Poole-Warren LA, 2023, 'Validation of a platinum bioelectrode model for preclinical electrical and biological performance evaluation', Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society EMBS, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/EMBC40787.2023.10340761
    Journal articles | 2021
    Aregueta Robles UA; Martens PJ; Poole-Warren LA, 2021, 'Challenges and solutions for fabrication of three-dimensional cocultures of neural cell-loaded biomimetic constructs', Biointerphases, 16, pp. 011202, http://dx.doi.org/10.1116/6.0000700
    Journal articles | 2021
    Hyakumura T; Aregueta-Robles U; Duan W; Villalobos J; Adams WK; Poole-Warren L; Fallon JB; Aregueta Robles U, 2021, 'Improving Deep Brain Stimulation Electrode Performance in vivo Through Use of Conductive Hydrogel Coatings', Frontiers in Neuroscience, 15, pp. 761525, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.761525
    Journal articles | 2020
    Aregueta-Robles UA; Enke YL; Carter PM; Green RA; Poole-Warren LA; Aregueta Robles U, 2020, 'Subthreshold Electrical Stimulation for Controlling Protein-Mediated Impedance Increases in Platinum Cochlear Electrode', IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 67, pp. 3510 - 3520, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2020.2989754
    Journal articles | 2020
    Dalrymple AN; Huynh M; Robles UA; Marroquin JB; Lee CD; Petrossians A; Whalen JJ; Li D; Parkington HC; Forsythe JS; Green RA; Poole-Warren LA; Shepherd RK; Fallon JB; Aregueta Robles U, 2020, 'Electrochemical and mechanical performance of reduced graphene oxide, conductive hydrogel, and electrodeposited Pt-Ir coated electrodes: An active in vitro study', Journal of Neural Engineering, 17, pp. 016015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ab5163
    Journal articles | 2020
    Dalrymple AN; Robles UA; Huynh M; Nayagam BA; Green RA; Poole-Warren LA; Fallon JB; Shepherd RK; Aregueta Robles U, 2020, 'Electrochemical and biological performance of chronically stimulated conductive hydrogel electrodes', Journal of Neural Engineering, 17, pp. 026018, http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ab7cfc
    Journal articles | 2019
    Aregueta-Robles UA; Martens PJ; Poole-Warren LA; Green RA; Aregueta Robles U, 2019, 'Tissue engineered hydrogels supporting 3D neural networks', Acta Biomaterialia, 95, pp. 269 - 284, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2018.11.044
    Journal articles | 2019
    Cuttaz E; Goding J; Vallejo-Giraldo C; Aregueta-Robles U; Lovell N; Ghezzi D; Green RA, 2019, 'Conductive elastomer composites for fully polymeric, flexible bioelectronics', Biomaterials Science, 7, pp. 1372 - 1385, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c8bm01235k
    Journal articles | 2019
    Fadil Y; Dinh LNM; Yap MOY; Kuchel RP; Yao Y; Omura T; Aregueta-Robles UA; Song N; Huang S; Jasinski F; Thickett SC; Minami H; Agarwal V; Zetterlund PB; Aregueta Robles U, 2019, 'Ambient-Temperature Waterborne Polymer/rGO Nanocomposite Films: Effect of rGO Distribution on Electrical Conductivity', ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 11, pp. 48450 - 48458, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b19183
    Journal articles | 2018
    Aregueta-Robles U; Fajardo-Ramírez OR; Villela L; Gutiérrez-Uribe JA; Hernández-Hernandez J; López-Sánchez RDC; Scott SP; Serna-Saldívar S, 2018, 'Cytotoxic activity of a black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) extract and its flavonoid fraction in both in vitro and in vivo models of lymphoma', Revista De Investigacion Clinica, 70, pp. 32 - 39, http://dx.doi.org/10.24875/RIC.17002395
    Journal articles | 2018
    Aregueta-Robles UA; Martens PJ; Poole-Warren LA; Green RA; Aregueta Robles U, 2018, 'Tailoring 3D hydrogel systems for neuronal encapsulation in living electrodes', Journal of Polymer Science Part B Polymer Physics, 56, pp. 273 - 287, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/polb.24558
    Journal articles | 2018
    Goding JA; Gilmour AD; Aregueta-Robles UA; Hasan EA; Green RA, 2018, 'Living Bioelectronics: Strategies for Developing an Effective Long-Term Implant with Functional Neural Connections', Advanced Functional Materials, 28, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201702969
    Journal articles | 2017
    Barriga-Rivera A; Bareket L; Goding J; Aregueta-Robles UA; Suaning GJ; Aregueta Robles U, 2017, 'Visual prosthesis: Interfacing stimulating electrodes with retinal neurons to restore vision', Frontiers in Neuroscience, 11, pp. 620, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2017.00620
    Journal articles | 2017
    Goding J; Gilmour A; Robles UA; Poole-Warren L; Lovell N; Martens P; Green R; Aregueta Robles U, 2017, 'A living electrode construct for incorporation of cells into bionic devices', MRS Communications, 7, pp. 487 - 495, http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/mrc.2017.44
    Journal articles | 2014
    Aregueta-Robles UA; Woolley AJ; Poole-Warren LA; Lovell NH; Green RA; Aregueta Robles U, 2014, 'Organic electrode coatings for next-generation neural interfaces', Frontiers in Neuroengineering, 7, pp. 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fneng.2014.00015
  • Conference Papers | 2018
    Gilmour A; Goding J; Robles UA; Staples N; Byrnes-Preston P; Morley J; Lovell NH; Chew DJ; Green R, 2018, 'Stimulation of peripheral nerves using conductive hydrogel electrodes', in Conference Proceedings Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society Annual Conference, pp. 5475 - 5478, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2018.8513628
    Conference Papers | 2016
    Aregueta Robles U; Lim K; Martens P; Lovell N; Poole-Warren L; Green R, 2016, 'Tissue engineering cell-based bioelectronics', in Biomaterials in nerve regeneration, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Montréal, Canada, presented at 10th World Biomaterials Congress, Montréal, Canada, 17 May 2016 - 22 May 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/conf.FBIOE.2016.01.02811
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Aregueta-Robles UA; Lim KS; Martens PJ; Lovell NH; Poole-Warren LA; Green R, 2015, 'Producing 3D neuronal networks in hydrogels for living bionic device interfaces', in Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society EMBS, pp. 2600 - 2603, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2015.7318924
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Shi A; Shemesh J; Asadnia M; Robles UA; Green R; Yeoh GH; Warkiani ME, 2015, 'A novel microfluidic patterning device for neuron-glia co-culture', in Microtas 2015 19th International Conference on Miniaturized Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences, pp. 633 - 635

  • Development of advanced in vitro human tissue models for medical device testing and validation
  • Engineering physiologically relevant cochlear tissue models for cochlear implant research
  • Tissue engineering of fibrotic tissue models to study implant host responses
  • Design and fabrication of 3D bioprinted hydrogel tissue constructs
  • Development of temporal bone models for surgical training and cochlear electrode implantation studies
  • Engineering neural tissue structures using hydrogel biomaterials and stem cell-derived cells
  • Fabrication of tubular scaffolds for nerve and vascular tissue engineering applications
  • Development of cardiovascular tissue models for evaluating stent technologies
  • Engineering hydrogel-based tendon tissue scaffolds with physiologically relevant mechanical properties
  • Development of bioinks for advanced 3D bioprinting and tissue manufacturing applications
  • Creation of hydrogel-based microfluidic platforms for studying neuropathic pain mechanisms
  • Investigation of electrode degradation mechanisms in neural prosthetic devices
  • Development of electroactive and smart polymer coatings for implantable electrodes
  • Design of intelligent systems for monitoring and controlling electrode impedance in implantable devices
  • Development of biomaterial-based wound healing therapies for veterinary and agricultural applications

My Research Supervision

  • Cochlear implant research and auditory tissue models
  • In vitro tissue modelling
  • Fibrosis and implant host-response modelling
  • Microfluidic platforms for biomedical applications
  • Cardiovascular and tubular scaffold engineering

My Teaching

BIOM9310/BIOM2300: Biomaterials and cell technologies 

UNSW Bionic Heart Mentor