Musculoskeletal Disease Research | Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis | Orthopaedics
I am a post-doctoral researcher at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), specializing in musculoskeletal diseases with a particular focus on post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) and joint biology.
My research integrates basic science and clinical approaches to elucidate novel pathogenic mechanisms of PTOA, identify therapeutic targets, and translate findings into clinical applications. I employ a comprehensive methodology including in vitro cell experiments, animal models, bioinformatics, and clinical studies.
My work spans synovial lymphatic dysfunction, ACL reconstruction and graft healing, intra-articular drug delivery, macrophage/immune modulation, and the application of large language models in orthopaedic patient education. I also have broad clinical research experience covering fracture management, sports medicine, and joint arthroplasty.
Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Continuing research on musculoskeletal diseases, PTOA pathogenesis, synovial lymphatic function, ACL reconstruction biology, and intra-articular drug delivery at one of Asia's premier research institutions.
Faculty of Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Doctoral research focused on post-traumatic osteoarthritis pathogenesis, investigating synovial lymphatic drainage dysfunction, ACL graft healing (doxycycline model), and disease-modifying treatment strategies.
Department of Orthopaedics
Sun Yat-sen University
Graduate training in orthopaedic surgery with research components, including work on proximal femoral nail extraction techniques, spinal surgery corridors, and osteosarcoma immune prognosis.
School of Clinical Medicine
Southern Medical University
Comprehensive medical training covering clinical medicine fundamentals, anatomy, physiology, and clinical practice rotations across major medical specialties.
My research focuses on musculoskeletal diseases, particularly post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) pathogenesis, therapeutic targets, and clinical translation.
Elucidating novel PTOA pathogenic mechanisms following joint trauma including ACL injury, chondrocyte death pathways, and cartilage–synovium crosstalk.
Investigating early-stage impaired synovial lymphatic drainage in PTOA and its role in joint inflammation, using non-invasive ACL rupture models.
Exploring biological modulations to facilitate graft healing post-ACLR, including doxycycline therapy and neuromuscular recovery assessment.
Studying macrophage polarization, adaptive immunity, and regulatory T-cell targeted therapy as strategies to modulate OA progression.
Developing intra-articular sustained-release systems (e.g., pirfenidone-loaded biomaterials) as disease-modifying treatments for early OA.
Evaluating large language models (ChatGPT, Perplexity) for answering common patient questions about osteoarthritis and sport health science.
Full peer-reviewed publication list (26 papers). Cao M / Cao, Mingde highlighted in each entry.
Blockage of osteopontin‐integrin β3 signaling in infrapatellar fat pad attenuates osteoarthritis in mice
Advanced Science · 10(22):2300897
Associations of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity With Sleep Disorders in Patients With Osteoarthritis: The Mediating Role of Inflammatory Biomarkers
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Open · 100756
GsMTx4-loaded GelMA promotes tendon regeneration and suppresses heterotopic ossification via the Apelin signaling pathway
Biomaterials · 324:123507
Large language models' performances regarding common patient questions about osteoarthritis: A comparative analysis of ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4.0, and perplexity
Journal of Sport and Health Science · 14:101016
Superior Capsule Reconstruction Graft Selection: The Influence of Biological Properties of Grafts on Healing and Re-Tearing
Bioengineering · 12(9):942
Adaptive immunity in osteoarthritis: Mechanisms and opportunities for regulatory T-cell–targeted therapy
Pharmacological Research · 108041
Robotic‐assisted burr preparation significantly improves cement penetration but not immediate fixation strength in total knee arthroplasty
Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy
Five Weeks of Whole-body Vibration in Prehabilitation for Knee Function Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Single-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial
Sports Medicine-Open · 11(1):1–12
Serum vitamin D insufficiency is correlated with quadriceps neuromuscular functions in patients with anterior cruciate ligament injury: A preliminary study
Asia-Pacific Journal of Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation and Technology · 35:76–80
Intra-articular sustained-release of pirfenidone as a disease-modifying treatment for early osteoarthritis
Bioactive Materials · 39:255–272
The emerging role of Piezo1 in the musculoskeletal system and disease
Theranostics · 14(10):3963
Doxycycline Promotes Graft Healing and Attenuates Posttraumatic Osteoarthritis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in a Rat Model
The American Journal of Sports Medicine · 51(2):461–475
Comparative short-term effectiveness of non-surgical treatments for insertional Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders · 24(1):102
EARLY-STAGE IMPAIRED SYNOVIAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE FUNCTION IN A NONINVASIVE ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURE MICE MODEL
Orthopaedic Proceedings · 105(SUPP_9):45–45
What is the optimal dose of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells treatment for knee osteoarthritis? A conventional and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Stem Cell Research & Therapy · 14(1):245
Role of synovial lymphatic function in osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
Effects of deficits in the neuromuscular and mechanical properties of the quadriceps and hamstrings on single-leg hop performance and dynamic knee stability in patients after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine · 10(1):23259671211063893
Biological modulations to facilitate graft healing in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), when and where to apply? A systematic review
Journal of Orthopaedic Translation · 30:51–60
Letter to the Editor regarding Anil et al: "Surgical treatment for long head of the biceps tendinopathy: a network meta-analysis"
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery · 30(1):e34–e35
DALYs for breast cancer in China, 2000–2050: trend analysis and prediction based on GBD 2019
Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi · 42(12):2156–2163
A succinct technique for the extraction of the proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) after unlocking failure: a case report
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research · 15:1–4
A technique for the extraction of the Proximal Femoral Nail Anti-rotation (PFNA) after unlocking failure
Conference Proceedings · 2020
The OLIF working corridor based on magnetic resonance imaging: a retrospective research
Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research · 15:1–8
Identification and development of a novel 4-gene immune-related signature to predict osteosarcoma prognosis
Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences · 7:608368
A case study on China's carbon emission trading system: experiences and recommendations
Asia Pacific Journal of Environmental Law · 23(2):106–135
For a complete and up-to-date publication list, please visit Google Scholar or ResearchGate.
Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics – Competitive fellowship for outstanding early-career orthopaedic researchers.
Research on mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) in post-traumatic osteoarthritis (HK$ 100,000).
Research on PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy in post-traumatic osteoarthritis (HK$ 100,000).
Full scholarship for doctoral studies in Orthopaedics at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
I welcome collaborations, discussions, and inquiries related to my research.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Faculty of Medicine
Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology
Prince of Wales Hospital
Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology
Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin
New Territories, Hong Kong SAR
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