About - Pepgel

About pepgel

At PepGel, we drive advances in regenerative medicine built on next-generation synthetic peptide hydrogel technology.

Unlike conventional 2D cultures or legacy artificial “3D” aggregates, our patented PGmatrix™ platform provides a true physiological microenvironment that mirrors the body’s own regenerative processes ensuring the preservation of structural and functional cellular integrity. Our innovative PGmatrix technology faithfully mimics the human extracellular matrix, unlocking new possibilities in regenerative medicine through transformative stem cell innovations and tissue regeneration. Our advanced solutions also propel progress in drug discovery, disease modeling, and in vivo drug delivery, accelerating the path from research to therapy.

The PepGel portfolio encompasses four core product lines: PGmatrix 3D Cells, PGmatrix Stem-X, PGmatrix Bioink, and PGmatrix Injection. Complementing these product lines, we also provide custom hydrogel formulations, hiPSC-derived somatic cells, and advanced 3D tumor and organoid models for precise drug efficacy and toxicity testing and regenerative medicine.

We move health forward, inspired by you.

Our Mission & Vision

PepGel is dedicated to advancing regenerative medicine and life sciences through the creation of physiologically relevant, next-generation hydrogel platforms that faithfully mimic the human extracellular matrix. Our pioneering technologies empower transformative innovations in 3D cell culture, organoid development, tissue regeneration, stem cell therapies, biomedical engineering, injectable therapeutics, and wound healing, bridging discovery to clinical impact. Guided by strong commitments to ethics, scientific excellence, and social responsibility, PepGel strives to improve human health while creating lasting value for our partners and the communities we serve.

Leadership

Founder & President & Chief Technology Officer

Xiuzhi Susan Sun, PhD

Dr. Xiuzhi Susan Sun is the founder of PepGel and serves as President and Chief Technology Officer. Dr. Sun is also a Professor at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Wake Forest University. Dr. Sun brings over 30 years of experience and expertise in biomaterials design and fabrication, with a particular focus on synthetic protein and peptide hydrogels that mimic the human extracellular matrix for regenerative medicine applications. A pioneer in the field, Dr. Sun has developed advanced peptide hydrogels that promote 3D cellular functions in physiologically relevant microenvironments. Notably, she discovered novel scaffolding conditions for the long-term maintenance and expansion of 3D human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), significantly advancing the functional development of self-organized organoids.

Dr. Sun has authored more than 240 peer-reviewed journal articles and holds 17 patents. Her contributions to technology transfer and commercialization have played a key role in bridging the gap between research and real-world applications. Dr. Sun is a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), and was a University Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University prior to WFIRM. In 2020, she was recognized by Stanford University as ranking among the world’s top 2% of scientists in the field of polymers. Dr. Sun earned her Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL.

Chief Operating Officer

Donghai Wang, PhD

Dr. Donghai Wang serves PepGel as Chief Operating Officer and is an engineer with expertise in biomaterials and bioprocessing, with a particular focus on biomanufacturing.

He is a Professor at Kansas State University and has authored or co-authored more than 270 peer-reviewed journal articles, 17 book chapters, over 200 meeting papers and presentations, and holds three US patents. Dr. Wang is a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) and received the Distinguished Graduate Faculty award at Kansas State University in 2020. That same year, he was ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide in the field of biotechnology by Stanford University. Dr. Wang earned his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX.

Product Manager

Guangyan (Grace) Qi, PhD

Dr. Guangyan (Grace) Qi is a Product Manager at PepGel and an Associate Staff Scientist at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. With over 15 years of experience in biomaterials, Dr. Qi brings strong expertise in sustainable and bio-based materials, including plant proteins, polysaccharides, and protein/peptide hydrogels. Her work focuses on hydrogel synthesis, formulation, and characterization for 3D cell culture applications. She also has extensive experience in hydrogel production and scaling up biomanufacturing for regenerative medicine.

Dr. Qi has published 48 peer-reviewed articles and holds 2 patents. Dr. Qi holds a Ph.D. in Grain Science from Kansas State University.

Our expert collaborators, partners, and affiliates

Collaborators, partners & affiliates

The Saito Lab, University of Southern California

Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners, Inc.

Mediford Corporation

Inotiv Inc.

Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd.

Sekisui Medical Co., Ltd.

Hamri Co., Ltd.

Immuno-Biological Laboratories Co,Ltd.

The CMHL Consortium

The Institute of Environmental Toxicology

CMIC Pharma Science Co., Ltd.

Welcome to PepGel - cellular biomimicry

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