Research

Materials and Bioanalytical Lab

Overview: Our team engineers materials to develop (i) in vitro diagnostics to advance human health, (ii) surface coatings to enhance medical devices, and (iii) delivery systems to improve nanomedicine. Our signal modalities focus on fluorescence, colorimetric, and photoacoustic methods, and our biosensors aim to improve biocompatibility, responsiveness, and stability. We also develop smart coatings at the nano- or bulk- scale, striving to improve passivation, multifunctionality, and interfacial properties.
Let Us Connect: We make peptides, ligands, nanomaterials, post-modified polymers, and FRET probes. We study self-assemblies, surface coatings, and bio-nano interface for fundamental research, and we also measure protease activity for biomedical applications (Please scroll down to read more).

Area 1: Understand Bio-Nano Interface

Understanding the complex Nano/Bio interface is a prerequisite for controlling and tailoring functional materials (nanocrystals, coacervates, electronics) that intelligently interface with biological systems. This requires making progress on ligand design and synthesis, surface functionalization, interfacial kinetics, and structure-property relationships. The techniques include NMR, FT-IR, DLS, gel electrophoresis, TEM, SEM, absorption/fluorescent microscopy, and general organic synthesis.

Area 2: Synthesize Multifunctional Materials

The engineering of multifunctional biomaterials is crucial for advancing biosensing and imaging. Our approach focuses on the conjugation of various synthons, including dyes, drugs, zwitterions, PEGs, peptides, and proteins, to central scaffolds such as particles and polymers. These multifunctional biomaterials are designed to be stimuli-responsive, target efficacy, and report signals. The techniques include HPLC, MS, GPC, nanodrop, dialysis, lyophilizer, confocal, ELISA, and general cell culture.

Area 3: Develop In Vitro Biosensors and In Vivo Delivery Systems

(i) Decentralized analytical assays have an enormous impact on daily lives and research laboratories. We utilize signal transduction mechanisms such as colorimetric and fluorescence assays to design sensing assays for measuring proteins. We contribute to solving challenges including complex matrix effects and specificity. The techniques include protein express, immune cell extraction, and animal tumor models. (ii) Drug delivery systems for pain therapies reduce patient discomfort. We focus on designing long acting and smart formulations that optimize drug release rate, improve biocompatibility, and enhance therapeutic efficacy. Techniques employed include prodrug synthesis, polymer/peptide synthesis, nanoparticle engineering, and animal pain models for evaluating efficacy and safety.

 

Thinking Collaborations?

What we can do for you:

  • We synthesize peptides, ligands, nanomaterials, post-modified polymers, and FRET/AIE probes.
  • We study self-assemblies, surface coatings, and the bio-nano interface for fundamental research.
  • We develop contrast agents for measuring protease biomarkers in biomedical applications, such as bioimaging using fluorescence, colorimetric, or photoacoustic modalities.
  • We are also experienced in drug delivery techniques, nanomedicine, and animal pain models.

What we use in our lab:

  • Plate reader, peptide synthesizer, semi-prep HPLC, lyophilizer, DLS, fluorescence microscope, cancer cell lines, immune cell lines, etc.

What we hope you know:

  • Anyone of below but not limited to: Protease express, biomedical imaging (IVIS, PA imaging), LFA diagnostics, immune cells modelling, drug delivery animal models, medical device coatings.