Research Summary

Research Summary:

Research is focused on self-assembly of nanoparticles at the aqueous-organic interfaces for fabrication of 3D superstructures. Other areas of interest include bio-inspired materials, nanomedicine, etc.

Selected Recent Publications:

1. Z. Chen, J. Wang, W. Sun, A. Kahkoska, X. Zhang, Y. Lu, F. Ligler, J. Buse and Z. Gu. “Synthetic Artificial β-Cells for Fusion-Mediated Dynamic Insulin Secretion.” Nature Chemical Biology, 2017 (in revision).

2. Z. Chen, Q. Hu, and Z.Gu. “Advances in Engineering of Cells for Biomedical Applications.” Accounts of Chemical Research, 2017 (invited).

3. Z. Chen, H. Ji, C. Liu, W. Bing, Z. Wang and X. Qu. "A Multinuclear Metal Complex Based DNase-Mimetic Artificial Enzyme: Matrix Cleavage for Combating Bacterial Biofilms." Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2016.

4. Z. Chen, C. Zhao, E. Ju, H. Ji, J. Ren, B. P. Binks, X. Qu. “Design of Surface-active Artificial Enzyme Particles to Stabilize Pickering Emulsions for High-Performance Biphasic Biocatalysis.” Advanced Materials, 2016.

5. Z. Chen, H. Ji, C. Zhao, E. Ju, J. Ren and X. Qu. "Individual Surface-Engineered Microorganisms as Robust Pickering Interfacial Biocatalysts for Resistance-Minimized Phase- Transfer Bioconversion." Angewandte Chemie-International Edition, 2015.

6. Z. Chen, L. Zhou, W. Bing, Z. Zhang, Z. Li, J. Ren and X. Qu (2014). "Light Controlled Reversible Inversion of Nanophosphor-Stabilized Pickering Emulsions for Biphasic Enantioselective Biocatalysis." Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2014

7. W. Li, Z. Chen, L. Zhou, Z. Li, J. Ren and X. Qu. "Noninvasive and Reversible Cell Adhesion and Detachment via Single-Wavelength Near-Infrared Laser Mediated Photoisomerization." Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2015.

8.L. Zhou, Z. Chen, K. Dong, M. Yin, J. Ren and X. Qu (2014). "DNA-mediated Construction of Hollow Upconversion Nanoparticles for Protein Harvesting and Near- Infrared Light Triggered Release." Advanced Materials, 2014