On July 12, Fudan University and the University of
California San Diego held their first joint Workshop on Nanomaterials and
Nanoengineering. The event
featured a full day of presentations on cutting edge nano research from UC San
Diego, Fudan University and other leading research institutions in China.
“We would like to enhance the collaboration between UC
San Diego and Fudan in the areas of science and engineering. This workshop will
help bring on more exchanges of ideas and activities between both universities,”
said Yongfeng Mei, professor of materials chemistry and physics at Fudan
University and co-organizer of the event. Mei is already working with UC San Diego
researchers on projects focusing on metamaterials and micro and nanomotors.
“In an effort towards future collaborations, we’re
building a bridge between the leading materials program in China and the only
nanoengineering department in the United States,” said Joseph Wang,
distinguished professor and chair of the Department of NanoEngineering at the
Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, who co-organized the event with
Mei.
The joint workshop was held to honor Wang in his
appointment as Honorary Professor of Fudan University. He received the honorary
professorship in recognition of his pioneering contributions in nanoscience,
nanomachines and nanobiotechnology.
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| On behalf of Fudan University, Professor Yongfeng Mei (left) and Ms. Ann Wenqing Tang, Associate Dean of International Relations (center) present Professor Joseph Wang (right) with an Honorary Professor Award. |
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| Joseph Wang (right) presents a UC San Diego banner to Fudan University. |
At the workshop, Wang presented his lab’s work on
nanomachines for medical, military, security and environmental applications. Examples
include the first demonstration of nanomachines in living animals, nanomachines
for cleaning up carbon dioxide pollution in water and microcannons that could fire
drug-filled nanobullets at disease targets.
Other UC San Diego nanoengineering professors who gave
talks at the event were:
Yi Chen
Talk title: Cell Membrane-Mediated DNA Nanostructure Formation
Description: The
assembly of membrane proteins and membrane-associated proteins triggers various
fundamental biological processes including cell uptake, signal transduction and
inter-cellular communication. DNA nanotechnology, which enables precise control
on the nanometer scale, is an alternative way to unravel such mechanisms. Chen’s
lab used membrane-assisted assembly of DNA 2-D array nanostructures to mimic
the pattern produced by assembly of triskelion. The successful construction of
such membrane structures was confirmed by atomic force microscopy imaging.
Zhaowei Liu
Talk title: High Speed Super Resolution Microscopy
Description: Liu’s group developed high speed super
resolution microscopy for various biological applications. His team
demonstrated a new super resolution technique that achieves 50 nanometer wide
field imaging at real movie speed.
Liangfang Zhang
Talk title: Biomimetic Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery, Detoxification
and Vaccination
Description: Zhang reported on the biological functionalization of polymeric nanoparticles
with a layer of membrane coating derived from natural red blood cells (RBCs).
This approach aims to camouflage the nanoparticle surface with the erythrocyte
exterior for long circulation while retaining the applicability of the cores
that support the RBC membrane shell. In vivo results revealed superior
pharmacokinetics and biodistribution by the RBC-mimicking nanoparticles compared
to control particles coated with the state-of-the-art synthetic stealth
materials. Three types of exciting applications of this biomimetic nanoparticle
system were discussed: drug delivery, systemic detoxification and toxin
vaccination.
