The subject of actinides-based functional materials was substantially underexplored in the past but is highly intriguing given that the unique 5f electrons in bond formation of actinides chemistry could lead to materials with unconventional chemical, electronic, and magnetic properties. For instance, uranium could be utilized as exceptional catalysts for water reduction, photodegradation of organic dyes, oxidative combustion of volatile organic compounds, and activation of small molecules such as N2, CO, and CO2 ; The uranium-based heavyfermion compounds exhibit new type of superconductivity distinct from that of the traditional superconductors; Trivalent and pentavalent uranium molecular compounds can display single-molecule magnet behavior with noticeably high relaxation barriers. The specific aims under this reseach topic include:
1) Conduct experimental research to synthesize and characterize novel actinides-based materials using well-established approaches and knowledge from traditional materials sciences.
2) Understand the chemical bonding and the processes that govern the formation of actinide-based materials.
3) Customize and tailor functional actinides-based materials on demand
Cell-free synthetic biology is an emerging field of biotechnology which explores converting substrates into products using a cascade of reactions based on a mixture of enzymes and coenzymes without the use of living cells. It represents a cutting-edge approach to expanding the capabilities of natural biological systems. One significant obstacle to large-scale industrial production of a cell-free enzymatic system, however, is the high production costs of enzymes and coenzymes due to some inherent drawbacks such as high separation and isolation cost, intolerance to toxic products, and poor thermal and long-term stability. To address these challenges, efficient immobilization strategies based on biocompatible carriers are needed to realize the assembly of enzymes and regeneration of coenzymes. The effective use of hybrid materials require a delicate balance among structure, biocompatibility, and stability. The specific aims under this reseach topic include:
1) Explore new synthetic approaches to realize novel crystalline porous materials with predictable mesopour structures based on pre-designed inorganic/organic building blocks.
2) Develop efficient de novo and post-modification immobilization strategies to prepare inorganic/organic/biological hybrid catalysts.
3) Study the diffusion, transport of small molecules and accessibility, reactivity of biomolecules confined in the nanospace of well-defined porous crystalline materials.
4) Design efficient inorganic/organic/biological hybrid catalysts to realize artificial photosynthesis and N2 fixation
Multifunctional nanomedicines can be designed to facilitate simultaneous active targeted drug delivery and imaging. Imaging or contrast agents can be incorporated into nanomedicines by de novo self-assembly or covalently post-modificaiton to the surface of the multifunctional nanomedicines loaded with drug and with attachment of the targeting ligand. These nanomedicines may circulate for prolonged periods in the blood, evading host defenses and gradually release drug by targeting and simultaneously facilitate in vivo imaging. The specific aims under this reseach topic include:
1) Synthesize novel nanoparticles with well-defined hierachical micro/mesoporous structures based on pre-designed building blocks containing diagnostic and/or theraputic agents.
2) Load drug or theraputic biomolecules in nanoparticles and perform surface modificaiton to increase stability and biocompatibility of nanoparticles in the blood
3) Control the release of drugs molecules from nanoparticles under external stimulies such as pH, light and radiation .
