Title: Zwitterionic Polymers for Nanomedicine and Implants
Speaker: Prof. Zhiqiang Cao (Wayne State University)
Time: 10:00a.m., Aug. 29th, 2016
Venue: Room 214, Building No. 16, Wushan Campus
Abstract:
Zwitterionic polymers emerged as new generation of materials with excellent non-fouling properties. It has been demonstrated that their use as surface coatings can effectively resist binding from proteins, cells, and full blood. Recent research demonstrated that zwitterionic materials can achieve both tissue compatibility and blood compatibility: A subcutaneously implanted zwitterionic material was found to resist foreign body capsule formation, and a nanomedicine decorated with zwitterionic materials exhibited long blood circulation time. Prof. Cao’s research focuses on exploring novel zwitterionic polymer materials, and studying their translational potentials in healthcare. He will particularly highlight the progress in zwitterionic polymer based nanomedicine, and major achievement in cell encapsulation and transplantation to treat diabetes. The rationale for the use of zwitterionic polymers rather than other biomaterials, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), in these scenarios will be discussed.
Brief introduction to Prof. Zhiqiang Cao:
Prof. Zhiqiang Cao received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2011 under the guidance of Prof. Shaoyi Jiang. He was a research fellow in Prof. Robert Langer’s lab at David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Department of Anesthesiology at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School from 2011 to 2012. He received his B.Eng. in Polymer Materials and Engineering and M.Eng. in Biomedical Engineering from Tianjin University, School of Materials Science and Engineering, in 2004 and 2007, respectively, under the guidance of Prof. Wenguang Liu. He joined the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Wayne State University in 2013.  His research is supported by National Science Foundation, and multiple programs from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation of the U.S. Major papers were published on Nat Biotech, Adv Mater, Angew Chem, etc.