We are a highly interdisciplinary research group in the Department of Chemistry:

- Our expertise spans quantitative microscopy imaging, molecular spectroscopy, biointerface science and engineering, soft materials, and molecular biology.

- Our passion is understanding the signal transduction processes in the biological world from the lens of chemistry and physics, particularly those mediated by biocolloids and biointerfaces.

- Our approach involves exploring the biochemical and physical properties of biocolloids and biointerfaces at the single-particle, sometimes single-molecule level, and uncovering the underlying principles of their signaling.

 

​Currently, we have several ongoing projects pursuing two main thrusts:

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1. Emergent properties and activities at the polymer-lipid interface​

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Biopolymers and bio-related polymeric materials, such as polysaccharides (PLSs) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), frequently interface directly with lipid membranes. In nature, PLSs form dense coatings on essentially all cell surfaces. In applied settings, including biomaterials, these polymers are in direct contact with cell membranes because they are widely used in drug delivery vehicles, cell and tissue culture systems, and wound dressings. 

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We are curious to: i) understand the polymer-lipid interactions from a molecular level, ii) identify regulatory factors of these interactions, and  iii) determine their functional consequences at the membrane surface, including enzyme activities, protein assemblies, as well as membrane morphology. 

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We expect to uncover previously unrecognized mechanisms of PLS function at the cell surface, thereby deepening fundamental understanding in glycobiology. Moreover, we will leverage this interface to enable precise control over the bioactivities of polymer-based biomaterials, providing critical insights for the design of next-generation biomaterials. Finally, this research will provide a mechanistic framework for polymer-lipid interfaces found in diverse system, including at the surface of bioactive aerosol particles.​​​​​​​​​​

 

2. Extracellular particle-mediated intercellular communications

   

Almost all human cells release extracellular particles (EPs) under both physiological and pathological conditions. EPs are critical mediators of intercellular communication without direct contact. EPs released from donor cells can travel through the extracellular space and transfer signals to nearby recipient cells, inducing transient or persistent phenotypic changes. Moreover, EPs are abundant in various body fluids, suggesting a role in long-range signaling, including interorgan communication. As a result, EP-based therapeutic tools, such as drug delivery vessels, and diagnostic assays are considered to have high potential. 

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We seek to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of EP-mediated intercellular signaling by deciphering the biological roles of different EP subtypes, from their release by donor cells to their transport across intercellular physical barriers and interactions with recipient cells. These subtypes will be categorized by size, biochemical composition, biophysical features, and material properties.

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We aim to offer a new fundamental perspective on physiological homeostasis as well as the mechanisms, development, and pathology of diseases. In addition, our findings may enable novel strategies to manipulate intercellular signaling by modulating EP secretion and profile. The experimental tools we develop will serve as a broadly applicable platform for studying various bioparticles involved in cell–cell communication, including synaptic vesicles in neurons and lipoproteins in interorgan signaling. Ultimately, this research will lead to significant advancements in EP-based therapeutic tools and diagnostic assays by providing fundamental insights into specificity and sensitivity.​​​​