Research Overview

My academic training and research experience have provided me with a background in highly interdisciplinary area combining scientific disciplines including nanomaterial, bioelectronics, biomaterials, chemical engineering, tissue engineering, neuroengineering and biomedical engineering. Dysfunctional neuronal signaling underlies a wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders. Existing therapeutics often lack clinical efficacy to reverse signaling imbalance and are both non-specific and invasive. To improve treatments of brain-related diseases will require new tools and methods to map and to repair the brain with precision and biocompatibility. I am working at the interface of materials science, electronics and neuroscience with the goal of advancing understanding and treatment of disorders of the nervous system. I design, synthesize and fabricate pharmacological, optical and electrical toolsets that manipulate and record neuronal activity and development. The dichotomy between advanced materials and brain has driven the curiosity of scientists to explore the wonders of the brain, as well as motivated the continued innovations of novel technologies based on advances in materials science and engineering to understand the brain. These results, along with a discussion of future neural interfaces, aim to improve our understanding of the nervous system and to inform new therapeutic approaches for bioelectronics and biomaterials.

Single Atom Catalysts for Electrochemical Interfaces and Healthcare (Advised by Yi Cui) 

​ (A “galaxy” of single atoms were featured and chosen as a Happy Holidays highlight on the Molecular Foundry website at Berkeley Lab)

I generated atomically dispersed metal for electrochemical Interfaces and healthcare application.

Bioinspired Materials and Devices for Sustainability and Healthcare (Advised by Yi Cui)

​I developed the integration of an electrochemical biosensing and a tailor-made bioinspired device.

Pain Management: from Biomaterials to Smart Drug Delivery Systems ​(Advised by Daniel Kohane and Bob Langer)

​​I developed a light triggered smart drug release device system. Current treatments of pain heavily rely on opioids, resulting in significant side effects such as addiction, tolerance, leading to the Opioid Overdose Crisis as we know of today. Smart drug delivery systems may provide an effective solution. Here I present the development of externally-triggerable drug delivery systems for on-demand, repeatable and adjustable local anesthesia using new polymer nanoparticles, where the timing, duration, and intensity of nerve block can be controlled through external energy triggers such as the optical tool. In addition to traditional pharmacological approaches, bioelectronic platforms to enhance our insights into the retina.

 Artificial Retina and Brain Machine Interfaces (Advised by Gengfeng Zheng)

I developed an artificial retina biomedical device. ​The restoration of light response with complex spatiotemporal features in retinal degenerative diseases towards retinal prosthesis has proven to be a considerable challenge over the past decades. Herein, inspired by the structure and function of photoreceptors in retinas, I develop artificial photoreceptors based on gold nanoparticle-decorated titania nanowire arrays, for restoration of visual responses in the blind mice with degenerated photoreceptors. Green, blue and near UV light responses in the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are restored with a spatial resolution better than 100 µm. ON responses in RGCs are blocked by glutamatergic antagonists, suggesting functional preservation of the remaining retinal circuits. Moreover, neurons in the primary visual cortex respond to light after subretinal implant of nanowire arrays. Improvement in pupillary light reflex suggests the behavioral recovery of light sensitivity. My study will shed light on the development of a new generation of optoelectronic toolkits for subretinal prosthetic devices. Through pharmacological, optical, and electrical toolsets, I aim to develop effective therapeutic solutions to neurological disease states. ​

Biosensors for Precision Health Monitoring and Early Diagnosis (Advised by Gengfeng Zheng)

​The evolution of photoelectrochemical (PEC) bioanalysis has resulted in substantial progress in its analytical performance and biodetection applications. PEC sensor represents a unique means for chemical and biological detection, with foci of optimizing semiconductor composition and electronic structures, surface functionalization layers, and chemical detection methods. Here, I have briefly discussed my recent developments of nanowire‐based PEC sensing, with particular emphasis on three main detection mechanisms and corresponding examples. I have also demonstrated the use of the PEC sensing of real‐time molecular reaction kinetic measurements, as well as direct interfacing of living cells and probing of cellular functions. My work will serve as a useful source to inform the interested audience of the latest developments and applications in the field of PEC bioanalysis.