Materials on the nanometre scale (1-100 nm) have unique, sized-dependent optical and electrical properties that are distinct and unavailable from the bulk, while biological molecules have unique, highly specific molecular recognition and biological functions. By harnessing the unique properties and advantages offered by both the nano- and the bio- world, they are developing smart sensors as well as novel drug delivery systems in an attempt to address some important challenges currently facing the society: effective food safety monitoring, early diagnosis of diseases, and effective treatments for some devastating diseases, such as cancer.

 

In this talk, he will present some of their recent progresses in these fields. Specifically, he will present some of their work on the controlled assembly of functional nanostructures by combining the so called “top-down” and “bottom-up” approaches;1 the development of functional nanoparticle-aptamer based simple colorimetric and fluorimetric sensors for biomolecules and harmful food residue targets;2 and the development of pH-responsive DNAs and their application as novel drug nanocarrier for effective cancer treatment at the cellular level.3

 

1 (a) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2003, 42, 3934; (b) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2003, 125, 9834;   (c) J. Am.  Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 6508; (d) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2005, 44, 6854.

2  (a) Langmuir, 2008, 24, 1869; (b) Nanoscale, 2011, 2, 201; (c) Faraday Discuss., 2011, 149, 319.

3 (a) J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2006, 118, 2067; (b) Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2009, 48, 7660; (c) Chem. Commun., 2009, 824.