Self-assembly of DNA amphiphiles

Amphiphilicity-driven self-assembly is a simple yet efficient supramolecular approach for the creation of functional nanomaterials. We are particularly interested in self-assembly of DNA-amphiphiles in which hydrophilic ssDNA is conjugated to a functional hydrophobic moiety of interest, which results in the formation of DNA-decorated nanostructures with remarkable properties. 

DNA nanostructures for cancer therapy

DNA-based nanostructures offer unique features which are ideal to use them in drug delivery applications. They include excellent biocompatibility, stability under enzymatic conditions, permit the loading of drugs and allow the integration of cell targeting moieties. We explore the potential of DNA nanostructures for the delivery of various anticancer agents such as small molecules, antisense DNA, micro-RNA and proteins and study their therapeutic performance.

Cell organalle-targeted cancer therapy

Organelle-targeted strategies enable precise accumulation of therapeutic agents in cell organelles, locally triggering organelle-mediated cell death signals which can greatly reduce the therapeutic threshold dosage and minimize side-effects. We explore the potential of DNA nanostructures for organelle-specific chemical reactions or supramolecular polymerization to achieve the dysfunction of cell organelles, which in-turn leads to the cell death in a targeted fashion.

Chiral luminescent (CPL-active) materials

Circularly polarized luminescent (CPL-active) nanomaterials hold great potentials for next-generation technologies. We are interested in the design and synthesis of novel CPL-active nanomaterials via non-covalent assembly of chiral molecular building blocks derived from small organic molecules, DNA and amino acids. We explore the potential of these CPL-active nanomaterials in various applications including multilevel data encryption, anticounterfeiting, as luminescent ink etc.

DNA nanostructures as biosensors

DNA-based biosensors have shown great potential as the candidate of the next generation biomedical detection device due to their remarkable features such as robust chemical properties, predictable secondary structure and customizable biosensing functions. We are interested in the development of DNA-based biosensors for the detection various biologically relevant molecules (ATP, H2O2  etc.), caner biomarkers (mRNA, proteins etc.) and metal ions (K+, Ca2+ etc.).

Pathway complexity in supramolecular polymerization

Molecular self-assembly provides an attractive route to functional organic materials, with properties and hence performance depending sensitively on the organization of the molecular building blocks. We are interested in the study of pathway complexity in supramolecular polymerization that allows us to access aggregated states with unique functionalities which are otherwise unexplored or hidden states.