Yijun Zheng

课题组长  Group Leader

研究介绍  Research Interest

Our research focus on developing advanced dynamic biomaterials mimicking extracellular matrix to understand how cells interact with their environment and to gain insight into the design of next-generation,living biomaterials that integrate, cooperate, and communicate with biological systems.

In the current stage, we are particularly interested on two topics:

(1) Advanced dynamic biomaterial probing cell-ECM interaction

We develop new classes of user-programmable hydrogels with special emphasis on the use of multiple photochemical reactions that govern 4D material responsiveness, physicochemical tunability, and biophysical alterations, in an orthogonal manner. For example, one of the central challenges in cellular mechanotransduction is the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that enable cells to modulate their mechanical responses and to sense and actively direct the biophysical properties of the ECM. To elucidate these fundamental mechanisms, cellular mechanotransduction should be studied at molecular levels. We develop molecular tools that can apply or detect forces at individual receptors within readily formed cell-ECM or cell-cell contacts.

2) Synthetic yet ”living” biomaterials with active, adaptive and autonoumous properties

We develop new generations of molecular materials and systems with unprecedented levels of functionalities – adaptive and interactive properties. We aim to emulate the functional behavior observed in living systems within synthetic chemical framework through non-equilibrium chemical reaction network with constant energy dissipation, kinetic control and feedback loops.

Welcome undergrads and graduate students with different backgrounds to join the group.  We are recruiting one RESEARCH SCIENTIST and one POSTDOC (with organic chemistry, polymer chemistry or biomaterials background). Feel free to contact the PI.

代表性论文  Select Publications

# Equal contribution，* Corresponding author

1. J. Zhang;  J. Liu; H. Li; X. Li; Y. Zhao; P. Zhao; J. Cui; B. Yang; Y. Song; Y. Zheng*, 'Programming Hydrogels with Complex Transient Behaviors via Autocatalytic Cascade Reactions', ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2022, 14, 17, 20073–20082.

2. B. Li; J. Blass; M. Han;J. Zhang; Y. Zheng; Q. Jiang; R. Bennewitz; A. delCampo, Molecular stiffness cues of an interpenetrating network hydrogel for cell adhesion, Materals Today Bio, 2022, 15, 100323.

3. Y. Zheng# , M. K.L. Han# , R.g Zhao# , J. Blass# , J. Zhang, D.W.  Zhou, J. Colard-Itté, D. Dattler, A. Çolak, M. Hoth, A. J. García,  B. Qu, R. Bennewitz, N. Giuseppone, A. del Campo*, Optoregulated force application to cellular receptors using  molecular motors, Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 3580.

4. L. Yang, S. Dong, W. Zhou, Q. Wu, Y. Zheng, J.Cui*, Calenderable supramolecular perfluorogels for facile fabrication of slippery coatings, Chem. Eng. J. 2021, 127901.  

5. J. Feng, Y. Zheng, S. Bhusari, M. Villiou, S. Pearson, A. del Campo*, Printed degradable optical waveguides for guiding light into tissue, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2020, 2004327. 

6. Y. Zheng*,  Z. Chen, Q. Jiang, J. Feng, S. Wu and A. del Campo*, Near-infrared-light regulated angiogenesis in a 4D hydrogel, Nanoscale, 2020, 12, 13654.

7. F. Puza,  Y. Zheng*, L. Han, L. Xue and J.Cui*, Physical entanglement hydrogels: ultrahigh water content but good toughness and stretchability, Polym. Chem., 2020, 11, 2339.

8. L. Xue, X. Xiong, B. P. Krishnan, F. Puza, S. Wang, Y. Zheng*, J. Cui*, Light-regulated growth from dynamic swollen substrates for making rough surfaces, Nat. Commun.2020, 11, 963.

     9. L. Han^#,Y. Zheng^#, H. Luo^#, J. Feng, R. Engstler, L. Xue, G. Jing*, X. Deng*, A. del Campo, J. Cui*, Macroscopic self-evolution of dynamic hydrogels to create hollow interiors, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2019, 59, 5611.

Before joining ShanghaiTech:

1. Y. Zheng*, M. Han, Q. Jiang, J. Feng, Bin. Li, A. del Campo, “4D hydrogels for dynamic cell culture with orthogonal, wavelength-regulated stiffening and cell adhesiveness”, Mater. Horiz., 2019, 20 DOI: 10.1039/C9MH00665F.

2. Y. Zheng, A. Farrukh, A. del Campo “Optoregulated Biointerfaces to Trigger Cellular Responses”, Langmuir, 2018, Online, DOI:10.1021/acs.langmuir.1028b02634

3. Y. Zheng*, D. Wang, J. Cui, M. Mezger, G. K. Auernhammer, K. Koynov, H.-J. Butt, T. Ikeda, “Redox-Responsive and Thermoresponsive Supramolecular Nanosheet Gels with High Young's Moduli”, Macromol. Rapid Commun. 2018,39, DOI:10.1002/marc.201800282.

4. Y. Zheng, X. Liu, J. Xu, H. Zhao, X. Hou, J. Cui “Thermo-responsive mobile interfaces with switchable wettability, optical properties, and penetrability”, ACS Appl. Mat. Interfaces, 2017, 9, 35483-35491.

5. Z.-S. Wu, Y. Zheng, S. Zheng, S. Wang, C. Sun, K. Parvez, T. Ikeda, X. Bao, K. Muellen, X. Feng, “Stacked-Layer Heterostructure Films of 2D Thiophene Nanosheets and Graphene for High-Rate All-Solid-State Pseudocapacitors with Enhanced Volumetric Capacitance.” Adv. Mater., 2017, 29, DOI:10.1002/adma.201770020

6.  Y. Zheng, J. Cui, T. Ikeda “Click functionalization of phenyl-capped bithiophene on azide-terminated self-assembled monolayers”, Applied Surface Science, 2015, 355, 213-217.

7. Y. Zheng, H. Zhou, D. Liu, F. George, W. Manfred; K. Kaloian, M. Mezger, H.-J. Butt, T. Ikeda, “Thiophene Supramolecular Nanosheet”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2013, 52, 4845-4848.

8. Y. Zheng, D. Liu, H.-J. Butt, T. Ikeda, “Synthesis and Properties of Phenyl-capped Cyclohexyl[c]-oligothiophenes”, Synth. Met., 2013, 181, 1-9.

9. Y. Zheng, J. Cui, J. Zheng, X. Wan, “Near-infrared Electrochromic and Chiroptical Switching Polymers: Synthesis and Characterization of Helical Poly(N-propargylamides) Carrying Anthraquinone Imide Moieties in Side Chains”, J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20, 5915-5922.

10. Y. Zheng, K. Yao, J. Lee, D. Chandler, J. Wang, C. Wang, F. Chu, C. Tang, “Well-Defined Renewable Polymers Derived from Gum Rosin”, Macromolecules, 2010, 43, 5922-5924.

11. Y. Zheng, J. Zheng, L. Dou, W. Qiao, X. Wan, “Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel kind of Near-infrared Electrochromic Polymers Containing an Anthraquinone Imide Group and Ionic Moieties”, J. Mater. Chem., 2009, 19, 8470-8477.

本组成员  Group Members