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. B. Li, Q. Fu, Y. Lu, C. Chen, Y. Zhao, Y. Zhao, M. Cao, W. Zhou, X. Fan, X. Jiang, P. Zhao, Y. Zheng*, 3D hydrogel platform with macromolecular actuators for precisely controlled mechanical forces on cancer cell migration, Nat. Commun., 2025,16, 4831.

2. Y. Lu, C.Chen, H. Li, P. Zhao, Y. Zhao, B. Li, W. Zhou, G. Fan,D. Guan*,Y. Zheng*, Visible Light-Responsive Hydrogels for Cellular Dynamics and Spatiotemporal Viscoelastic Regulation,Nat. Commun., 2025,16, 1365

3. Y. Zhao# , B. Li,# , X. Fu# , P. Zhao , Y. Zhao , W. Zhou , Y. Lu , Y. Zheng*, Autocatalytic Reactions Networks: A Pathway to Spatial Temporal Mastery in  Dynamic Materials, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, e202415582.

4. P. Zhao#, Y. Zhao# , Y. Lu, L. Xu, B. Li, Y. Zhao, W. Zhou, P. Yan, Y. Wang, K. Cao, Y. Zheng*, Non-Equilibrium Dissipative Assembly with Switchable Biological Functions, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, e202409169.

5. P. Zhao#, L. Xu#, B. Li, Y. Zhao, Y. Zhao, Y. Lu, M. Cao, G. Li, T. Weng, H. Wang, Y. Zheng*, Non-Equilibrium Assembly of Atomically-Precise Copper Nanoclusters, Adv. Mater. 2024, 2311818.

6. Y. Zhao#, P. Zhao#, J. Zhang#, Y. Zhao, B. Li, G. Hao, Y. An, W. Zhou, Y. Lu, L. Chou, Y. Zheng*, CCS Chem.2023, 5, 1-11.

7. W. Zhou#, G. Shi#, P. Zhao, G. Zhang, P. Yang, B. Li, B. Li, X. Wan*, Y. Zheng*, Dynamic helical cationic polyacetylenes for fast and highly efficient killing of bacteria, Acta. Biomater., 2023,161, 134-143.

8. N. Cheng, Y. Zhang, Y. Wu, B. Li, H. Wang, S. Chen, P. Zhao, J. Cui, X. Shen, X. Zhu, Y. Zheng*, Hydrogel platform capable of molecularly resolved pulling on cells for mechanotransduction, Material Today Bio, 2022,17,100476.

9. 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.

10. 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.  

11. 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.

12. X. Zhou#, Y. Zheng#, H. Zhang, L. Yang, Y. Cui, B. P. Krishnan, S. Dong, M. Aizenberg, X. Xiong, Y. Hu, J. Aizenberg, J. Cui*, Reversibly growing crosslinked polymers with programmable sizes and properties, Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 3302.

13. Y. Chen, Y. Liu, R. Yu, Y. Zhao, J. Lu, G. Chen, Y. Zheng, C. Ye*, Dynamically switchable 3D shape-morphing and rotation from liquid crystal elastomer actuators, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 2025, 17, 33244.

14. Y. Dong, S. Qian, X. Wang, W. Zhang, W. Lu, J. Qu, M. Cui, L. Chen, Y. Zhao, Y. Gao, M. Giomo, A. Urciuolo, J. Feng, Y. Zheng, B. Jiang, R. Shen, X. Zhu, N. Elvassore, In situ tailored confining microenvironment for lung cancer spheroids, Materials Today Bio, 2025, 31, 101602.

15. N. Sun, S. Mo, Y. Cai, Y. Zhao, Y. Han, Y. Zheng, T. He, Bicontinuous porous substrates by polysulfone/2-pyrrolidone binary system for high-performance forward osmosis membranes, J. Membr. Sci, 2025, 717, 123614.

16. Y. Lv, Y. Zhang, F. Cui, Y. Zhang, Z. Wang, J. Yang, Q. Liu, Y. Zhao, Y. Zheng, C. Xu, J. Yan, Harnessing Self-Condensing Vinyl Copolymerization for Well-Defined Redox-Active Hyperbranched Polymers Enabled by Flow Chemistry, 2025.

Before joining ShanghaiTech:

1. 

1. 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.

2. 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. 

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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, 111-116.

6. Y. Zheng, A. Farrukh, A. del Campo “Optoregulated Biointerfaces to Trigger Cellular Responses”, Langmuir, 2018, 34, 48,14459.

7. 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, 1800282.

8. 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.

9. 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, 1602960.

10. 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.

11. 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.

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

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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