Bio: Dr. Liming Wang has worked at the Institute of High Energy Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences since 2011. His research areas include analytical chemistry, nanotoxicology, and nanomedicine. Based on large facilities such as synchrotron radiation, neutron sources, and mass spectrometry, his team has developed methods and characterized nano-biomolecular interface structure, and offered high-resolution information via X-ray microscope imaging with chemical form analysis. These methods can reveal physical and chemical process of nanomaterials in situ. By means of these methods, they have uncovered biological effects of nanomaterials and new mechanisms as well as developed multifunctional nanomedicines for intervention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, viruses, and bacterial pathogens.

Abstract: To understand the nature of biological effects of nanomaterials, it is essential to characterize the processes and physicochemical behaviors of them, for which the interaction details at nano-bio interface is crucial. To attain the goal, it is urgent to develop methods to capture nanomaterials and quantify their interaction with biological systems at different levels. Synchrotron radiation (SR) techniques are powerful not only to provide the information for elemental component, chemical structure, and form, but also for chemical imaging. Based on SR and LC-MS/MS analysis, we characterize binding structure of proteins/phospholipids on nanomaterials, which well explained the roles of nano-bio interaction in inducing biological effects. Second, these methods can in situ detect chemical reaction of nanomaterials in the biological systems, which shows chemical behaviors of nanomaterials and the biological effects. Finally, based on these methods, we designed functional biomedical nanomaterials with good biocompatibility and efficient clearance and metabolism in vivo. Thus, the systematic study about the composition and structures of nano-bio interfaces helps the exploration of functions and effects of nanomaterials.

References:

1. Protein corona-mediated inhibition of nanozyme activity: Impact of protein shape. J. Am. Soc. Chem. 2024, 146 (15), 10478-10488.

2. Selective regulation of macrophage lipid metabolism via nanomaterials' surface chemistry. Nature Communications 2024, 15, 8349.

3. Protein corona-directed cellular recognition and uptake of polyethylene nanoplastics by macrophages. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2024, 58 (32), 14158-14168.

4. A nanomaterial targeting the spike protein captures SARS-CoV-2 variants and promotes viral elimination. Nature Nanotechnol. 2022, 17: 993-1003.