The development of high-performance analytical methods is key to biomedical analysis and clinical diagnosis. To realize early disease diagnosis and precision medicine, we focus on two topics:
(1) Discovery of novel biomarkers based on extracellular vesicles/exosomes and creation of urinary “synthetic biomarkers” for noninvasive diagnosis and monitoring of diseases.
(2) Development of high-sensitivity in vitro assays and in vivo imaging probes for rapid analysis of these discovered biomarkers.
Our research interests mainly include:
1. Disease Biomarkers
The exploration of novel and reliable disease biomarkers holds significant relevance in the realms of disease diagnosis, prognosis, treatment efficacy evaluation, safety assessment, and disease monitoring. By coupling chemistry with other subjects, we attempt to discover new biomarkers or/and their combinations with high clinical sensitivity and selectivity. In particular, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been regarded as the next-generation disease biomarkers, which offer a vast repertoire of useful molecular information that has rarely been provided by common biomarkers. Within our research group, we focus on EVs' isolation and analysis, aiming to unravel their potential as diagnostic biomarkers.
Selected Publications:
1) Qiang Li, Zhaowei Zhang, Fengchao Wang, Xiang Wang, Saisong Zhan, Xiaoqing Yang, Chen Xu, and Dingbin Liu*, Reversible zwitterionic coordination enables rapid, high-yield, and high-purity isolation of extracellular vesicles from biofluids. Science Advances, 2023, 9: eadf4568.
2) Zhiyou Zong, Xinzhuo Liu, Zhuo Ye, and Dingbin Liu*, A Double-switch pHLIP system enables Selective Enrichment of Circulating Tumor Microenvironment-derived Extracellular Vesicles. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2023, 120(2): e2214912120.
3) Zhaowei Zhang#, Xuehui Liu#, Xiaoqing Yang#, Ying Jiang, Ang Li, Jiying Cong, Yuwei Li, Qinjian Xie, Chen Xu*, and Dingbin Liu*, Identification of Faecal Extracellular Vesicles as Novel Biomarkers for Non-invasive Diagnosis and Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer. Journal of Extracellular Vesicles, 2023, 12(1): 12300.
4) Xinzhuo Liu, Zhiyou Zong, Mindan Xing, Xuehui Liu, Jia Li, and Dingbin Liu*, pH-Mediated Clustering of Exosomes: Breaking Through the Size Limit of Exosome Analysis in Conventional Flow Cytometry. Nano Letters, 2021, 21(20): 8817-8823.
2. Liquid Biopsy
Liquid biopsy has emerged as a promising avenue in the realm of pathology testing, boasting the advantages of non-invasiveness, rapidity, and potential for early disease detection. Remarkably, EVs have emerged as a pivotal component of liquid biopsy. Our research group envisions the continuous development of innovative strategies grounded in liquid biopsies, utilizing various bodily fluid samples such as urine, stool, blood, and sputum. By harnessing the strengths and untapped potential of EVs, we aim to synergize the power of chemistry with the advancement of medical diagnostics.
Selected Publications:
1) Fengchao Wang, Ning Sun, Qiang Li, Jie Yang, Xiaoqing Yang, and Dingbin Liu*, Self-Referenced Synthetic Urinary Biomarker for Quantitative Monitoring of Cancer Development. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2023, 145(2): 919-928.
2) Wenshuai Li, Jingjing Wang, Chen Li, Zhiyou Zong, Jinzhong Zhao, Hongmei Gao, and Dingbin Liu*, Achieving Ultrasensitive Chromogenic Probes for Rapid, Direct Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Bacteria in Sputum. JACS Au, 2023, 3(1): 227-238.
3) Xuehui Liu, Zhiyou Zong, Xinzhuo Liu, Qiang Li, Ang Li, Chen Xu*, and Dingbin Liu*, Stimuli-mediated Specific Isolation of Exosomes from Blood Plasma for High-throughput Profiling of Cancer Biomarkers. Small Methods, 2022, 6(2): 2101234.
4) Huixia Di, Ze Mi, Yan Sun, Xuehui Liu, Xinzhuo Liu, Ang Li, Ying Jiang, Hongmei Gao*, Pengfei Rong*, and Dingbin Liu*, Nanozyme-assisted Sensitive Profiling of Exosomal Proteins for Rapid Cancer Diagnosis. Theranostics, 2020, 10(20): 9303-9314.
3. Molecular Imaging
Molecular imaging stands as a prominent methodology for the early quantitative and qualitative diagnosis of diseases, with a pivotal emphasis on understanding and controlling biological and pathological processes within living organisms. Our research endeavors delve into the design of disease-specific response molecules and efficient molecular imaging strategies for various diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and infectious diseases.
Selected Publications:
1) Zhuo Ye, Moxuan Ji, Kefeng Wu, Jie Yang, An-an Liu, Wei Sun, Dan Ding, and Dingbin Liu*, In-Sequence High-Specificity Dual-reporter Unlocking of Fluorescent Probe enables the Precise Identification of Atherosclerotic Plaques. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2022, 61(29); e202204518.
2) Cai Zhang, Xiaoyu Cui, Jie Yang, Xueguang Shao, Yuying Zhang, and Dingbin Liu*, Stimulus-responsive Surface-enhanced Raman Scattering: a “Trojan Horse” Strategy for Precision Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer. Chemical Science, 2020, 11(24): 6111-6120.
3) Bo Dong, Shuangli Du, Chunxiao Wang, Haohao Fu, Qiang Li, Nannan Xiao, Jie Yang, Xue Xue, Weisheng Cai, and Dingbin Liu*, Reversible Self-Assembly of Nanoprobes in Live Cells for Dynamic Intracellular pH Imaging. ACS Nano, 2019, 13(2): 1421-1432.
4) Wen Zhou, Qiang Li, Huiqiao Liu, Jie Yang, and Dingbin Liu*, Building Electromagnetic Hot Spots in Living Cells via Target-Triggered Nanoparticle Dimerization. ACS Nano, 2017, 11(4): 3532–3541.