Overview
Background
Dr Cheng Zhang is an innovative Research Fellow supported by both ARC and NHMRC. He has an outstanding track record in the fields of fluoropolymers, polymer chemistry and materials science. He has made significant contributions to these fields of research through innovative chemistry to build precise fluoropolymer structures and subsequent molecular-level characterisation to understand the structure-property relationship for specific applications including from energy materials e.g. solid electrolytes, sorbent materials for environmental PFAS remediation, to functional biomaterials e.g. imaging and therapeutic agents. Please read more here at the Zhang Group.
Availability
- Dr Cheng Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Fluorinated compounds
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Polymeric biomaterials for disease detection and treatment
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NMR and MRI of polymers
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Solid fluoropolymer electrolytes
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PFAS remediation
Research impacts
Dr Zhang's research aims to promote polymer chemistry and its value to society by understanding structure-property relationships to develop novel functional polymeric platforms rapidly. An important way for achieving such a vision is to deliver academic excellence toward social engagement and global impact through industrial collaborations. Over the past five years, he has initiated and maintained great industrial connections with world-leading companies and local city councils, for example, working with Chemours and the City of Gold Coast to advance PFAS capture technologies, and collaborating with Lyndra Therapeutics Inc. to develop new oral drugs for facilitating PFAS elimination from humans. He has published over 90 journal articles, including Nature Materials, Nature Reviews Materials, Chemical Reviews, Journal of the American Chemical Society, ACS Nano, Macromolecules and etc, attracting over 4,000 citations (Google Scholar). He has also successfully secured over $6 M in external grants to support his research in related fields.
His research has achieved positive impacts on the community and has led to commercial, environmental and industrial benefits. He is the inventor and key driver of developing novel fluorinated polymeric devices for removing PFAS from environments (capture of fluorinated carbon compounds, WO2020160626A1). The invention delivers an easy-to-use and reusable highly fluorinated polymer-based device for efficient and selective removal of all classes of PFAS from various contaminated sources. In addition to patent protection, a commercialisation strategy for the invention is currently being developed together with Chemours and UniQuest. In 2021, he has been awarded the Fresh scientist to broadcast my PFAS research to the general public. This provides a great pathway for me to introduce PFAS to the community and builds public awareness of the links between adverse health effects and PFAS.
Awards
2024 CSIRO ON Prime Facilitator Prize
2024 PMSE Early Investigator Award.
2023 Young Tall Poppy Science Award.
2023 ACS Materials AU Rising Star.
2022 UQ Industry Engagement Award.
Works
Search Professor Cheng Zhang’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Efficient removal of perfluorinated chemicals from contaminated water sources using magnetic fluorinated polymer sorbents
Tan, Xiao, Dewapriya, Pradeep, Prasad, Pritesh, Chang, Yixin, Huang, Xumin, Wang, Yiqing, Gong, Xiaokai, Hopkins, Timothy E., Fu, Changkui, Thomas, Kevin V., Peng, Hui, Whittaker, Andrew Keith and Zhang, Cheng (2022). Efficient removal of perfluorinated chemicals from contaminated water sources using magnetic fluorinated polymer sorbents. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 61 (49) e202213071, e202213071. doi: 10.1002/anie.202213071
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Ultra-stable all-solid-state sodium metal batteries enabled by perfluoropolyether-based electrolytes
Wang, Xiaoen, Zhang, Cheng, Sawczyk, Michal, Sun, Ju, Yuan, Qinghong, Chen, Fangfang, Mendes, Tiago C., Howlett, Patrick C., Fu, Changkui, Wang, Yiqing, Tan, Xiao, Searles, Debra J., Král, Petr, Hawker, Craig J., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Forsyth, Maria (2022). Ultra-stable all-solid-state sodium metal batteries enabled by perfluoropolyether-based electrolytes. Nature Materials, 21 (9), 1057-1065. doi: 10.1038/s41563-022-01296-0
Featured
2022
Journal Article
Revealing the molecular-level interactions between cationic fluorinated polymer sorbents and the major PFAS pollutant PFOA
Tan, Xiao, Sawczyk, Michał, Chang, Yixin, Wang, Yiqing, Usman, Adil, Fu, Changkui, Král, Petr, Peng, Hui, Zhang, Cheng and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2022). Revealing the molecular-level interactions between cationic fluorinated polymer sorbents and the major PFAS pollutant PFOA. Macromolecules, 55 (3) acs.macromol.1c02435, 1077-1087. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c02435
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Biological Utility of Fluorinated Compounds: from Materials Design to Molecular Imaging, Therapeutics and Environmental Remediation
Zhang, Cheng, Yan, Kai, Fu, Changkui, Peng, Hui, Hawker, Craig J. and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Biological Utility of Fluorinated Compounds: from Materials Design to Molecular Imaging, Therapeutics and Environmental Remediation. Chemical Reviews, 122 (1) acs.chemrev.1c00632, 167-208. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00632
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Emergence of hexagonally close-packed spheres in linear block copolymer melts
Zhang, Cheng, Vigil, Daniel L., Sun, Dan, Bates, Morgan W., Loman, Tessa, Murphy, Elizabeth A., Barbon, Stephanie M., Song, Jung-Ah, Yu, Beihang, Fredrickson, Glenn H., Whittaker, Andrew K., Hawker, Craig J. and Bates, Christopher M. (2021). Emergence of hexagonally close-packed spheres in linear block copolymer melts. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 143 (35) jacs.1c03647, 14106-14114. doi: 10.1021/jacs.1c03647
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Tuning of the aggregation behavior of fluorinated polymeric nanoparticles for improved therapeutic efficacy
Zhang, Cheng, Liu, Tianqing, Wang, Wenqian, Bell, Craig A., Han, Yanxiao, Fu, Changkui, Peng, Hui, Tan, Xiao, Král, Petr, Gaus, Katharina, Gooding, J. Justin and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2020). Tuning of the aggregation behavior of fluorinated polymeric nanoparticles for improved therapeutic efficacy. ACS Nano, 14 (6) acsnano.0c02954, 7425-7434. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.0c02954
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Rapid generation of block copolymer libraries using automated chromatographic separation
Zhang, Cheng, Bates, Morgan W., Geng, Zhishuai, Levi, Adam E., Vigil, Daniel, Barbon, Stephanie M., Loman, Tessa, Delaney, Kris T., Fredrickson, Glenn H., Bates, Christopher M., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Hawker, Craig J. (2020). Rapid generation of block copolymer libraries using automated chromatographic separation. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 142 (21) jacs.0c04028, 9843-9849. doi: 10.1021/jacs.0c04028
Featured
2019
Journal Article
Integrating fluorinated polymer and manganese‐layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as pH‐activated 19 F MRI agents for specific and sensitive detection of breast cancer
Zhang, Cheng, Li, Li, Han, Felicity Y., Yu, Xinying, Tan, Xiao, Fu, Changkui, Xu, Zhi Ping and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2019). Integrating fluorinated polymer and manganese‐layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as pH‐activated 19 F MRI agents for specific and sensitive detection of breast cancer. Small, 15 (36) 1902309, 1902309. doi: 10.1002/smll.201902309
Featured
2018
Journal Article
High F-content perfluoropolyether-based nanoparticles for targeted detection of breast cancer by 19F magnetic resonance and optical imaging
Zhang, Cheng, Moonshi, Shehzahdi Shebbrin, Wang, Wenqian, Ta, Hang Thu, Han, Yanxiao, Han, Felicity Y., Peng, Hui, Král, Petr, Rolfe, Barbara E., Gooding, John Justin, Gaus, Katharina and Whittaker, Andrew Keith (2018). High F-content perfluoropolyether-based nanoparticles for targeted detection of breast cancer by 19F magnetic resonance and optical imaging. ACS Nano, 12 (9) acsnano.8b03726, 9162-9176. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.8b03726
Featured
2017
Journal Article
PFPE-Based Polymeric 19F MRI Agents: A New Class of Contrast Agents with Outstanding Sensitivity
Zhang, Cheng, Moonshi, Shehzahdi Shebbrin, Han, Yanxiao, Puttick, Simon, Peng, Hui, Magoling, Bryan John Abel, Reid, James C., Bernardi, Stefano, Searles, Debra J., Král, Petr and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2017). PFPE-Based Polymeric 19F MRI Agents: A New Class of Contrast Agents with Outstanding Sensitivity. Macromolecules, 50 (15), 5953-5963. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.7b01285
2025
Journal Article
New sorbents for removing forever chemicals need standardized reporting
Su, Zicheng, Yang, Zhuojing, Liu, Kehan, Yu, Chunrong, Guo, Jianhua and Zhang, Cheng (2025). New sorbents for removing forever chemicals need standardized reporting. Nature Reviews Materials. doi: 10.1038/s41578-025-00795-1
2025
Journal Article
Revealing the role of varied quaternary ammonium groups for capturing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
Liu, Kehan, Tan, Xiao, Yang, Zhuojing, He, Yutong, Zhu, Yutong, Chen, Zhou, Leibfarth, Frank A. and Zhang, Cheng (2025). Revealing the role of varied quaternary ammonium groups for capturing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Macromolecules, 58 (5), 2563-2573. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c02210
2025
Journal Article
Hollow Polyaniline Microspheres Encapsulated in Eutectogels for Multimodal Flexible Sensors toward Human Health Monitoring
Yan, Kai, Gong, Miaomiao, Xu, Qunna, Zhang, Cheng, Zong, Yan, Sun, Xiaodan and Xue, Rong (2025). Hollow Polyaniline Microspheres Encapsulated in Eutectogels for Multimodal Flexible Sensors toward Human Health Monitoring. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 7 (5), 3054-3066. doi: 10.1021/acsapm.4c03746
2025
Book Chapter
Polymeric 19F MRI agents: designing responsive imaging agents
Peng, Hui, Zhang, Cheng, Fu, Changkui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2025). Polymeric 19F MRI agents: designing responsive imaging agents. Fluorine magnetic resonance imaging: methods and applications in biomedicine. (pp. 1-32) edited by Eric T. Ahrens and Ulrich Flögel. Singapore, Singapore: Jenny Stanford Publishing. doi: 10.1201/9781003530046-1
2024
Journal Article
Functional fluoropolymer surfactants for droplet generation in microfluidics
Cheng, Xinrong, Wang, Yiqing, Xia, Bingzhao, Tan, Xiao, Li, Xiangke, Zhu, Yutong, He, Yutong, Wang, Yu, Zhang, Yuhao, Liu, Kehan, Qiao, Ruirui and Zhang, Cheng (2024). Functional fluoropolymer surfactants for droplet generation in microfluidics. ACS Applied Polymer Materials, 6 (23), 14401-14409. doi: 10.1021/acsapm.4c02392
2024
Journal Article
Thermoresponsive polymer sorbents for efficient removal of perfluorinated compounds via simple heating
Tan, Xiao, Wang, Yiqing, Yang, Zhuojing, Zhu, Yutong, Yu, Chunrong, Liu, Kehan, He, Yutong, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Zhang, Cheng (2024). Thermoresponsive polymer sorbents for efficient removal of perfluorinated compounds via simple heating. Macromolecules, 57 (23), 11166-11176. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c01868
2024
Journal Article
Additives capable of stably supplying anions/cations for homogeneous lithium deposition/stripping
Qian, Shangshu, Tan, Xiao, Zhu, Yutong, Wang, Yun, Chen, Hao, Zheng, Mengting, Zhang, Cheng, Zhang, Shanqing and Lu, Jun (2024). Additives capable of stably supplying anions/cations for homogeneous lithium deposition/stripping. ACS Nano, 18 (50), 34363-34374. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.4c13229
2024
Journal Article
Discrete side chains for direct tuning properties of grafted polymers
Wang, Yiqing, Tan, Xiao, Zhang, Yuhao, Hill, David J. T., Zhang, Afang, Kong, Dehui, Hawker, Craig J., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Zhang, Cheng (2024). Discrete side chains for direct tuning properties of grafted polymers. Macromolecules, 57 (24), 11753-11762. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.4c02533
2024
Journal Article
Multifunctional nanocomposite polymer-integrated Ca-doped CeO2 electrolyte for robust and high-rate all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries
Yang, Pan, Wu, Zhenzhen, Li, Mingli, Zhang, Cheng, Wang, Yiqing, Zhu, Yutong, Li, Meng, Wang, Yun, Li, Dong-sheng, Chen, Hao and Zhang, Shanqing (2024). Multifunctional nanocomposite polymer-integrated Ca-doped CeO2 electrolyte for robust and high-rate all-solid-state sodium-ion batteries. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition, 64 (6) e202417778, 1-13. doi: 10.1002/anie.202417778
2024
Journal Article
Fluoropolymer sorbent for efficient and selective capturing of per- and polyfluorinated compounds
Yang, Zhuojing, Zhu, Yutong, Tan, Xiao, Gunjal, Samruddhi Jayendra Jayendra, Dewapriya, Pradeep, Wang, Yiqing, Xin, Ruijing, Fu, Changkui, Liu, Kehan, Macintosh, Katie, Sprague, Lee G., Leung, Lam, Hopkins, Timothy E., Thomas, Kevin V., Guo, Jianhua, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Zhang, Cheng (2024). Fluoropolymer sorbent for efficient and selective capturing of per- and polyfluorinated compounds. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 8269, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52690-y
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Cheng Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Removal of Perfluorinated Chemicals PFAS Using New Fluorinated Polymer Sorbents
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of highly persistent chemicals that are linked to a number of human diseases, however existing approaches for removal of PFAS are highly inefficient. This project aims to develop and evaluate novel, reusable polymer sorbents for effective PFAS removal. The polymer sorbents will enable efficient, selective and continuous sorption of PFAS, while maintaining excellent environmental stability for long-term implementation in practical devices. The project will develop novel polymer sorbents to revolutionize the remediation of PFAS with high technical, economic and environmental feasibility, creating a pathway to a PFAS-free world, and ultimately protecting the natural environment.
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Preparation of Highly Effective and Versatile Discrete Molecular Transporters for the Delivery of Drugs and Probes
The design and development of new agents that enable or enhance the passage of drugs and probes across biological barriers is a goal of unsurpassed significance in the search for improved imaging molecules, diagnostics and therapies. However, the development of highly-effective molecular transporters is hindered by current synthetic strategies. As such, it is critical to be able to prepare novel monodisperse molecular transporters (Ð=1) with precise structures, compositions, and function, which are essential for their special and unique transport properties. In this project, a versatile and scalable strategy for the preparation of discrete (monodisperse) materials will be developed. This approach enables the combination of facile polymerization procedures and ubiquitous purification processes. Different types of well-defined oligomers with different charges will be synthesized and their interaction and internalization with cells will be further demonstrated.
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19F MRI Imaging Agents for Disease Detection
The aim of this project is to develop new magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging strategies that will enable the in vivo monitoring of biological processes. Specifically, we will develop novel fluorinated polymers for imaging of early markers of diseases such as melanoma, prostate cancer, malignant glioma and Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, the project involves the synthesis of new partly-fluorinated polymers having controlled architecture for the rapidly developing field of 19F MRI. Other imaging modalities, drugs and targeting ligands will be conjugated. The project aims to relate the structure of the macromolecules, determined carefully using advanced techniques such as NMR, light scattering, GPC, AFM and electron microscopy, to the performance as imaging agents. The agents will be tested in small animal (mouse) models of disease already developed by this group and our collaborators.
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High-Resolution Imaging Technologies for Advanced Battery Design
This project aims to advance the development of long-lasting sustainable batteries by innovating new polymer electrolyte additives and incorporating new imaging techniques. The use of polymer additives is one of the most economical approaches for improving battery performance. However, polymers prepared using modern techniques have a broad range of physical properties and chemical structures, obscuring how their design principles are understood. This project expects to tackle these challenges by developing a new method for producing truly discrete new polymers. The expected outcomes are new knowledge in polymer electrolytes and imaging which will result in more efficient and reliable batteries. This provides significant benefits to polymer science and Australia’s renewable battery industry.
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Removal of Perfluorinated Chemicals PFAS Using New Fluorinated Polymer Sorbents
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of highly persistent chemicals that are linked to a number of human diseases, however existing approaches for removal of PFAS are highly inefficient. This project aims to develop and evaluate novel, reusable polymer sorbents for effective PFAS removal. The polymer sorbents will enable efficient, selective and continuous sorption of PFAS, while maintaining excellent environmental stability for long-term implementation in practical devices. The project will develop novel polymer sorbents to revolutionize the remediation of PFAS with high technical, economic and environmental feasibility, creating a pathway to a PFAS-free world, and ultimately protecting the natural environment.
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Preparation of Highly Effective and Versatile Discrete Molecular Transporters for the Delivery of Drugs and Probes
The design and development of new agents that enable or enhance the passage of drugs and probes across biological barriers is a goal of unsurpassed significance in the search for improved imaging molecules, diagnostics and therapies. However, the development of highly-effective molecular transporters is hindered by current synthetic strategies. As such, it is critical to be able to prepare novel monodisperse molecular transporters (Ð=1) with precise structures, compositions, and function, which are essential for their special and unique transport properties. In this project, a versatile and scalable strategy for the preparation of discrete (monodisperse) materials will be developed. This approach enables the combination of facile polymerization procedures and ubiquitous purification processes. Different types of well-defined oligomers with different charges will be synthesized and their interaction and internalization with cells will be further demonstrated.
-
19F MRI Imaging Agents for Disease Detection
The aim of this project is to develop new magnetic resonance (MR) molecular imaging strategies that will enable the in vivo monitoring of biological processes. Specifically, we will develop novel fluorinated polymers for imaging of early markers of diseases such as melanoma, prostate cancer, malignant glioma and Alzheimer’s disease. Specifically, the project involves the synthesis of new partly-fluorinated polymers having controlled architecture for the rapidly developing field of 19F MRI. Other imaging modalities, drugs and targeting ligands will be conjugated. The project aims to relate the structure of the macromolecules, determined carefully using advanced techniques such as NMR, light scattering, GPC, AFM and electron microscopy, to the performance as imaging agents. The agents will be tested in small animal (mouse) models of disease already developed by this group and our collaborators.
-
High-Resolution Imaging Technologies for Advanced Battery Design
This project aims to advance the development of long-lasting sustainable batteries by innovating new polymer electrolyte additives and incorporating new imaging techniques. The use of polymer additives is one of the most economical approaches for improving battery performance. However, polymers prepared using modern techniques have a broad range of physical properties and chemical structures, obscuring how their design principles are understood. This project expects to tackle these challenges by developing a new method for producing truly discrete new polymers. The expected outcomes are new knowledge in polymer electrolytes and imaging which will result in more efficient and reliable batteries. This provides significant benefits to polymer science and Australia’s renewable battery industry.
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Developing novel imaging tool for monitoring PFAS
This project aims to innovate and evaluate novel imaging technologies for the sensitive detection, visualization, and quantification of PFAS.
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Surface engineering of polymer sorbents for efficient PFAS capture
This project will innovate and evaluate novel and reusable ion-exchange resins enabling superior efficient, selective and continuous sorption of PFAS, while maintaining excellent environmental stability for long-term implementation of PFAS capture.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Next-generation polymer-based solid electrolytes for advanced batteries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Debra Bernhardt
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Master Philosophy
Surface engineering of polymer sorbents for efficient PFAS capture
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Felicity Han
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Doctor Philosophy
Highly efficient, selective and reusable technology for long-term implementation of PFAS capture
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr Pradeep Dewapriya
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Doctor Philosophy
Novel Anode Protection Technology for Advanced Batteries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lianzhou Wang
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Doctor Philosophy
Fluoropolymeric Ionic Conductors for Battery Technologues
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of Novel Agents for PFAS Monitoring and Removal from Contaminated Sources
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kristofer Thurecht
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of fluorine in advanced energy applications
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr Felicity Han
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Doctor Philosophy
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-Containing Polymeric surfactant for Microfluidic Droplet Generation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Thomas Davis, Dr Ruirui Qiao
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Doctor Philosophy
New biomedical imaging tools using nanotechnology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Thomas Davis, Dr Ruirui Qiao
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Doctor Philosophy
Electrolytes and Interfaces in Rechargeable Batteries
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Stephen Sanderson, Professor Debra Bernhardt
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-Containing Polymeric Devices for Efficient Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Water Sources
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hui Peng, Dr Changkui Fu, Professor Andrew Whittaker
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Fluorinated Hydrogels as Advanced Drug Delivery Systems for Monitoring Drug Release
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Hui Peng, Professor Andrew Whittaker
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Targeting hypoxic cancer stem cells with nanoparticles
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Dr Wenyi Gu, Associate Professor Barbara Rolfe
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Cheng Zhang directly for media enquiries about:
- PFAS
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