Changkui Fu

Synthesis and application of advanced polymeric imaging agents

This project focuses on developing advanced polymers capable of inherent imaging property for high-resolution and highly sensitive imaging applications. In particular, we are interested in exploring synthetic polymers that can be used as high performance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Despite the popular use of metal-based MRI contrast agents such as gadolinium-chelates or iron oxide nanoparticles, safety concerns have been raised associated with the use of these metal-based contrast agents. The polymers developed in this project will provide outstanding candidates as metal-free MRI contrast agents, which would enable a variety of biomedical applications such as targeted imaging and therapy of many diseases. For more details, please read our recent papers (Polym. Chem., 2017, 8, 4585-4595; Macromolecules 2018, 51, 5875-5882; Angew.Chem. Int.Ed. 2020, 59, 4729 –4735).

Design and synthesis of next-generation of antifouling polymers

Antifouling polymers play very important roles in many biomedical applications such as medical implants, drug delivery systems and targeted imaging and sensing. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been the most successful and popular antifouling polymer. Despite this, a number of limitations associated with use of PEG have emerged, with the apparent immunogenicity of PEG being the most striking and important as revealed by recent animal and clinical studies. The exact biological mechanism underpinning the immunogenicity of PEG is still not very clear. However, it is believed that the partial amphiphilic nature of PEG is largely responsible. Thus, this project aims to understand the origin of PEG immunogenicity, particularly from a perspective of the chemical nature of polymers, and correlate the antifouling performance of polymers to their structures to develop next-generation of antifouling polymers. For more details, please read our recent papers (Adv. Sci, 2020, 2000406; ACS Macro Lett. 2020, 9, 799–805; Angew.Chem. Int.Ed. 2020, 59, 4729 –4735).

Develop new approaches for the delivery of protein therapeutics

Proteins are an important class of pharmaceuticals. There are 6 protein therapeutics out 10 best-selling drugs of 2018. Overcoming the limitations of many protein therapeutics such as low aqueous solubility and biological stability as well as possible immunogenicity to improve their bioavailability is a key to use them to treat human diseases. This project aims to developing new approaches for efficient and effective delivery of proteins by utilising advanced synthetic chemistry and biocompatible polymer materials. We pay particular attention to the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the proteins formulated using our advanced approaches. For more details, please read our recent papers (ACS Macro Lett. 2020, 9, 799–805; Angew.Chem. Int.Ed. 2020, 59, 4729 –4735).

We welcome motivated students with background on synthetic chemistry, polymer science, biomaterials, and pharmacy to join our research programs.