
Overview
Background
- 2023-now Joint Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Nutrition and Food Sciences, The Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (CNFS, QAAFI)
- 2022-now Senior Research Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
- 2020-now NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
- 2017-2019 ARC DECRA Fellow, AIBN, The University of Queensland
- 2016-2017 Research Associate, AIBN, The University of Queensland
- 2013-2015 Macquarie University Research Fellow (MQRF), Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Science (CBMS), Macquarie University
- 2012-2013 Postdoc Research Fellow, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Macquarie University
- July 2012 PhD, Analytical Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology (DLUT), China
Research Team: Dr Zhang is now leading more than 15 researchers, working on the development of responsive molecules/nanomaterials for biosensing and imaging, early disease detection and treatment, food/agricultural/environmental applications. He has collaborations with scientist in Chemistry, Materials Science, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Food and Agriculture Science, and Biophotonics from Australia, US, UK, Sweden, India, Russia and China.
Research Support: Since 2011, Dr Zhang has attracted 12 research grants (> 4 million) as chief investigator (lead CI and/or co-CI). These grants include 3 Fellowship (NHMRC Emerging Leadership, ARC DECRA and MQRF to develop responsive probes for redox biomarkers detection within body), 1 NHMRC Project grant in redox quantification in liver cancer chemotherapy, 1 UQ ECR grant, 1 NSFC grant, and another 3 grants from universities.
Research Output: Dr Zhang has published more than 190 research papers since his first publication in 2010 (>100 papers published as first and/or corresponding author), and 1 patent. He frequently publishes in a number of premier journals, such as Nature Photonics, Nature Plants, Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS), Angewandte Chemie, Analytical Chemistry, Chemical Society Reviews, and Accounts of Chemical Research. These publications have received ~10,000 citations with an H-index of 57. He has 8 Highly Cited Papers (7 in the ESI field of Chemistry-Analytical) and 3 Hot Articles.
Service: Dr Zhang is an Editor of TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry (Elsevier, 1/106 in Analytical Chemistry) and Methods (Elsevier, 7/85 in Biochemical Research), and Editorial Board Member of several international high impact journals, such as Chemistry-An Asian Journal (Wiley), Aggregate (Wiley), Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis (Elsevier), Green Analytical Chemistry (Elsevier). He is a referee of ~80 international journals (2nd most contributions of all UQ researchers, with >20 awards from RSC and Elsevier journals), and grant assessor for more than 10 country and regions, such as Australia, UK, Europe, Netherland, New Zealand.
Award: Dr Zhang's national and international standing in the fields of chemistry (analytical and inorganic) and functional nanomaterials is evidenced by the awards of ACS Rising Star in Measurement Science, NJC Emerging Investigator, Biosensors Young Investigator Award, IAAM Scientist Medal, Vebleo Fellow, IAAM Fellow, ARC DECRA, NHMRC EL Fellow, MQRF, and more than 20 TOP Outstanding Reviewer awards from RSC and Elsevier. He has been a World's Top 2% Scientist in Chemistry (Analytical) and Nanoscience & Nanotechnology since 2022 by Stanford/Elsevier World’s Top 2% Scientist Ranking, and top 0.5% of all scholars worldwide for excellence in research productivity, impact and quality by ScholarGPS Ranking (ranked #183 Globally in Biomedical Engineering). He has delivered 40+ invited presentations and keynotes.
Teaching and Supervision: Dr Zhang has a strong commitment to training students. His students have received several awards, such as 4 "Dean’s Commendation for Outstanding Academic Performance", 1 "Dean’s Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research", 1 "Dean's Award for Outstanding HDR Theses", ANFF-Q students award, 3MT Runner-UP and People's Choice. He has supervised 6 PhD and >20 Masters to completion. He is now co-coordinating and lecturing the MSE PP ENGY7112/7115/7114/7215 in School of Chem. Eng., EAIT. His teaching contributions in Faculty of Science, UQ are recognised by two nominations of "Dean’s Commendation for Excellent Teaching Awards" in semesters 1 and 2 in 2022.
Availability
- Dr Run Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Engineering, Dalian University of Technology
Research interests
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Responsive probes to detect and visualise highly reactive biomolecules
design and synthesis of organic/organometallic complexes (including Ru(II) and Ir(III) complexes and lanthanide chelate) for sensing of bioactive ions, reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), redox biomolecules, gasotransmitters, amino acid, and proteins in various diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases.
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Functional nanomaterial for early diseases diagnosis and treatment
engineering of functional nanomaterials for disease detection and treatment through monitoring and regulation of redox state, including photodynamic therapy (PDT), photothermal therapy (PTT), and sonodynamic therapy (SDT) for diseases deeply seated in body.
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Sensors for the detection of food quality & safety and environmental pollutants
development of ultra-sensitive sensors for the detection of food additives, antibiotics, pesticides, spoilage, heavy metals, toxic anions and gases (greenhouse gases and VOCs), etc.
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Bionanoprobes for deep tissue sensing and imaging
fabrication of responsive nanomaterials for sensing and imaging of biomarkers located deeply inside the body. The probes allow the monitoring of specific disease-related biomarkers through optical, acoustic, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
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Redox monitoring and regulation for diagnosis and treatment
development of novel luminescent probes with long emission lifetime to eliminate autofluorescence, allowing background-free quantification and bioimaging of redox species in situ development of responsive nanomaterials for treatment through quantitative redox regulation
Works
Search Professor Run Zhang’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Enhancing plant biotechnology by nanoparticle delivery of nucleic acids
Yong, Jiaxi, Wu, Miaomiao, Carroll, Bernard J., Xu, Zhi Ping and Zhang, Run (2024). Enhancing plant biotechnology by nanoparticle delivery of nucleic acids. Trends in Genetics, 40 (4), 352-363. doi: 10.1016/j.tig.2024.01.005
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Bioorthogonally activated probes for precise fluorescence imaging
Fu, Youxin, Zhang, Xing, Wu, Luling, Wu, Miaomiao, James, Tony D. and Zhang, Run (2024). Bioorthogonally activated probes for precise fluorescence imaging. Chemical Society Reviews, 54 (1), 201-265. doi: 10.1039/d3cs00883e
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Luminescent sensors for residual antibiotics detection in food: Recent advances and perspectives
Zhang, Zexi, Zhang, Huayue, Tian, Dihua, Phan, Anh, Seididamyeh, Maral, Alanazi, Mazen, Xu, Zhi Ping, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Zhang, Run (2024). Luminescent sensors for residual antibiotics detection in food: Recent advances and perspectives. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 498 215455, 1-27. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2023.215455
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Responsive metal complex probes for time-gated luminescence biosensing and imaging
Zhang, Run and Yuan, Jingli (2020). Responsive metal complex probes for time-gated luminescence biosensing and imaging. Accounts of Chemical Research, 53 (7), 1316-1329. doi: 10.1021/acs.accounts.0c00172
2025
Journal Article
Near-infrared copper ions fluorescent probe for assessing Alzheimer's disease progression and its application in real samples by constructing a portable test kit
Zhang, Yueyuan, Zhai, Heshu, Shang, Zhuye, Wang, Yanshai, He, Maomao, Zhang, Zhiqiang, Zhang, Run and Meng, Qingtao (2025). Near-infrared copper ions fluorescent probe for assessing Alzheimer's disease progression and its application in real samples by constructing a portable test kit. Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 444 138442, 138442. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2025.138442
2025
Journal Article
An ascorbic acid responsive nanoprobe for food shelf-life determination and plant growth assessment
Tian, Dihua, Zhang, Zexi, Plavilathundil, Suzanne Mathews, Tian, Xinyang, Seididamyeh, Maral, Alanazi, Mazen, Phan, Anh, Wu, Miaomiao, Shi, Jiahua, Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Carroll, Bernard J. and Zhang, Run (2025). An ascorbic acid responsive nanoprobe for food shelf-life determination and plant growth assessment. Food Chemistry, 492 (Pt 1) 145347, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2025.145347
2025
Journal Article
Rapid and on-site detection of copper ions in food and herbal samples via smartphone-assisted fluorescent-probe-based portable test kit
Zhang, Yueyuan, Chen, Xiaolong, Shang, Zhuye, Zhang, Zhiqiang, Zhang, Run and Meng, Qingtao (2025). Rapid and on-site detection of copper ions in food and herbal samples via smartphone-assisted fluorescent-probe-based portable test kit. Microchemical Journal, 218 115369, 115369. doi: 10.1016/j.microc.2025.115369
2025
Journal Article
A turn-on near-infrared fluorescent probe for monitoring carbon monoxide in bacterial pneumonia and cadmium ion induced abiotic stress responses in plants
Zhai, Heshu, Zhang, Yueyuan, Tian, Dihua, Shang, Zhuye, Wu, Miaomiao, Zhang, Zhiqiang, Meng, Qingtao and Zhang, Run (2025). A turn-on near-infrared fluorescent probe for monitoring carbon monoxide in bacterial pneumonia and cadmium ion induced abiotic stress responses in plants. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 495 139135, 139135-495. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.139135
2025
Journal Article
Intercalating cerium into layered double hydroxide as a promising reactive oxygen species scavenger for inflammation treatment
Nguyen, Thanh-Truc, Varga, Gábor, Pickett, Jessica, Wu, Miaomiao, Ta, Hang Thu, Xu, Zhi Ping and Zhang, Run (2025). Intercalating cerium into layered double hydroxide as a promising reactive oxygen species scavenger for inflammation treatment. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 13 (35), 11001-11009. doi: 10.1039/d5tb00829h
2025
Journal Article
Native Australian plants to combat oral health-related pathogens
Pusporini, Ratih, Seididamyeh, Maral, Thi Phan, Anh Dao, Zhang, Run, Xu, Chun and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2025). Native Australian plants to combat oral health-related pathogens. Microbiological Research, 301 128307, 128307-301. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2025.128307
2025
Journal Article
Self-Immolative Cationic Iridium(III) Complex-Encapsulated Nanoprodrug for Enhanced Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy of Melanomas
Liu, Chaolong, Yan, Jianqin, Wu, Miaomiao, Wang, Wenyu, Yuan, Lu, Tian, Dihua, Sun, Yong and Zhang, Run (2025). Self-Immolative Cationic Iridium(III) Complex-Encapsulated Nanoprodrug for Enhanced Chemo-Photodynamic Synergistic Therapy of Melanomas. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 147 (31) jacs.5c06657, 27812-27821. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5c06657
2025
Journal Article
An azacrown ether-based near-infrared fluorescent probe for the detection of Pb2+ and its applications in food, environmental water, plant and animal samples
Zhang, Yueyuan, Wei, Huacong, Li, Yu, Shang, Zhuye, Zhang, Run, Zhang, Zhiqiang and Meng, Qingtao (2025). An azacrown ether-based near-infrared fluorescent probe for the detection of Pb2+ and its applications in food, environmental water, plant and animal samples. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1351 343882. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2025.343882
2025
Journal Article
Lysozyme-coated nanoparticles for active uptake and delivery of synthetic RNA and plasmid-encoded genes in plants
Yong, Jiaxi, Xu, Wang, Wu, Miaomiao, Zhang, Run, Mann, Christopher W. G., Liu, Guoquan, Brosnan, Christopher A., Mitter, Neena, Carroll, Bernard J. and Xu, Zhi Ping (2025). Lysozyme-coated nanoparticles for active uptake and delivery of synthetic RNA and plasmid-encoded genes in plants. Nature Plants, 11 (1) e2106945, 131-144. doi: 10.1038/s41477-024-01882-x
2025
Journal Article
Recent progress of functional nano-chitosan in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications: an updated review
Koirala, Pankaj, Bhattarai, Prabina, Sriprablom, Jiratthitikan, Zhang, Run, Nirmal, Siddhesh and Nirmal, Nilesh (2025). Recent progress of functional nano-chitosan in pharmaceutical and biomedical applications: an updated review. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 285 138324. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.138324
2025
Journal Article
A cobalt(<scp>iii</scp>) complex as a dual-mode probe for the detection of sodium dithionite <i>via</i> MRI and fluorescence
Zhou, Jiaqi, Huang, Zexiao, Xing, Haoyan, Wang, Yue, Zhang, Cheng, Shang, Zhuye, Meng, Qingtao, Zhang, Run and Zhang, Zhiqiang (2025). A cobalt(iii) complex as a dual-mode probe for the detection of sodium dithionite via MRI and fluorescence. Analytical Methods, 17 (31), 6366-6373. doi: 10.1039/d5ay00440c
2024
Journal Article
A responsive nanoprobe for ratiometric florescence detection of hydroxyl radicals in macrophage polarization
Alanazi, Mazen, Wu, Miaomiao, Yong, Jiaxi, Zhang, Zexi, Zhang, Huayue, Tian, Dihua and Zhang, Run (2024). A responsive nanoprobe for ratiometric florescence detection of hydroxyl radicals in macrophage polarization. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 12 (45), 11721-11730. doi: 10.1039/d4tb01934b
2024
Journal Article
Anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to reductive immobilization of hexavalent chromium by “Candidatus Methanoperedens”
Wang, Suicao, Zhang, Xueqin, Tian, Dihua, Zhao, Jing, Rabiee, Hesamoddin, Cai, Fangrui, Xie, Mengying, Virdis, Bernardino, Guo, Jianhua, Yuan, Zhiguo, Zhang, Run and Hu, Shihu (2024). Anaerobic oxidation of methane coupled to reductive immobilization of hexavalent chromium by “Candidatus Methanoperedens”. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 480 136020, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.136020
2024
Journal Article
Experiment and simulation study on the adsorption interaction between a fluorescent tracer and a montmorillonite crystal in drilling fluid
Fang, Jie, Huang, Ying, Li, Yangbing, Luo, Houfu, Ma, Lihua, Duan, Ming, Li, Xinliang, Zhang, Run and Xiong, Yan (2024). Experiment and simulation study on the adsorption interaction between a fluorescent tracer and a montmorillonite crystal in drilling fluid. Langmuir, 40 (47), 24901-24920. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c02848
2024
Journal Article
Blue shift of fluorescence emission reveals dsRNA-loading capacity of cationic nanocarriers
Li, Peng, Ma, Jiaqi, Jiang, Shangxu, Peng, Wei, Huang, Yun, Zhang, Run and Xu, Zhi Ping (2024). Blue shift of fluorescence emission reveals dsRNA-loading capacity of cationic nanocarriers. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 12 (41), 10559-10562. doi: 10.1039/d4tb01393j
2024
Journal Article
Ultrasound-responsive lipid nanoplatform with nitric oxide and carbon monoxide release for cancer sono-gaso-therapy
Opoku-Damoah, Yaw, Xu, Zhi Ping, Ta, Hang T. and Zhang, Run (2024). Ultrasound-responsive lipid nanoplatform with nitric oxide and carbon monoxide release for cancer sono-gaso-therapy. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 7 (11), 7585-7594. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.4c01165
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Run Zhang is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Responsive molecules and nanomaterials for bisoensing and bioimaging
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Sensors for environmental pollutants and food quality & safety
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Theranostic nanomaterials: especially the optical nanomaterials for diagnosis and therapy
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Responsive nanoprobe for redox biomolecules quantification
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Responsive probe for time-gated luminescence bioassay and imaging
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jiaxi Yong
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Doctor Philosophy
Functional piezoelectric scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Li Li
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Doctor Philosophy
Activatable nanomaterials for cancer treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ruirui Qiao
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Doctor Philosophy
Sensitive Detection of Antibiotics with Nanoprobes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of responsive nanoprobe for enzyme analysis in inflammation
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Improving the Shelf-life of Salmon Fillets Using an Advanced Nanoencapsulation Technology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Dharini Sivakumar, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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Doctor Philosophy
The efficacy of nanoencapsulation as a delivery system of Terminalia ferdinandiana extract for periodontal disease therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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Doctor Philosophy
Optimization and Characterization of Seaweed Bioactive Materials for Encapsulation and Valorization of Seaweed based products
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, Dr Dharini Sivakumar
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Doctor Philosophy
Upconversion-encoded microspheres for glucocorticoids detection as food hazards or health markers
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kayvan Etebari, Dr Zeinab Khalil, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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Doctor Philosophy
New Strategies in Targeted Proteolysis with Nanoparticle-Mediated mRNA Delivery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Li Li
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
In-situ growth of layered two-dimensional nano-sonosensitisers for enhanced sonodynamic therapy
Principal Advisor
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Precision Engineering Lipid Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery
Associate Advisor
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2024
Master Philosophy
Development of cerium-containing layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as antioxidants for disease treatment
Associate Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Developing efficient nanoparticle-based platform to deliver biomolecules for plant modification
Associate Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Layered double hydroxide nanoparticles tailored to target tumor microenvironment as multifunctional nanoplatforms for synergistic cancer therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Li Li
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Lipid-Coated Upconversion Nanoparticle as a Responsive Therapeutic Gas Release Nanoplatform for Cancer Therapy
Associate Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Development of theranostic nanomaterials based on iron oxide and cerium oxide for ROS-related and inflammatory diseases
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Novel Cu-LDH-based nanomedicine for combination cancer therapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Li Li
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Run Zhang directly for media enquiries about:
- Biosensing and imaging
- Cancer
- Environmental pollution
- Food safety
- Inflammation
- Optical probe
- Redox biomolecules
- Sensor
- Stress resilience
- Theranostic nanomaterials
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