Dr Changkui Fu is currently an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland (UQ).
Dr Fu obtained his bachelor and PhD degrees in Chemistry from Tsinghua University China in 2010 and 2015 respectively. After that, he moved to the Centre of Advanced Macromolecular Design (CAMD) in the UNSW as a postdoctoral researcher working with Prof Cyrille Boyer to explore photo-induced polymerization technologies. In 2016, he relocated to AIBN, UQ as a postdoctoral research fellow in Prof Andrew Whittaker's group on developing advanced imaging agents. In 2018, He was awarded a UQ Development Fellowship to work on novel bioactive polymers. Following this, he was awarded an NHMRC Emerging Investigator Grant on studying Bio-Nano interaction.
Dr Fu's research focuses on the design and synthesis of novel polymers with well-defined molecular structures and sophisticated functionalities. These polymers are suitable for a range of advanced applications including controlled drug delivery and bioimaging. He has published a number of peer-reviewed articles in leading scientific journals including Macromolecules, ACS Macro Letter, Polymer Chemistry, Advanced Healthcare Materials, Chemical Communications, JACS, Angewandte Chemie and others, and been granted a patent. To date, these publications have received nearly 4000 citations in total with an h-index of 36.
Dr Fu is looking for HDRs to join his group with a focus on Polymer Science and Biomaterials.
Journal Article: Recent Advances in Antifouling Surface Polymer Brushes
Xu, Xin, Chang, Yixin, Gong, Yutong, Zhang, Yuhao, Yu, Ye, Peng, Hui and Fu, Changkui (2023). Recent Advances in Antifouling Surface Polymer Brushes. ACS Applied Polymer Materials. doi: 10.1021/acsapm.3c02150
Journal Article: Stimuli-responsive sulfoxide polymer–protein conjugates with improved pharmacokinetics and tumor delivery
Ediriweera, Gayathri R., Chang, Yixin, Wang, Qiaoyun, Gong, Yutong, Akhter, Dewan T., Pang, Huiwen, Han, Felicity Y., Chen, Chunying, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Fu, Changkui (2023). Stimuli-responsive sulfoxide polymer–protein conjugates with improved pharmacokinetics and tumor delivery. Chemistry of Materials, 35 (17), 7252-7265. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c01566
Journal Article: Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for brain imaging and drug delivery
Qiao, Ruirui, Fu, Changkui, Forgham, Helen, Javed, Ibrahim, Huang, Xumin, Zhu, Jiayuan, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Davis, Thomas P. (2023). Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for brain imaging and drug delivery. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 197 114822, 1-31. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114822
Synthetic joint bio-lubricants for mitigating osteoarthritis and associated chronic pain
(2024) Arthritis Foundation of Australia
Improving the Delivery Efficiency of Nanomedicines to Tumour Tissue
(2021–2025) NHMRC Investigator Grants
Sulfoxide Polymers - A New Paradigm in Polymer Design
(2021–2024) ARC Discovery Projects
Improving the Delivery Efficiency of Nanomedicines to Tumour Tissue
Doctor Philosophy
Intelligent Metal-Organic Frameworks Nanohybrids for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
(2023) Doctor Philosophy
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-Containing Polymeric Devices for Efficient Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Water Sources
Doctor Philosophy
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).
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).
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).
Recent Advances in Antifouling Surface Polymer Brushes
Xu, Xin, Chang, Yixin, Gong, Yutong, Zhang, Yuhao, Yu, Ye, Peng, Hui and Fu, Changkui (2023). Recent Advances in Antifouling Surface Polymer Brushes. ACS Applied Polymer Materials. doi: 10.1021/acsapm.3c02150
Ediriweera, Gayathri R., Chang, Yixin, Wang, Qiaoyun, Gong, Yutong, Akhter, Dewan T., Pang, Huiwen, Han, Felicity Y., Chen, Chunying, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Fu, Changkui (2023). Stimuli-responsive sulfoxide polymer–protein conjugates with improved pharmacokinetics and tumor delivery. Chemistry of Materials, 35 (17), 7252-7265. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c01566
Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for brain imaging and drug delivery
Qiao, Ruirui, Fu, Changkui, Forgham, Helen, Javed, Ibrahim, Huang, Xumin, Zhu, Jiayuan, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Davis, Thomas P. (2023). Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for brain imaging and drug delivery. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 197 114822, 1-31. doi: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114822
Fluoropolymer-MOF hybrids with switchable hydrophilicity for 19F MRI-monitored cancer therapy
Wang, Qiaoyun, Yu, Ye, Chang, Yixin, Xu, Xin, Wu, Min, Ediriweera, Gayathri R., Peng, Hui, Zhen, Xu, Jiang, Xiqun, Searles, Debra J., Fu, Changkui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2023). Fluoropolymer-MOF hybrids with switchable hydrophilicity for 19F MRI-monitored cancer therapy. ACS Nano, 17 (9), 8483-8498. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.3c00694
Ding, Shanshan, Hao, Mengmeng, Fu, Changkui, Lin, Tongen, Baktash, Ardeshir, Chen, Peng, He, Dongxu, Zhang, Chengxi, Chen, Weijian, Whittaker, Andrew K., Bai, Yang and Wang, Lianzhou (2022). In situ bonding regulation of surface ligands for efficient and stable FAPbI3 quantum dot solar cells. Advanced Science, 9 (35) 2204476, 1-11. doi: 10.1002/advs.202204476
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
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 K. and Zhang, Cheng (2022). Efficient removal of perfluorinated chemicals from contaminated water sources using magnetic fluorinated polymer sorbents. Angewandte Chemie, 134 (49) e202213071, 1-9. doi: 10.1002/ange.202213071
Zhang, Yuhao, Zhang, Meili, Xu, Xin, Chan, Chris H. H., Peng, Hui, Hill, David J. T., Fu, Changkui, Fraser, John and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2022). Anti-fouling surfaces for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation by surface grafting of hydrophilic sulfoxide polymers. Biomacromolecules, 23 (10), 4318-4326. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00775
Antifouling and antibacterial surfaces grafted with sulfur-containing copolymers
Xu, Xin, Wang, Qiaoyun, Chang, Yixin, Zhang, Yuhao, Peng, Hui, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Fu, Changkui (2022). Antifouling and antibacterial surfaces grafted with sulfur-containing copolymers. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 14 (36), 41400-41411. doi: 10.1021/acsami.2c09698
Low-fouling gold nanorod theranostic agents enabled by a sulfoxide polymer coating
Chang, Yixin, Wang, Qiaoyun, Xu, Weizhi, Huang, Xumin, Xu, Xin, Han, Felicity Y., Qiao, Ruirui, Ediriweera, Gayathri R., Peng, Hui, Fu, Changkui, Liu, Kun and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2022). Low-fouling gold nanorod theranostic agents enabled by a sulfoxide polymer coating. Biomacromolecules, 23 (9), 3866-3874. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00696
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
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
Development of a hyperbranched polymer-based methotrexate nanomedicine for rheumatoid arthritis
Marasini, Nirmal, Er, Gerald, Fu, Changkui, Subasic, Christopher N., Ibrahim, Jibriil, Skwarczynski, Mariusz, Toth, Istvan, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Kaminskas, Lisa M. (2022). Development of a hyperbranched polymer-based methotrexate nanomedicine for rheumatoid arthritis. Acta Biomaterialia, 142, 298-307. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.01.054
Zhang, Meili, Chan, Chris H.H., Pauls, Jo P., Semenzin, Clayton, Ainola, Carmen, Peng, Hui, Fu, Changkui, Whittaker, Andrew K., Heinsar, Silver and Fraser, John F. (2022). Investigation of heparin-loaded poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogels as anti-thrombogenic surface coatings for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 10 (26), 4974-4983. doi: 10.1039/d2tb00379a
Enhanced Mucosal Transport of Polysaccharide–Calcium Phosphate Nanocomposites for Oral Vaccination
Cao, Pei, Wang, Jingjing, Sun, Bing, Rewatkar, Prarthana, Popat, Amirali, Fu, Changkui, Peng, Hui, Xu, Zhi Ping and Li, Li (2021). Enhanced Mucosal Transport of Polysaccharide–Calcium Phosphate Nanocomposites for Oral Vaccination. ACS Applied Bio Materials, 4 (11) acsabm.1c00798, 7865-7878. doi: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00798
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
Eco‐friendly biomolecule‐nanomaterial hybrids as next‐generation agrochemicals for topical delivery
Li, Peng, Huang, Yun, Fu, Changkui, Jiang, Shang Xu, Peng, Wei, Jia, Yi, Peng, Hong, Zhang, Ping, Manzie, Narelle, Mitter, Neena and Xu, Zhi Ping (2021). Eco‐friendly biomolecule‐nanomaterial hybrids as next‐generation agrochemicals for topical delivery. EcoMat, 3 (5) eom2.12132, 1-19. doi: 10.1002/eom2.12132
Inhibition of amyloid aggregation and toxicity with Janus iron oxide nanoparticles
Andrikopoulos, Nicholas, Song, Zhiyuan, Wan, Xulin, Douek, Alon M., Javed, Ibrahim, Fu, Changkui, Xing, Yanting, Xin, Fangyun, Li, Yuhuan, Kakinen, Aleksandr, Koppel, Kairi, Qiao, Ruirui, Whittaker, Andrew K., Kaslin, Jan, Davis, Thomas P., Song, Yang, Ding, Feng and Ke, Pu Chun (2021). Inhibition of amyloid aggregation and toxicity with Janus iron oxide nanoparticles. Chemistry of Materials, 33 (16) acs.chemmater.1c01947, 6484-6500. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.1c01947
Editorial: Design, Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Functional Polymers
Fu, Changkui, Zhu, Chongyu, Synatschke, Christopher V. and Zhang, Xiaoyong (2021). Editorial: Design, Synthesis and Biomedical Applications of Functional Polymers. Frontiers in Chemistry, 9 681189, 681189. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2021.681189
Zhao, Jiacheng, McCallum, Francis J., Yu, Ye, Fu, Changkui, Kaitz, Joshua A., Cameron, James F., Trefonas, Peter, Blakey, Idriss, Peng, Hui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Photo-directing chemoepitaxy: the versatility of poly(aryl methacrylate) films in tuning block copolymer wetting. Polymer Chemistry, 12 (21), 3201-3209. doi: 10.1039/d1py00501d
Photo/thermal dual responses in aqueous-soluble copolymers containing 1-naphthyl methacrylate
Zhao, Jiacheng, Er, Gerald Tze Kwang, McCallum, Francis J., Wang, Sisi, Fu, Changkui, Kaitz, Joshua A., Cameron, James F., Trefonas, Peter, Blakey, Idriss, Peng, Hui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Photo/thermal dual responses in aqueous-soluble copolymers containing 1-naphthyl methacrylate. Macromolecules, 54 (10), 4860-4870. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00297
Tan, Xiao, Zhong, Jiexi, Fu, Changkui, Dang, Huy, Han, Yanxiao, Král, Petr, Guo, Jianhua, Yuan, Zhiguo, Peng, Hui, Zhang, Cheng and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Amphiphilic perfluoropolyether copolymers for the effective removal of polyfluoroalkyl substances from aqueous environments. Macromolecules, 54 (7) acs.macromol.1c00096, 3447-3457. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00096
Antifouling surfaces enabled by surface grafting of highly hydrophilic sulfoxide polymer brushes
Xu, Xin, Huang, Xumin, Chang, Yixin, Yu, Ye, Zhao, Jiacheng, Isahak, Naatasha, Teng, Jisi, Qiao, Ruirui, Peng, Hui, Zhao, Chun-Xia, Davis, Thomas P., Fu, Changkui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Antifouling surfaces enabled by surface grafting of highly hydrophilic sulfoxide polymer brushes. Biomacromolecules, 22 (2), 330-339. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.0c01193
Usman, Adil, Zhang, Cheng, Zhao, Jiacheng, Peng, Hui, Kurniawan, Nyoman D., Fu, Changkui, Hill, David J. T. and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2021). Tuning the thermoresponsive properties of PEG-based fluorinated polymers and stimuli responsive drug release for switchable 19F magnetic resonance imaging. Polymer Chemistry, 12 (38), 5438-5448. doi: 10.1039/d1py00602a
Marasini, Nirmal, Fu, Changkui, Fletcher, Nicholas L., Subasic, Christopher, Er, Gerald, Mardon, Karine, Thurecht, Kristofer J., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Kaminskas, Lisa M. (2020). The impact of polymer size and cleavability on the intravenous pharmacokinetics of PEG-based hyperbranched polymers in rats. Nanomaterials, 10 (12) 2452, 1-16. doi: 10.3390/nano10122452
Zhu, Minze, Whittaker, Andrew K., Jiang, Xingyu, Tang, Rupei, Li, Xuanyu, Xu, Weizhi, Fu, Changkui, Smith, Maree T. and Han, Felicity Y. (2020). Use of microfluidics to fabricate bioerodable lipid hybrid nanoparticles containing hydromorphone or ketamine for the relief of intractable pain. Pharmaceutical Research, 37 (10) 211, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s11095-020-02939-0
Functional polymers as metal-free magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents
Fu, Changkui, Yu, Ye, Xu, Xin, Wang, Qiaoyun, Chang, Yixin, Zhang, Cheng, Zhao, Jiacheng, Peng, Hui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2020). Functional polymers as metal-free magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents. Progress in Polymer Science, 108 101286, 101286. doi: 10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2020.101286
Biomimetic core-shell silica nanoparticles using a dual-functional peptide
Tengjisi, Hui, Yue, Yang, Guangze, Fu, Changkui, Liu, Yun and Zhao, Chun-Xia (2020). Biomimetic core-shell silica nanoparticles using a dual-functional peptide. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 581 (Pt A), 185-194. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.07.107
Liu, Jianping, Wu, Yilun, Fu, Changkui, Li, Bei, Li, Li, Zhang, Run, Xu, Tiefeng and Xu, Zhi Ping (2020). Charge reversion simultaneously enhances tumor accumulation and cell uptake of layered double hydroxide nanohybrids for effective imaging and therapy. Small, 16 (31) 2002115, e2002115. doi: 10.1002/smll.202002115
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
Yu, Ye, Xu, Weizhi, Huang, Xumin, Xu, Xin, Qiao, Ruirui, Li, Yuhuan, Han, Felicity, Peng, Hui, Davis, Thomas P., Fu, Changkui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2020). Proteins conjugated with sulfoxide-containing polymers show reduced macrophage cellular uptake and improved pharmacokinetics. ACS Macro Letters, 9 (6), 799-805. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00291
Qiao, Ruirui, Fu, Changkui, Li, Yuhuan, Qi, Xiaole, Ni, Dalong, Nandakumar, Aparna, Siddiqui, Ghizal, Wang, Haiyan, Zhang, Zheng, Wu, Tingting, Zhong, Jian, Tang, Shi‐Yang, Pan, Shuaijun, Zhang, Cheng, Whittaker, Michael R., Engle, Jonathan W., Creek, Darren J., Caruso, Frank, Ke, Pu Chun, Cai, Weibo, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Davis, Thomas P. (2020). Sulfoxide‐containing polymer‐coated nanoparticles demonstrate minimal protein fouling and improved blood circulation. Advanced Science, 7 (13) 2000406, 2000406. doi: 10.1002/advs.202000406
Low-fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking
Fu, Changkui, Demir, Baris, Alcantara, Sheilajen, Kumar, Vinod, Han, Felicity, Kelly, Hannah, Tan, Xiao, Yu, Ye, Xu, Weizhi, Zhao, Jiacheng, Zhang, Cheng, Peng, Hui, Boyer, Cyrille, Woodruff, Trent, Kent, Stephen, Searles, Debra and Whittaker, Andrew (2020). Low-fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 59 (12), 4729-4735. doi: 10.1002/anie.201914119
Multimodal nanoprobe for pancreatic beta cell detection and amyloidosis mitigation
Xin, Fangyun, Li, Yuhuan, Fu, Changkui, Javed, Ibrahim, Huang, Xumin, Schaschkow, Anais, Ribeiro, Rita S. Garcia, Gurzov, Esteban N., Davis, Thomas P., Zhang, Xiaoling, Ke, Pu Chun and Qjao, Ruirui (2020). Multimodal nanoprobe for pancreatic beta cell detection and amyloidosis mitigation. Chemistry of Materials, 32 (3), 1080-1088. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemmater.9b03841
Low‐fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking
Fu, Changkui, Demir, Baris, Alcantara, Sheilajen, Kumar, Vinod, Han, Felicity, Kelly, Hannah G., Tan, Xiao, Yu, Ye, Xu, Weizhi, Zhao, Jiacheng, Zhang, Cheng, Peng, Hui, Boyer, Cyrille, Woodruff, Trent M., Kent, Stephen J., Searles, Debra J. and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2020). Low‐fouling fluoropolymers for bioconjugation and in vivo tracking. Angewandte Chemie, 132 (12), 4759-4765. doi: 10.1002/ange.201914119
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
Fluorinated glycopolymers as reduction-responsive 19F MRI agents for targeted imaging of cancer
Fu, Changkui, Tang, Joyce, Pye, Aidan, Liu, Tianqing, Zhang, Cheng, Tan, Xiao, Han, Felicity, Peng, Hui and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2019). Fluorinated glycopolymers as reduction-responsive 19F MRI agents for targeted imaging of cancer. Biomacromolecules, 20 (5) acs.biomac.9b00241, 2043-2050. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.9b00241
Zhang, Cheng, Sanchez, Ronny Javier Pibaque, Fu, Changkui, Clayden-Zabik, Ryan, Peng, Hui, Kempe, Kristian and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2018). Importance of thermally induced aggregation on 19F Magnetic Resonance Imaging of perfluoropolyether-based comb-shaped poly(2-oxazoline)s. Biomacromolecules, 20 (1) acs.biomac.8b01549, 365-374. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01549
Qiao, Ruirui, Esser, Lars, Fu, Changkui, Zhang, Cheng, Hu, Jinming, Ramírez-arcía, Paulina, Li, Yuhuan, Quinn, John F., Whittaker, Michael R., Whittaker, Andrew K. and Davis, Thomas P. (2018). Bioconjugation and fluorescence labeling of iron oxide nanoparticles grafted with bromomaleimide-terminal polymers. Biomacromolecules, 19 (11) acs.biomac.8b01282, 4423-4429. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.8b01282
Fu, Changkui, Zhang, Cheng, Peng, Hui, Han, Felicity, Baker, Carly, Wu, Yuao, Ta, Hang and Whittaker, Andrew K. (2018). Enhanced performance of polymeric 19F MRI contrast agents through incorporation of highly water-soluble monomer MSEA. Macromolecules, 51 (15) acs.macromol.8b01190, 5875-5882. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.8b01190
Fu, Changkui, Huang, Zixuan, Hawker, Craig J., Moad, Graeme, Xu, Jiangtao and Boyer, Cyrille (2017). RAFT-mediated, visible light-initiated single unit monomer insertion and its application in the synthesis of sequence-defined polymers. Polymer Chemistry, 8 (32), 4637-4643. doi: 10.1039/c7py00713b
Synthesis of discrete oligomers by sequential PET-RAFT single-unit monomer insertion
Xu, Jiangtao, Fu, Changkui, Shanmugam, Sivaprakash, Hawker, Craig J., Moad, Graeme and Boyer, Cyrille (2017). Synthesis of discrete oligomers by sequential PET-RAFT single-unit monomer insertion. Angewandte Chemie, 129 (29), 8496-8503. doi: 10.1002/ange.201610223
Synthesis of discrete oligomers by sequential PET-RAFT single-unit monomer insertion
Xu, Jiangtao, Fu, Changkui, Shanmugam, Sivaprakash, Hawker, Craig J., Moad, Graeme and Boyer, Cyrille (2017). Synthesis of discrete oligomers by sequential PET-RAFT single-unit monomer insertion. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56 (29), 8376-8383. doi: 10.1002/anie.201610223
Polymeric 19F MRI agents responsive to reactive oxygen species
Fu, Changkui, Herbst, Shauna, Zhang, Cheng and Whittaker, Andrew (2017). Polymeric 19F MRI agents responsive to reactive oxygen species. Polymer Chemistry, 8 (31), 4585-4595. doi: 10.1039/c7py00986k
Zhang, Yaling, Fu, Changkui, Li, Yongsan, Wang, Ke, Wang, Xing, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2017). Synthesis of an injectable, self-healable and dual responsive hydrogel for drug delivery and 3D cell cultivation. Polymer Chemistry, 8 (3), 537-544. doi: 10.1039/c6py01704e
Photoacid-mediated ring opening polymerization driven by visible light
Fu, Changkui, Xu, Jiangtao and Boyer, Cyrille (2016). Photoacid-mediated ring opening polymerization driven by visible light. Chemical Communications, 52 (44), 7126-7129. doi: 10.1039/c6cc03084j
Fu, Changkui, Xu, Jiangtao, Kokotovic, Mitchell and Boyer, Cyrille (2016). One-pot synthesis of block copolymers by orthogonal ring-opening polymerization and PET-RAFT polymerization at ambient temperature. ACS Macro Letters, 5 (4), 444-449. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.6b00121
Xu, Jiangtao, Shanmugam, Sivaprakash, Fu, Changkui, Aguey-Zinsou, Kondo-Francois and Boyer, Cyrille (2016). Selective photoactivation: from a single unit monomer insertion reaction to controlled polymer architectures. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 138 (9), 3094-3106. doi: 10.1021/jacs.5b12408
Fu, Changkui, Bongers, Andre, Wang, Ke, Yang, Bin, Zhao, Yuan, Wu, Haibo, Wei, Yen, Duong, Hien T. T., Wang, Zhiming and Tao, Lei (2016). Facile synthesis of a multifunctional copolymer via a concurrent RAFT-enzymatic system for theranostic applications. Polymer Chemistry, 7 (3), 546-552. doi: 10.1039/c5py01652e
Lighting up the PEGylation agents via the Hantzsch reaction
Zhang, Qingdong, Zhao, Yuan, Yang, Bin, Fu, Changkui, Zhao, Lingyun, Wang, Xing, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2016). Lighting up the PEGylation agents via the Hantzsch reaction. Polymer Chemistry, 7 (3), 523-528. doi: 10.1039/c5py01624j
The Ugi reaction in polymer chemistry: syntheses, applications and perspectives
Yang, Bin, Zhao, Yuan, Wei, Yen, Fu, Changkui and Tao, Lei (2015). The Ugi reaction in polymer chemistry: syntheses, applications and perspectives. Polymer Chemistry, 6 (48), 8233-8239. doi: 10.1039/c5py01398d
Multicomponent copolycondensates via the simultaneous Hantzsch and Biginelli reactions
Wu, Haibo, Fu, Changkui, Zhao, Yuan, Yang, Bin, Wei, Yen, Wang, Zhiming and Tao, Lei (2015). Multicomponent copolycondensates via the simultaneous Hantzsch and Biginelli reactions. ACS Macro Letters, 4 (11), 1189-1193. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00637
Zhao, Yuan, Yu, Ying, Zhang, Yuanyi, Wang, Xing, Yang, Bin, Zhang, Yaling, Zhang, Qingdong, Fu, Changkui, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2015). From drug to adhesive: a new application of poly(dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one)s via the Biginelli polycondensation. Polymer Chemistry, 6 (27), 4940-4945. doi: 10.1039/c5py00684h
Huang, Zengfang, Fu, Changkui, Wang, Shiqi, Yang, Bin, Wang, Xing, Zhang, Qingsong, Yuan, Jinying, Tao, Lei and Wei, Yen (2015). Optically active polymer via one-pot combination of chemoenzymatic transesterification and RAFT polymerization: synthesis and its application in hybrid silica particles. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 216 (13), 1483-1489. doi: 10.1002/macp.201500106
Zhao, Yuan, Wu, Haibo, Zhang, Yuanyi, Wang, Xing, Yang, Bin, Zhang, Qingdong, Ren, Xu, Fu, Changkui, Wei, Yen, Wang, Zhiming, Wang, Yurong and Tao, Lei (2015). Postpolymerization modification of poly(dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-thione)s via the thiourea-haloalkane reaction to prepare functional polymers. ACS Macro Letters, 4 (8), 843-847. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.5b00428
Tao, Lei, Fu, Changkui and Wei, Yen (2015). New synthetic strategy for facile synthesis of functional polymers by one-pot combination of controlled radical polymerization and enzymatic reaction. Polymer International, 64 (6), 705-712. doi: 10.1002/pi.4875
Huang, Zengfang, Zhang, Xiqi, Zhang, Xiaoyong, Fu, Changkui, Wang, Ke, Yuan, Jinying, Tao, Lei and Wei, Yen (2015). Amphiphilic fluorescent copolymers via one-pot combination of chemoenzymatic transesterification and RAFT polymerization: synthesis, self-assembly and cell imaging. Polymer Chemistry, 6 (4), 607-612. doi: 10.1039/c4py01421a
Yang, Bin, Zhao, Yuan, Ren, Xu, Zhang, Xiaoyong, Fu, Changkui, Zhang, Yaling, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2015). The power of one-pot: a hexa-component system containing π-π Stacking, Ugi reaction and RAFT polymerization for simple polymer conjugation on carbon nanotubes. Polymer Chemistry, 6 (4), 509-513. doi: 10.1039/c4py01323a
Zhang, Qingdong, Zhang, Yaling, Zhao, Yuan, Yang, Bin, Fu, Changkui, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2015). Multicomponent polymerization system combining Hantzsch reaction and reversible addition - fragmentation chain transfer to efficiently synthesize well-defined poly(1,4-dihydropyridine)s. ACS Macro Letters, 4 (1), 128-132. doi: 10.1021/mz500734c
Zhao, Yuan, Yang, Bin, Zhang, Yaling, Wang, Shiqi, Fu, Changkui, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2014). Fluorescent PEGylation agent by a thiolactone-based one-pot reaction: a new strategy for theranostic combinations. Polymer Chemistry, 5 (23), 6656-6661. doi: 10.1039/c4py00995a
Synthesis of multifunctional polymers through the ugi reaction for protein conjugation
Yang, Bin, Zhao, Yuan, Wang, Shiqi, Zhang, Yaling, Fu, Changkui, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2014). Synthesis of multifunctional polymers through the ugi reaction for protein conjugation. Macromolecules, 47 (16), 5607-5612. doi: 10.1021/ma501385m
From polymer sequence control to protein recognition: synthesis, self-assembly and lectin binding
Lu, Jiawei, Fu, Changkui, Wang, Shiqi, Tao, Lei, Yan, Litang, Haddleton, David M., Chen, Gaojian and Wei, Yen (2014). From polymer sequence control to protein recognition: synthesis, self-assembly and lectin binding. Macromolecules, 47 (14), 4676-4683. doi: 10.1021/ma500664u
Fu, Changkui, Xu, Jiangtao, Tao, Lei and Boyer, Cyrille (2014). Combining enzymatic monomer transformation with photoinduced electron transfer - Reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer for the synthesis of complex multiblock copolymers. ACS Macro Letters, 3 (7), 633-638. doi: 10.1021/mz500245k
Zhao, Yuan, Yang, Bin, Zhu, Chongyu, Zhang, Yaling, Wang, Shiqi, Fu, Changkui, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2014). Introducing mercaptoacetic acid locking imine reaction into polymer chemistry as a green click reaction. Polymer Chemistry, 5 (8), 2695-2699. doi: 10.1039/c4py00058g
Yang, Bin, Zhao, Yuan, Fu, Changkui, Zhu, Chongyu, Zhang, Yaling, Wang, Shiqi, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2014). Introducing the Ugi reaction into polymer chemistry as a green click reaction to prepare middle-functional block copolymers. Polymer Chemistry, 5 (8), 2704-2708. doi: 10.1039/c4py00001c
Facile one-pot synthesis of new functional polymers through multicomponent systems
Wang, Shiqi, Fu, Changkui, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2014). Facile one-pot synthesis of new functional polymers through multicomponent systems. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 215 (6), 486-492. doi: 10.1002/macp.201300738
Thermo and pH dual-responsive materials for controllable oil/water separation
Cao, Yingze, Liu, Na, Fu, Changkui, Li, Kan, Tao, Lei, Feng, Lin and Wei, Yen (2014). Thermo and pH dual-responsive materials for controllable oil/water separation. ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, 6 (3), 2026-2030. doi: 10.1021/am405089m
Exploration of multicomponent polymerization system
Wang, Shiqi, Fu, Changkui, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2014). Exploration of multicomponent polymerization system. Progress in Chemistry, 26 (7), 1099-1106. doi: 10.7536/PC140110
Fu, Changkui, Yang, Bin, Zhu, Chongyu, Wang, Shiqi, Zhang, Yun, Wei, Yen and Tao, Lei (2013). Synthesis of gradient copolymers by concurrent enzymatic monomer transformation and RAFT polymerization. Polymer Chemistry, 4 (24), 5720-5725. doi: 10.1039/c3py00841j
A new insight into the Biginelli reaction: the dawn of multicomponent click chemistry?
Zhu, Chongyu, Yang, Bin, Zhao, Yuan, Fu, Changkui, Tao, Lei and Wei, Yen (2013). A new insight into the Biginelli reaction: the dawn of multicomponent click chemistry?. Polymer Chemistry, 4 (21), 5395-5400. doi: 10.1039/c3py00553d
Nonionic polymer cross-linked chitosan hydrogel: preparation and bioevaluation
Xu, Liangxin, Zhang, Xiaoyong, Zhu, Chongyu, Zhang, Yaling, Fu, Changkui, Yang, Bin, Tao, Lei and Wei, Yen (2013). Nonionic polymer cross-linked chitosan hydrogel: preparation and bioevaluation. Journal of Biomaterials Science - Polymer Edition, 24 (13), 1564-1574. doi: 10.1080/09205063.2013.781934
A multicomponent polymerization system: click-chemoenzymatic-ATRP in one-pot for polymer synthesis
Zhang, Yun, Fu, Changkui, Zhu, Chongyu, Wang, Shiqi, Tao, Lei and Wei, Yen (2013). A multicomponent polymerization system: click-chemoenzymatic-ATRP in one-pot for polymer synthesis. Polymer Chemistry, 4 (3), 466-469. doi: 10.1039/c2py21039h
Hierarchically porous chitosan-PEG-silica biohybrid: synthesis and rapid cell adsorption
Fu, Changkui, Wang, Shiqi, Feng, Lin, Liu, Xiaoqi, Ji, Yan, Tao, Lei, Li, Shuxi and Wei, Yen (2013). Hierarchically porous chitosan-PEG-silica biohybrid: synthesis and rapid cell adsorption. Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2 (2), 302-305. doi: 10.1002/adhm.201200166
Fu, Changkui, Zhu, Chongyu, Wang, Shiqi, Liu, Honglei, Zhang, Yun, Guo, Hongchao, Tao, Lei and Wei, Yen (2013). One-pot synthesis of optically active polymer via concurrent cooperation of enzymatic resolution and living radical polymerization. Polymer Chemistry, 4 (2), 264-267. doi: 10.1039/c2py20875j
Wang, Shiqi, Fu, Changkui, Zhang, Yun, Tao, Lei, Li, Shuxi and Wei, Yen (2012). One-pot cascade synthetic strategy: a smart combination of chemoenzymatic transesterification and raft polymerization. ACS Macro Letters, 1 (10), 1224-1227. doi: 10.1021/mz300444w
Fu, Changkui, Tao, Lei, Zhang, Yun, Li, Shuxi and Wei, Yen (2012). Combining chemoenzymatic monomer transformation with ATRP: a facile "one-pot" approach to functional polymers. Chemical Communications, 48 (72), 9062-9064. doi: 10.1039/c2cc34633h
PolyPEGylated nanodiamond for intracellular delivery of a chemotherapeutic drug
Zhang, Xiaoyong, Wang, Shiqi, Fu, Changkui, Feng, Lin, Ji, Yan, Tao, Lei, Li, Shuxi and Wei, Yen (2012). PolyPEGylated nanodiamond for intracellular delivery of a chemotherapeutic drug. Polymer Chemistry, 3 (10), 2716-2719. doi: 10.1039/c2py20457f
PEGylation and polyPEGylation of nanodiamond
Zhang, Xiaoyong, Fu, Changkui, Feng, Lin, Ji, Yan, Tao, Lei, Huang, Qing, Li, Shuxi and Wei, Yen (2012). PEGylation and polyPEGylation of nanodiamond. Polymer, 53 (15), 3178-3184. doi: 10.1016/j.polymer.2012.05.029
CO2-responsive polymeric vesicles that breathe
Yan, Qiang, Zhou, Rong, Fu, Changkui, Zhang, Huijuan, Yin, Yingwu and Yuan, Jinying (2011). CO2-responsive polymeric vesicles that breathe. Angewandte Chemie (International Edition), 50 (21), 4923-4927. doi: 10.1002/anie.201100708
Electroactive conducting polymers for biomedical applications
Wei, Yen, Li, Baosong, Fu Changkui and Qi, Hongxu (2010). Electroactive conducting polymers for biomedical applications. Acta Polymerica Sinica, 00 (12), 1399-1405. doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1105.2010.10194
Immobilization of enzymes and cells in novel nanomaterials for biofuel technology
Wei, Yen, Cao, Yingze, Zhai, Wentao, Zhang, Xiang, Fu, Changkui, Tao, Lei, Feng, Lin, Yuan, Jinying and Li, Shuxi (2012). Immobilization of enzymes and cells in novel nanomaterials for biofuel technology. 11th International Biorelated Polymer Symposium / 243rd National Spring Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), San Diego Ca, Mar 25-29, 2012. AMER CHEMICAL SOC.
Synthetic joint bio-lubricants for mitigating osteoarthritis and associated chronic pain
(2024) Arthritis Foundation of Australia
Improving the Delivery Efficiency of Nanomedicines to Tumour Tissue
(2021–2025) NHMRC Investigator Grants
Sulfoxide Polymers - A New Paradigm in Polymer Design
(2021–2024) ARC Discovery Projects
Novel cyclic glycopolymers for improved inhibition of bacterial AB5 toxins
(2018–2020) UQ Development Fellowships
Improving the Delivery Efficiency of Nanomedicines to Tumour Tissue
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Perfluoropolyether (PFPE)-Containing Polymeric Devices for Efficient Removal of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) from Water Sources
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Computational design of targeted lipid technologies
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Multifunctional nanomedicine for enhanced incisional pain relief and healing
Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Developing innovative protein-polymer conjugates for advanced treatment of diseases
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Low fouling surfaces for Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) devices
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Novel low-fouling biopolymers for biomedical applications
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Hybrid metal-polymer nanoparticles for disease detection
Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Intelligent Metal-Organic Frameworks Nanohybrids for Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Dibromomaleimide-Based Conjugation Reactions for Self-Reporting Polymers
(2022) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Novel hydrogels for delivery of cancer drugs
(2022) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Polymer-assisted Smart Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Novel Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agents
(2022) Master Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Note for students: The possible research projects listed on this page may not be comprehensive or up to date. Always feel free to contact the staff for more information, and also with your own research ideas.
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).
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).
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).
We welcome motivated students with background on synthetic chemistry, polymer science, biomaterials, and pharmacy to join our research programs.