Contact Information
Title
Assistant Dean (Student Affairs), Associate Professor
Office
(Office) E12-3010 / (Lab) E12-1069
Phone
(Office) +853 8822 4928 / (Lab) +853 8822 2914
Fax
+853 8822 2314
Email
XuanjunZhang@um.edu.mo
Consultation Hours

Tue, Thu 11:00 – 12:00

Teaching

Course Outlines

HSCI1000 General Chemistry
HSCI1001 General Chemistry Lab

Research Team
NamePositionOfficePhoneEmail
Jun GONGPhD Student (Lab Representative)E12-3039+853 8822 2914
Dongcheng LIUUM Macao Post-doctoral FellowE12-3039+853 8822 2914dongchengliu@um.edu.mo
Chunfei WANGResearch AssistantE12-3039+853 8822 2914chunfeiwang@um.edu.mo
Chunfei WANGPhD StudentE12-3039+853 8822 2914
Zhe CHENPhD StudentE12-3039+853 8822 2914
Zixiang WEIPhD StudentE12-3039+853 8822 2914
Shiyin ZHAOPhD StudentE12-3039+853 8822 2914
Zhao ZHANGPhD StudentE12-3039+853 8822 2914
Dan ZHANGPhD StudentE12-3039+853 8822 2914
Education
PhDUniversity of Science and Technology of China (2004)
MScAnhui University, China (2001)
BScShandong Institute of Light Industry, China (1998)
Positions
2020-presentAssociate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau
2020-presentAssistant Dean (Student Affairs), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau
2015-2020Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau
2011-2014Assistant Professor, Linköping University, Sweden
Obtained Docent (equivalent to Associate Professor) in 2014.05
2010-2011Visiting Scientist, University of Washington, USA
2009-2010Post-doctoral Fellow, Linköping University, Sweden
2006-2009Post-doctoral Fellow, National University of Singapore
2004-2006Post-doctoral Fellow, Shantou University, China
Research Interests
Synthetic Chemistry × Nanoscience × Semiconducting Polymers × Metal-organic Materials × Luminescent Probes × Bioimaging and Sensing

My research focuses on the molecular design of multifunctional probes for specific biomedical imaging and sensing. Our recent interests: (1) Small molecular probes and nanoprobes for biological microenvironment monitoring, including the detection of local pH value, temperature, and bio-related molecules. (2) Design of new luminescent and photoacoustic materials and study the structure-property relationship, including small organic molecules, semiconducting polymers, and metal-organic hybrid materials. Chemistry is the central science. We use the knowledge of chemistry to resolve challenging problems in material sciences with the aim of biomedical applications.

Representative Publications
  1. S. Wang, Z. Sheng*(corresponding author), Z. Yang, D. Hu, D. Hu, X. Long, G. Feng, Y. Liu, Z. Yuan, J. Zhang, H. Zheng, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Activatable Small-Molecule Photoacoustic Probes that Cross Blood-Brain Barrier for Visualization of Copper(II) in Mice with Alzheimer’s Disease”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 12415.
  2. B. Zhang, F. Wang, H. Zhou, D. Gao, Z. Yuan, C. Wu*(corresponding author), X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Polymer Dots Compartmentalized in Liposomes as Photocatalyst for In Situ Hydrogen Therapy”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 2744–2748. (Selected as VIP article)
  3. L. Chen, D. Che, Y. Jiang, J. Zhang, J. Yu, C. C. Dufort, S. R. Hingorani, X. Zhang, C. Wu, D. T. Chiu, “Bodipy-Based Donor/Donor-Acceptor System: Towards Highly Efficient Long Wavelength-Excitable Near-IR Polymer Dots with Narrow and Strong Absorption Features”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 7008–7012. (Selected as VIP article)
  4. J. Tan, C. Wang, H. K. Lao, W. Wang*(corresponding author), G. Feng, D. Yuan, C. Wu, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Spiro[pyrrol-benzopyran] Based Probe with High Asymmetry for Chiroptical Sensing via Circular Dichroism”, Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 7438–7441.
  5. D. Gao, B. Zhang, Y. Liu, D. Hu, Z. Sheng,*(corresponding author), X. Zhang*(corresponding author), Z. Yuan*(corresponding author), “Molecular Engineering of Near-Infrared Light-Responsive BODIPY-Based Nanoparticles with Enhanced Photothermal and Photoacoustic Efficiencies for Cancer Theranostics”, Theranostics. 2019, 9, 5315–5331.
  6. Z. Ding, C. Wang, S. Wang, L. Wu, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Light-harvesting metal-organic framework nanoprobes for ratiometric fluorescence energy transfer-based determination of pH values and temperature”, Microchimica Acta. 2019, 186, 474.
  7. C. Wang, X. Cheng, J. Tan, Z. Ding, W. Wang, D. Yuan, G. Li, H. Zhang*(corresponding author), X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Reductive cleavage of C=C bond as a new strategy to turn on dual fluorescence for effective sensing H2S”, Chemical Science. 2018, 9, 8369–8374. (2018 Hot Article)
  8. G. Feng, B. Zhang, C. Wang, J. Tan, S. Wang, Z. Ding, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Construction of Ratiometric Fluorescent Probe Based on Inverse Electron-demand Diels–Alder Reaction for pH Measurement in Living Cells”, Sensors and Actuators B: Chem. 2018, 277, 320–327.
  9. S. Wang, B. Zhang, W. Wang, G. Feng, D. Yuan*(corresponding author), X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Elucidating the structure-reactivity correlation of phenothiazine based fluorescent probes toward ClO–”. Chem. Eur. J. 2018, 24, 8157–8166.
  10. K. Sun, Y. Yang, H. Zhou, S. Yin, W. Qin, J. Yu, D. T. Chiu, Z. Yuan, X. Zhang, C. Wu, “Ultrabright polymer-Dot Transducer Enabled Wireless Glucose Monitoring via a Smartphone”, ACS Nano. 2018, 12, 5176–5184.
  11. S. Wang, Z. Li, Y. Liu, G. Feng, J. Zheng*(corresponding author), Z. Yuan* (corresponding author), X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Activatable Photoacoustic and Fluorescent Probe of Nitric Oxide for Cellular and in Vivo Imaging”, Sensors and Actuators B: Chem. 2018, 267, 403–411.
  12. W. Wang, Y. Li, P. V. Reddy, X. Zhang*(co-corresponding author), D. Yuan*(corresponding author), “A facile coordination-assisted method to fabricate a FRET-based fluorescent probe for ratiometric analysis with improved selectivity”, Sensors and Actuators B: Chem. 2017, 252, 159–164.
  13. Z. Ding, J. Tan, G. Feng, Z. Yuan, C. Wu, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), “Nanoscale Metal-Organic Frameworks Coated with Poly(vinyl Alcohol) for Ratiometric Peroxynitrite Sensing through FRET”, Chemical Science. 2017, 8, 5101–5106.
  14. C.-S. Ke, C.-C. Fang, J.-Y. Yan, P.-J. Tseng, J. R. Pyle, C.-P. Chen, S.-Y. Lin, J. Chen, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), Y.-H. Chan*(corresponding author), “Molecular Engineering and Design of Semiconducting Polymers to Develop Polymer Dots with Narrow-Band, Near-Infrared Emission for In Vivo Biological Imaging”, ACS Nano. 2017, 11, 3166–3177.
  15. Z. Hu*(corresponding author), J. Hu, H. Wang, Q. Zhang, M. Zhao, C. Brommesson, Y. Tian, H. Gao, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), K. Uvdal, “A TPA-caged precursor of (imino)coumarin for “turn-on” fluorogenic detection of Cu(I)”, Analy. Chim. Acta. 2016, 993, 189–195.
  16. G. Zhang, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), Y. Zhang, H. Wang, L. Kong, Y. Tian, X. Tao, H. Bi, J. Yang*(corresponding author), “Design and synthesis of an AIEE-active α-cyanostilbene derivative for Hg2+ detection in aqueous and living cells by coordination inducing aggregation”, Sensors & Actuators: B. Chem. 2015, 211, 730–739.
  17. X. Zhang*(corresponding author), W. Wang, Z. Hu, G. Wang, K. Uvdal*(corresponding author), “Coordination polymers for energy transfer: preparations, properties, sensing applications, and perspectives”, Coord. Chem. Rev. 2015, 284, 206–235.
  18. J. Hu, Z. Hu*(corresponding author), Y. Cui, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), H.-W. Gao, K. Uvdal, “A rhodamine-based fluorescent probe for Hg2+ and its application for biological visualization”, Sensors and Actuators B: Chem. 2014, 203, 452–458.
  19. G. Zhang, A. Ding, Y. Zhang, L. Yang, L. Kong, X. Zhang*(corresponding author), X. Tao, Y. Tian, J. Yang*(corresponding author), “Schiff base modified α-cyanostilbene derivative with aggregation-induced emission enhancement characteristics for Hg2+ detection”, Sensors and Actuators B: Chem. 2014, 202, 209–216.
  20. X. Zhang,† J. Yu†(co-first author), Y. Rong, F. Ye, D. T. Chiu, K. Uvdal, “High-intensity near-IR fluorescence in semiconducting polymer dots achieved by cascade FRET strategy”, Chemical Science. 2013, 4, 2143–2151.
  21. Y. Rong, C. Wu, J. Yu, X. Zhang, F. Ye, M. Zeigler, M. E. Gallina, I.-C. Wu, Y. Zhang, Y.-H. Chan, W. Sun, K. Uvdal, D. T. Chiu, “Multicolor Fluorescent Semiconducting Polymer Dots with Narrow-band Emissions and High Brightness”, ACS Nano. 2013, 7, 376–384.
  22. X. Zhang, J. Yu, C. Wu, Y. Jin, F. Ye, D. T. Chiu, “Importance of having low-density functional groups for generating high-performance semiconducting polymer dots”, ACS Nano. 2012, 6, 5429–5439.
  23. Y.-H. Chan, F. Ye, M. E. Gallina, X. Zhang, Y. Jin, I.-C. Wu, D. T. Chiu, “Hybrid Semiconducting Polymer Dot-Quantum Dot with Narrow-Band Emission, Near-Infrared Fluorescence, and High Brightness”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 7309–7312.
  24. J. Yu, C. Wu, X. Zhang, F. Ye, M. E. Gallina, R. Yu, Y. Wu, W. Sun, Y.-H. Chan, D. T. Chiu, “Stable Functionalization of Small Semiconducting Polymer Dots via Covalent Cross-linking and Application for Specific Cellular Imaging”, Adv. Mater. 2012, 24, 3498–3504.
  25. F. Ye, C. Wu, Y. Jin, Y.-H. Chan, X. Zhang, D. T. Chiu, “Ratiometric temperature sensing with semiconducting polymer dots”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 8146–8149.
  26. X. Zhang, M. A. Ballem, Z.-J. Hu, P. Bergman, K. Uvdal, “Nanoscale Light-harvesting Metal-organic Frameworks”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011, 50, 5729–5733.
  27. X. Zhang, M. A. Ballem, M. Ahrén, A. Suska, P. Bergman, K. Uvdal, “Nanoscale Ln(III)-carboxylate Coordination Polymers: Temperature-Controlled Encapsulation and Light Harvesting”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 10391–10397.
  28. X. Zhang, Z.-K. Chen, K. P. Loh, “Coordination-Assisted Assembly of 1-D Nanostructured Light-Harvesting Anntea”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 7210–7211.
  29. X. Zhang, X. Ren, Z.-K. Chen, Q.-H. Xu, K. P. Loh, “One- and Two-photon Fluorescent Probe for Cysteine and Homocysteine with Large Emission Shift”, Org. Lett. 2009, 11, 1257–1260.
  30. X. Zhang, D. Li, “Metal Salts Induced Vesicles as Efficient Directors for Rapid Synthesis of Hollow Alloy Spheres”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 5971–5974.

(* Corresponding Author)

Full publication list: http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-2131-2013

Research Grants
  • Start-up grant at University of Macau, (2015-2017), grant No. SRG2015-00007-FHS
  • FDCT grant from Macau government (2016-2019), grant No. FDCT052-2015-A2
  • FDCT grant from Macau government (2017-2020), grant No. FDCT082-2016-A2
  • Multi-year grant of UM, (2016-2019), grant No. MYRG 2016-00058-FHS
  • Multi-year grant of UM, (2018-2020), grant No. MYRG 2017-00066-FHS
  • FDCT-MOST joint grant (2018-2021), grant No. FDCT019/2017/AMJ
Others:

  • CeNano grant, Linköping University (2013-2014)
  • Liu-cancer seeding grant, Linköping University (2012)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China. (2013-2016, Co-investigator)
  • Natural science foundation of Guangdong Province, China (2005)
  • The China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2005)
  • Internal postdoc foundation, Shantou University (2004)
Patents
  • D.T. Chiu, C. Wu, X. Zhang, J. Yu, F. Ye, “Chromophoric Polymer Dots”, – PCT Patent. Publication No. WO 2012/054525 A2.
  • D. T. Chiu, C. Wu, X. Zhang, J. Yu, F. Ye, “Chromophoric Polymer Dots”, Publication No. 20130234067.
  • D. T. Chiu, C. Wu, X. Zhang, J. Yu, F. Ye, “Chromophoric Polymer Dots”, Publication No. 20130234068.
  • D. T. Chiu, C. Wu, Y. Rong, Y. Zhang, Y.-C. Wu, Y.-H. Chan, X. Zhang, J. Yu, W. Sun, “Chromophoric Polymer Dots with Narrow-Band Emission”, Publication No. 20140350183.
Awards
  • 2017, Certificate of Outstanding Reviewing “Dyes and Pigments”
  • 2017, Incentive Award Scheme for Outstanding Academic Staff, University of Macau
  • 2016, Certificate of Outstanding Reviewing “Sensors and Actuators, B: Chem”
  • 2003, Donggang Scholarship, University of Science & Technology of China
  • 2000, Outstanding Student, Anhui University, China
Professional Activities
  • Lead Guest Editor of “BioMed Research International” 2015.
  • Dr. Zhang as an active reviewer for more than 40 SCI journals including: Journal of the American Chemical Society (JACS); Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.; Chemical Science; Advanced Materials; ACS Nano; Chemical Communications; Anal. Chem.; Chemistry-A Europe Journal; Sensor & Actuators B: Chem.; ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, Nanoscale; etc.
  • Member of International Frequency Sensor Association (IFSA)
  • Member of the Chinese Chemical Society
Pedagogy and Teaching
  • Three-level pedagogy for higher education, Linköping University, Sweden. (2012-2014).
  • Current topics in biomedical imaging 2015/2016 (PhD course)
  • Current topics in nanoprobes for bioimaging from 2016/2017 (PhD course)
  • General Chemistry, University of Macau, from 2015/2016. (Undergraduate course, 3 credits)
  • Chemistry lab course, University of Macau, from 2015/2016. (Undergraduate course, 2 credits)
  • Course Leader of “Materials for Biomedical Engineering: From Nano- to Macroscale”, at Linköping University, 2014. (Undergraduate course, 8 credits)
  • Basic Chemistry, at Linköping University, 2013. (Undergraduate course, 2 credits)