Biophysics & Biomedical Physics
Biophysics is an interdisciplinary field that applies the theories and methods of physics to study how biological systems work. It covers life at all scales, from atoms and molecules to cells, organisms, bodies, and even populations. This field has significant overlap with many other fields, such as math, biochemistry, chemistry, biology, engineering, nanotechnology, physiology, pharmacology, etc.
The lab led by Dr. Susanne Ullrich uses modern time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopies to study the function and dynamics of photoexcited biomolecules. Experimental facilities include a high energy femtosecond laser system and photoelectron photoion coincidence spectrometer.
The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) physics lab, led by Dr. Qun Zhao, has been focusing on innovating novel approaches to improve MRI at cellular levels. Advanced applications include tracking of stem cells labeled with iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP), early detection of cancers and IONP-based therapeutic treatment. Recently, deep learning (a statistical machine learning approach) has been integrated with MRI to map structural and functional connectivity in human and animal brains, which will open a new door for neuroimaging.
The Nanolab led by Dr. Yiping Zhao develops novel nanomaterials, devices and systems for antimicrobial applications, new chemical and biological sensors, cell growth and manipulation, and disease treatment and drug delivery with nanoparticles.
Researchers
Recent Publications
Internal conversion and intersystem crossing dynamics of Uracil upon double thionation: A time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy study in the gas phase.
A. Mohamadzade, S.Ullrich: Internal conversion and intersystem crossing dynamics of Uracil upon double thionation: A time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy study in the gas phase. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2020, 22, 15608.
The Discretized Motion of Surface Walker under a Non-Uniform AC Magnetic Field
Yanjun Yang and Yiping Zhao, "The Discretized Motion of Surface Walker under a Non-Uniform AC Magnetic Field," Langmuir https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.0c02132.
High-Sensitive Assay of Nucleic Acid
Chunyuan Song, Xinyu Jiang, Yanjun Yang, Jingjing Zhang, Steven Larson, Hoang Luong, Yiping Zhao, and Lianhui Wang, "High-Sensitive Assay of Nucleic Acid Using Tetrahedral DNA Probes and DNA Concatamers with a Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering/Surface Plasmon Resonance Dual-Mode Biosensor Based on a Silver Nanorod-Covered Silver Nanohole Array," ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2020.
Manipulation of single cells using a ferromagnetic nanorod cluster actuated by weak AC magnetic fields
Zhu, W. Huang, F. Yang, L. Yin, S. Liang, W. Zhao, L. Mao, X. Yu, R. Qiao, and Y. Zhao, "Manipulation of single cells using a ferromagnetic nanorod cluster actuated by weak AC magnetic fields," Adv. Biosystems, DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800246(2019).