Speaker: Dr. Zhicheng Jin, Georgia State University
Title: "Engineering Ligand and Peptide Materials for Theranostic Applications"

Abstract: The applications of nanotechnology and materials science have transformed biomedical research, particularly in diagnostics and therapeutics. As critical features shrink to the nanometer scale, precise control of surface properties and biophysical interactions becomes essential for optimizing performance in biological systems. In this talk, I will first introduce strategies for interfacing nanoparticles with biological environments using multifunctional ligands. I will then highlight two colorimetric enzyme-sensing mechanisms that leverage peptide design and colorant materials (i.e., gold nanoparticles and organic dyes). Finally, I will expand the discussion beyond sensing to therapeutic applications. Specifically, I will describe how nanoscale coacervates can serve as promising delivery vehicles for the sustained release of hydrophilic small molecules, enabling the safe and effective use of tetrodotoxin (TTX) as a local anesthetic for improved pain therapy.

Bio: Zhicheng Jin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Georgia State University. He completed his postdoctoral training with Dr. Jesse V. Jokerst at the University of California, San Diego, in the Department of NanoEngineering (CA, USA). He earned his Ph.D. from Florida State University (FL, USA) in 2020 under the supervision of Dr. Hedi Mattoussi and Dr. Qing-Xiang Amy Sang. He received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Lanzhou University (China) in 2015 and studied as an exchange student at Texas Tech University (TX, USA). His current research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of peptide materials as sensing probes and drug delivery vehicles to improve diagnostics and patient outcomes. He has co-authored more than 80 journal articles and holds one patent. Dr. Jin is an Associate Editor of Engineering Reports journal (Wiley), and a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE). He also serves as a session chair at the SPIE conference. His contributions to surface chemistry have been recognized by the scientific community with the Young Investigator Award at the 2020 SPIE conference.

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Departmental Seminar Series covers a broad range of fields in the Chemical and Biochemical Sciences. In past seminars, scientists from Academia, Government, and Industry have presented their most recent discoveries and contributions in their respective areas. This Seminar Series offers students and faculty the opportunity to interact directly with other leaders in their specializations and to gain a good overview of the entire range of fields in Chemistry and Biochemistry.