Chemistry & Biochemistry

General

• Assistant Professor
• Ph.D., Northeastern University, China, 1997
• NSF CAREER award, 2009
• Marquis Who's Who in America, 2008
• Breast Cancer Concept Award, Department of Defense, 2007
• New Scientist Award, OCAST, 2006
• Senior Associate Editor, Microscopy Research & Technique, Wiley, 2009-present
• Guest Editor, Nanomaterials Characterization: Structures, Compositions, and Properties. (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jissue/112664403)
• Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Associate, the University of Texas at Austin, 2000-2005
• Editorial Board member, Microscopy Research & Technique, published by Wiley, 2002-present
• Guest Editor, Nanomaterials Characterization Using Microscopy (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/jissue/109792678)

Division:

• Materials Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry & Biochemistry

Research Interests

• Nanoscience and nanotechnology
• Interfacing biotechnology and nanotechnology
• Applying biotechnology and life science principles to develop nanotechnology
• Applying nanotechnology to develop biomedical technology and study fundamental problems in life sciences
• Synthesis, assembly, characterization and applications of biomolecular, inorganic, and hybrid nanomaterials and interfaces
• Biologically inspired and assisted growth and self-assembly of nanomaterials

Positions available

Postdoctoral positions in bio-/nano-science and technology are available in our group. The postdoctoral candidates should send their applications to Dr. Mao by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Because our research is multi- and cross-disciplinary, we are interested in candidates who have backgrounds in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, and/or materials science. Undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in working in our group are also encouraged to contact Dr. Mao. Please visit our research group website for more information about our research.

Research

Our research is focused on two aspects: (1) the application of biology in nanotechnology and (2) the application of nanotechnology in biology and medicine. Specifically, we take advantage of genetic engineering, mineralization and self-assembly of biological macromolecules to build bio-inorganic hybrid nanostructures with defined macromolecular architectures and chemical/biological functionalities; We mimic biological world to develop novel strategies for the controlled synthesis and assembly of bio-/nano-materials that can be used in electronics, photonics, and medicine; We exploit biological recognition of biomolecules and physical/chemical/biological properties of nanomaterials to develop biomimetic bio-nanomaterials that can be applied in bone regeneration and targeted cancer treatment; AND we integrate biologically-directed/inspired programmed assembly and nanofabrication to build novel optical devices. The following techniques are routinely used in our research: bacterial and mammalian cell culture, molecular cloning, phage display, cell surface display, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM (HRTEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), nanoparticle/nanorod/nanowire synthesis, and bioconjugation. Our lab includes four dedicated rooms. One of them is dedicated to animal study and equipped with animal surgery facilities. The animals used in our research will be housed in OU Animal Housing Facility, which happens to be next to our own animal surgery room. Routing care of animals is provided by the personnel of the Laboratory Animal Resources at OU. These individuals are trained and certified animal caretakers.

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Figure 1: The Nano-Bio two-way traffic

Figure 2: Cage-like biomolecules serve as nano-factories for constrained nanocrystal nucleation

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Figure 3: Site-specific nanocrystal nucleation templated by the filamentous biological structures: nanocrystals are assembled into a nanowire.

Teaching

Fall 2005 CHEM 4923 & 5923, Bionanotechnology (Undergraduate & Graduate)

Fall 2006 CHEM 4923 & 5923, Bionanotechnology (Undergraduate & Graduate)

Spring 2007 CHEM 6670, Advanced Nanotechnology (Graduate)

Fall 2007 CHEM 3423, Physical Chemistry I (Undergraduate & Graduate)

Spring 2008 CHEM 4923, Bionanotechnology (Undergraduate)

Spring 2009 CHEM 4923, Bionanotechnology (Undergraduate)

Fall 2009 CHEM 3423, Physical Chemistry I (Undergraduate)

Spring 2010 CHEM 4923, Bionanotechnology (Undergraduate)

Service

Service To Scientific Community:

2009- Senior Associate Editor, Microscopy Research and Technique, Wiley

2009- Editorial board member, Frontiers of Materials Science in China, Spinger

2008 Member of international scientific committee, the 10th International Symposium on Biomineralization: From Centimeter to Nanometer

2008 Ad Hoc member, NIH NANO study section

2005-present Proposal review panelist, NSF

2006 Co-organizer for Technical Track (Biomedical Application of Nanocomposite), Multifunctional NANOcomposites International Conference in Hawaii

2004 & 2006 Guest editor for two special issues on nano-imaging, Microscopy Research and Technique, Wiley

2004-present Editorial Board member, Microscopy Research and Technique, Wiley

2004-present Reviewed grant proposals for NIH, NSF, DOE, CRDF, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Foundation for Polish Science

2002-present Reviewed manuscripts for ~20 journals including Science, JACS, Angew Chem Int Ed, Chem Comm, Langmuir

2005-2009 Member of departmental library committee

2009-present Member of departmental seminar committee

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Publications

Selected Publications

1. Qiu, P.; Mao, C. B. "Bio-templated synthesis and assembly of nanomaterials." invited contribution, in preparation.
2. Abbineni, G.; Modali, S.; Safiejko-Mroczka, B.; Petrenko, V. A.; Mao, C. B. “Identification of new cell-targeting/internalizing ligands against SKBR-3 breast cancer cells by using a novel landscape phage display technique.” Submitted.

3. Sreeram, K. J.; Narayan, S.; Abbineni, G.; Hayhurst, A.; Mao, C. B. “Architectonics of phage-liposome nanowebs as optimized photosensitizer vehicles for photodynamic cancer therapy.” Submitted.

4. Abbineni, G.; Mao, C. B. “Design and Applications of Genetically Engineered Nanocomposites,” in Nanocomposites for Life Sciences, Wiley-VCH, invited contribution, in press.

5. Qiu, P.; Mao, C. B. “Biomimetic branched hollow fibers templated by self-assembled fibrous polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) structures in aqueous solution.” ACS Nano, 2009, in revision.

6. Wang, M.; Mi, C.; Zhang, Y.; Liu, J.; Li, F.; Mao, C. B.; Xu, S. K.. “NIR-responsive silica-coated NaYbF4:Er/Tm/Ho upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles with tunable emission colors and their applications in immunolabeling and fluorescent imaging of cancer cells.” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 2009, in press.

7. Wang, M.; Hou, W.; Mi, C.; Li, F.; Yi, K.; Wang, W.; Teng, H.; Mao, C. B.; Xu, S. K. "Immunoassay of goat antihuman immunoglobulin G antibody based on luminescence resonance energy transfer between near infrared responsive NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles and gold nanoparticles.” Analytical Chemistry, 2009, in press.

8. Abbineni, G.; Safiejko-Mroczka, B.; Mao, C. B. “Development of an optimized protocol for studying the interaction of filamentous bacteriophage with mammalian cells by fluorescence microscopy.” Microscopy Research & Technique, 2009, in press.

9. Sun, P.; Zhang, H.; Liu, C.; Fang, J.; Wang, M.; Chen, J.; Zhang, J.; Mao, C. B.; Xu, S. K.. “Multifunctional nanoparticles with covalently linked magnetic and fluorescent components and active functional groups for bioconjugation and their applications in immuno-labeling and fluorescent imaging of cancer cells.” Langmuir. 2009, In press.

10. Mao, C. B.; Liu, A.; Cao, B. "Virus-enabled chemical and biological sensing." Angewandte Chemie International Edition. 2009, 48, 6790-6810.

11. Wang, M.; Mi, C. C.; Wang, W. X.; Liu, C. H.; Wu, Y. F.; Xu, Z. R.; Mao, C. B.; Xu, S. K. “Immunolabelling and NIR-excited fluorescent imaging of HeLa cells by using NaYF4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles.” ACS Nano, 2009, 3, 1580-1586.

12. Ngweniform, P.; Abbineni, G., Cao, B.; Mao, C. B. "Self-assembly of drug-loaded liposomes on genetically engineered target-recognizing M13 phage: a novel nano-carrier for targeted drug delivery." Small, 2009, 5, 1963-1969.
13. Cao, B.; Mao, C. B. “Identification of microtubule-binding domains on microtubule-associated proteins by major coat phage display technique.” Biomacromolecules, 2009, 10, 555-564.
14. Ngweniform, P.; Li, D.; Newton, S.; Klebba, P.; Mao, C. B. "Self-assembly of drug-loaded liposomes on genetically engineered protein nanotubes: a potential anti-cancer drug delivery vector." Soft Matter, 2009, 5, 954–956.
15. Wang, F.; Mao, C. B. "Nanotubes connected to a micro-tank: hybrid micro-/nano-silica architectures transcribed from living bacteria as bioreactors." Chemical Communications, 2009, 1222-1224.
16. Liu, A.; Abbineni, G.; Mao, C. B. “Nanocomposite films assembled from genetically engineered filamentous viruses and gold nanoparticles: nanoarchitecture- and humidity-tunable surface plasmon resonance spectra." Advanced Materials, 2009, 21, 1001–1005.
17. Qiu, P.; Mao, C. B. "Seed-mediated shape evolution of gold nanomaterials: from spherical nanoparticles to polycrystalline nanochains and single-crystalline nanowires." Journal of Nanoparticle Research, 2009, 11, 885-894.
18. Wang, F.;Li, D.; Mao, C. B. "Genetically modifiable flagella as templates for silica fibers: from hybrid nanotubes to 1D nanohole array." Advanced Functional Materials, 2008, 18, 4007-4013.
19. Mao, C. B. "Bio-inorganic hybrid nanomaterials: strategies, syntheses, characterization and application." ChemBioChem, 2008, 9, 2333-2334.
20. Modali, S.; Abbineni, G.; Jayanna, P.; Petrenko, V.; Mao, C., Evolutionary selection of bone mineral hydroxyapatite binding peptide using landscape phage library. In Nanotechnology 2008: Life Sciences, Medicine & Bio Materials, CRC Press: 2008; Vol. 2, pp 465 - 467.
21. Wang, F.; Mao, C. B. "Nano-assembly of conducting polyaniline and polypyrrole by using biological templates from nano to micro scales." PMSE Preprints, 2008, 98, 62-63.
22. Cao, B.; Mao, C. B. “Oriented nucleation of hydroxylapatite crystals on spider dragline silks." Langmuir, 2007, 23, 10701-10705.
23. Castano-Izquierdo, H.; Mao, C. B. "Osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells on biomineralized collagenous scaffolds for bone tissue engineering." PMSE Preprints, 2007, 97, 817-818
24. Tang, S.; Mao, C. B.; Liu, Y. R.; Kelly, D. Q.; Banerjee, S. K. “Protein-mediated nanocrystal assembly for flash memory fabrication.” IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices, 2007, 54, 433-438.
25. Mao, C. B. "Nanomaterials characterization: structures, compositions, and properties." Microscopy Research & Technique, 2006, 69, 519-521.
26. Mao, C. B.; Solis, D. J.; Reiss, B. D.; Kottmann, S. T., Sweeney, R. Y.; Hayhurst, A.; Georgiou, G.; Iverson, B.; Belcher, A. M. "Virus-based toolkit for the directed synthesis of magnetic and semiconducting nanowires." Science, 2004, 303, 213-217.
27. Reiss, B. D.; Mao, C. B.; Solis, D. J.; Ryan, K. S.; Thomson, T.; Belcher, A. M. "Biological routes to ferromagnetic metal alloy nanostructures." Nano Letters. 2004, 4, 1127-1132.
28. Sweeney, R.; Mao, C. B.; Gao, X.; Burt, J. L.; Belcher, A.; Georgiou, G.; Iverson, B. "Bacterial biosynthesis of cadmium sulfide nanocrystals." Chemistry & Biology. 2004, 11, 1553-1559.
29. Mao, C. B. "Introduction:nanomaterials characterization using microscopy." Microscopy Research & Technique, 2004, 64, 345-346.
30. Mao, C. B.; Flynn, C. E.; Hayhurst, A.; Sweeney, R.; Qi, J.; Iverson, B.; Georgiou, G.; Belcher, A. M. "Viral assembly of oriented quantum dot nanowires," PNAS, 2003, 100 (12), 6946-6951.
31. Flynn, C. E.; Mao, C. B.; Hayhurst, A.; Williams, J.; Georgiou, G.; Iverson, B.; Belcher, A. M. "Synthesis and organization of nanoscale II-VI semiconductor materials using evolved peptide specificity and viral capsid assembly." Journal of Materials Chemistry, 2003, 13(10), 2414-2421.
32. Mao, C. B.; Qi, J.; Belcher, A. M. "Building quantum dots into solids with well-defined shapes." Advanced Functional Materials, 2003, 13(8), 648-656.
33. Qi, J.; Mao, C. B.; Belcher, A. M.; White, J. M. "Optical anisotropy in individual CdS quantum dot ensembles." Physical Review B, 2003, 68 (12), 125319.
34. Lee, S. W.; Mao, C. B.; Flynn, C. E.; Belcher, A. M. "Ordering of quantum dots using genetically engineered viruses." Science, 2002, 296, 892-895.
35. Pedraza, A. J.; Fowlkes, J. D.; Jesse, S.; Mao, C. B.;Lowndes, D. H. "Surface micro-structuring of silicon by excimer-laser irradiation in reactive atmosphere." Applied Surface Science, 2000, 168, 251-257.
36. Mao, C. B. Li, H.; Cui, F.; Feng, Q.; Ma, C. "Oriented growth of phosphates on polycrystalline titanium in a process mimicking biomineralization." Journal of Crystal Growth, 1999, 206, 308-321.
37. Mao, C. B.; Li, H.; Cui, F.; Feng Q.; Ma, C. "The functionalization of titanium with EDTA to induce biomimetic mineralization of hydroxyapatite." Journal of Materials Chemistry, 1999, 9, 2573-2582.
38. Mao, C. B.; Li, H.; Cui, F.; Feng, Q.; Wang, H.; Ma, C. "Oriented growth of hydroxyapatite on (0001) textured titanium with functionalized self-assembled silane monolayer as template." Journal of Materials Chemistry, 1998, 8, 2795-2800.

Group News

October 2009 Graduate student Gopal Abbineni, T.H. Lee Williams International Travel Scholarship, 2009

August 2009 Dr. Mao and Dr. Liu organized a public seminar about nanotechnology in Norman Public Library and introduced their work supported by National Science Foundation.

July 2009 Ms. Stephanie Cummings, a Native American (Choctaw tribe),from a local high school (Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics) visited our lab.

June 2009 Mr. Marcos Churque from Oklahoma City Community College joins our lab as a Summer Research Assistant. He worked in Dr. Mao's lab from June 2 to July 29.�

May 2009 Congratulations to graduate student Binrui Cao for winning Robberson Conference Presentation & Creative Exhibition Travel Grant.

April 2009 Congratulations to graduate student Binrui Cao for winning Lloyd E. Swearingen Award for his outstanding performance in research.

April 2009 Director of Oklahoma Nanotechnology Initiative (ONI), Jim Mason, gave an exciting lecture on nanotechnology at Dr. Mao's Nano/Bionano class. Jim displayed some Nano products during his lecture, for example, Nano Socks that do not need to wash, Nano shirts that repel water, and Nano tennis rackets that are much lighter than current products. After the lecture, Jim also visited Dr. Mao's lab.

April 2009 Congratulations to graduate student Gopal for winning 1st place award in Science Category on OU Research & Performance Day at National Weather Center.

April 2009 Congratulations to graduate student Penghe Qiu for winning Robberson Conference Presentation & Creative Exhibition Travel Grant. �

April 2009 Congratulations to undergraduate student Christina Jensen for winning undergraduate Research Opportunities Program award, OU Honors College. In the past three years, three other undergraduate students (Mohammed Malik, David Freeman and Yen Nguyen) won the same award for conducting undergraduate research in Dr. Mao's group.

March 2009 Congratulations to graduate student Gopal Abbinenni for winning Robberson Conference Presentation & Creative Exhibition Travel Grant.