New particle formation (NPF) is the process by which trace atmospheric gases cluster and grow into small particles.  These particles make up a substantial fraction of climatically-relevant aerosols, but they are difficult to study due to their small size and ephemeral nature.  We are particularly interested in the role of intermolecular interactions such as proton transfer and hydrogen bonding in governing particle formation and growth.  Our group has been using vibrational spectroscopy and temperature-controlled ion trap mass spectrom

All cells require nutrient metal to carry out essential biochemical processes. This requirement is something that the vertebrate immune system has exploited as a strategy to defend against infection by restricting microbial access to nutrient metal. This process of nutrient restriction during infection is called “nutritional immunity”. Bacterial pathogens have evolved elaborate mechanisms to circumvent nutritional immunity and acquire metal during infection.

The main research focus of the Fang group is conjugated ladder molecules and macromolecules, in which the entire molecular backbone is fused and π-conjugated. The structures of these ladder-type systems mimic the constitution of graphene nanoribbons, endowing them with promising electronic, optical, and mechanical properties. These unique fused-ring constitutions, however, also impose formidable synthetic and processing challenges on the development and application of ladder polymers.

A laser vaporization flow reactor (LVFR) apparatus has been developed for the synthesis of ligand-coated metal oxide nanomaterials. This method produces gas phase clusters followed by ligand coating and collection in a cold trap. Upon warming of the material, a solution is obtained for characterization by a variety of techniques including: mass spectrometry, electronic spectroscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy.

Abstract: Prodrug approaches are often used to solve drug delivery problems. In doing so, the chemistry needed to bioreversibly derivatize the drug molecule is the key. Along this line, bioreversible derivatization of gasotransmitters such as nitric oxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide are especially challenging. Furthermore, the chemistry used to prepare antibody-drug conjugates also has much room for improvement.

Cancer is a fatal disease, affecting approximately 25% of the population worldwide¹. Given the global impact, early detection of cancer is needed to reduce morbidity and prevent mortality². Unfortunately, not all forms of cancer diagnosis such as blood tests or biopsy can detect the disease during its early stages. Medical imaging has emerged as one of the salient tools for early detection, but not all imaging modalities fit this criterion.

Approximately two-thirds of the energy utilized globally is lost as heat in the atmosphere.¹ The role of thermoelectric materials is gaining more attention to recycle this lost energy, especially in light of the increased worldwide projection for energy demand.

Nucleic acids are exquisitely adept at molecular recognition and self-assembly, enabling them to direct nearly all of the processes that make life possible. These capabilities have been fine-tuned by billions of years of evolution, and more recently, have been harnessed in the laboratory to enable the use of DNA and RNA for applications that are completely unrelated to their canonical biological roles.