In 2001, Prof. Yuliang Zhao firstly proposed the innovatively scientific idea and research plan on the safety (toxicology) study of engineered nanomaterials to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and then he built the worldwide earliest laboratory specifically focusing on the investigation of nanotoxicity with an emphasis on the safe and sustainable development of frontier sciences and technologies. He has been mainly focusing on the in vivo ADME/T and their biochemical mechanisms of artificial materials at nanoscale. He is internationally recognized as the pioneer with innovative ideas for initiating the nanosafety study in China and worldwide as well. In 2016, when Nature Nanotechnology reviewed the progresses of nanosciences and nanotechnology development in the past decade, Prof. Zhao was rated as a “leading scientist” in nanosafety field. In honor of his scientific achievements of the discovery of the basic biochemical properties of nanoscale materials and their mechanisms, Prof. Zhao won the TWAS Prize in Chemistry (2016, one winner a year among 96 member-countries of TWAS), and won the National Prize for Natural Sciences for two times in 2012 and 2018, etc. Due to his outstanding scientific achievements and significant contributions to sciences and educations, he was elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2017, and elected as the member of TWAS (The World Academy of Sciences, originally, The Third World Academy of Sciences) in 2018. 

    His nanotoxicology research work was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 32 seasons in 2005-2015; His studies have been remarked as the “first” (original work) in the published papers by other scientists of more than ten countries. In December 2018, his work was elected as “Top Technical Advances in 2018” by Scientist Magazine, USA, together with Homosexual Reproduction, Liquid Biopsy, Artificial Intelligence, etc.; His publications have been cited about 37,000 times (H-index ~100) by scientists from more than 1000 research groups worldwide. 

    Prof. Zhao was invited as the international expert of nanosafety by United Union, Environment Program (UNEP), Europium Union (EU), OECD, etc. In China, Prof. Zhao was elected as the founding Chair of Chinese Committee of Nanotoxicology by Chinese Toxicology Society in 2011, the founding Chair of Chinese Committee of Nanomedicine by Chinese Pharmaceutical Association in 2015, and the Chair of Chinese Committee of Nanochemistry by Chinese Chemical Society in 2016. His activities have greatly contributed to the discovery of novel biochemical properties of materials at nanoscale, the initiation and development of forefront and multidisciplinary nanosciences, and the promotion of the public/scientist`s consciousness for sustainable and responsible research and development in new technology in China.

      He has made exceptional contributions in discovery of the basic knowledge of biological effects of nanoscale materials in vivo, and many of our understanding of nanotoxicity discrepancy between in vitro and in vivo behaviours were derived from his work. In the development and establishment of reliable, quantitative and standardized analysis methods for the testing of nanomaterials and nanomedicines in biological systems to understand the underlying mechanisms of bio-nano interactions or their medical functions, his research activities have devoted to the key topic for sustainable development of nanoscience and nanotechnology, and made significant contributions to initiate and develop nanosafety field with his particular focuses on its Bio-nano Interactions and nanomedicine application. His work has led to: (1) the establishment of the first International Standard (ISO/TS 13278:2011) that was developed and established in nanoscience and technology fields by China, authorized by International Standard Organization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC); (2) Revelation of key characteristics that dominate health effects of nanoscale materials, his studies have been remarked as the “first” (original work) in the published papers by other scientists of more than ten countries; and (3) Establishment of the way of regulating toxic properties of nanomaterials, which has led to the discovery of a completely new cancer nanomedicine that provides a novel concept in cancer treatment. 

     Before moving back to Beijing from RIKEN/Japan in 2001, he worked with RIKEN colleagues and discovered the element Z113, which has been formally approved by IUPAC-IUPAP Joint Working Party (IUPAC Technical Reports in December 2015) as a new element named as “Nihonium (Nh)”. This is the first and sole chemical element that has been discovered by Asian scientists and added in the Periodic Table of the Element.

Representative publications

A. Ten representative publications in Nanotoxicology

(Note: Prof. Zhao is corresponding author)

1. Haifang Wang, Jing Wang, Xiaoyong Deng, Hongfang Sun, Zujin Shi, Zhennan Gu, Yuanfang Liu, Yuliang Zhao, Biodistribution of carbon single-wall carbon nanotubes in mice, Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 4, 1019-1024 (2004).

Note: the work was the one of very few nanotoxicity studies of engineered nanomaterials in the earliest time. After then, the nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

2. Guang Jia, Haifang Wang, Lei Yan, Xiang Wang, Rongjuan Pei, Tao Yan, Yuliang Zhao, Xinbiao Guo, Cytotoxicity of carbon nanomaterials: single-wall nanotube, multi-wall nanotube, and fullerene, Environmental Science & Technology, 39, 1378-1383 (2005).

Note: the work has been cited >1430 times by 2018, and was remarked by UCLA scientist as “The first highly cited nano-paper concerned cytotoxicity“. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

3. Zhen Chen, Huan Meng, Genmei Xing, Chunying Chen, Yuliang Zhao, Guang Jia, Tiancheng Wang, Hui Yuan, Chang Ye, Feng Zhao, Zhifang Chai, Chaofeng Zhu, Xiaofeng Fang, Baocheng Ma, Lijun Wan, Acute toxicological effects of copper nanoparticles in vivo, Toxicology Letters, 163, 109-120 (2006).

Note: the work has been cited >800 times by 2018. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

4. Huan Meng, Zhen Chen, Geng Mei Xing, Hui Yuan, Chunying Chen, Feng Zhao, Chengcheng Zhang, Yuliang Zhao, Ultrahigh reactivity provokes nanotoxicity: Explanation of oral toxicity of nano-copper particles, Toxicology Letters, 175, 102-110 (2007).

Note: the work has been cited >200 times by 2018. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

5. Jiangxue Wang, Ying Liu, Fang Jiao, Fang Lao, Wei Li, Yiqun Gu, Yufeng Li, Cuicui Ge, Guoqiang Zhou, Bai Li, Yuliang Zhao, Zhifang Chai, Chunying Chen, Time-dependent translocation and potential impairment on central nervous system by intranasally instilled TiO₂ nanoparticles, Toxicology, 254, 82-90 (2008).

Note: the work has been cited >360 times by 2018. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

6. Cuicui Ge, Fang Lao, Wei Li, Yufeng Li, Chunying Chen, Xueying Mao, Bai Li, Zhifang Chai, Yuliang Zhao, Quantitative analysis of metal impurities in carbon nanotubes: efficacy of different pretreatment protocols for ICPMS spectroscopy, Analytical Chemistry, 80, 9426-9434 (2008).

Note: the work has been cited > 150 times by 2018. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterias of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

7. Zhen Chen, Huan Meng, Gengmei Xing, Hui Yuan, Feng Zhao, Tiancheng Wang, Guang Jia, Chang Ye, Zhifang Chai, Yuliang Zhao, Age-related differences in pulmonary and cardiovascular responses to SiO₂ nanoparticle inhalation: nanotoxicity has susceptible population, Environmental Science & Technology, 42, 8985-8992 (2008).

Note: the work has been cited > 110 times by 2018. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

8. Cuicui Ge, Jiangfeng Du, Lina Zhao, Liming Wang, Ying Liu, Denghua Li, Yanlian Yang, Ruhong Zhou, Yuliang Zhao, Zhifang Chai, Chunying Chen, Binding of blood proteins to carbon nanotubes reduces cytotoxicity, PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America), 108, 16968-16973 (2011).

Note: the work has been cited >600 times by 2018. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

9. Feng Zhao, Ying Zhao, Ying Liu, Xueling Chang, Chunying Chen, Yuliang Zhao, Cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, and cytotoxicity of nanomaterials, Small, 7, 1322-1337 (2011).

Note: the work has been cited >580 times by 2018. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

10. Motao Zhu, Guangjun Nie, Huan Meng, Tian Xia, Andre Nel, Yuliang Zhao, Physicochemical properties determine nanomaterial cellular uptake, transport, and fate, Accounts of Chemical Research, 46, 622-631 (2013)

Note: the work has been cited >300 times by 2018. The nanotoxicology research on engineered nanomaterials of his team was ranked as the world Top 25 Hottest Papers in fields of “Pharmacology + Toxicology + Pharmacy” for 30 seasons in 2005-2015.

B. Ten representative publications in Nanomedicine

 (Note: Prof. Zhao is corresponding author)

1. Chunying Chen, Gengmei Xing, Jiangxue Wang, Yuliang Zhao, Bai Li, Jun Tang, Guang Jia, Tiancheng Wang, Jin Sun, Li Xing, Hui Yuan, Yuxi Gao, Huan Meng, Zhen Chen, Feng Zhao, Zhifang Chai, Xiaohong Fang, Multihydroxylated [Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂]_n nanoparticles: antineoplastic activity of high efficiency and low toxicity, Nano Letters, 5, 2050-2057 (2005).

Note: the work directly uses manufactured nanomaterials [Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂]_n as novel cancer medicine but not as usual as the drug carrier, has been cited >260 times by 2018, and was commented:"...... may lead to a revolutionary shift in the strategy applied for cancer management by directly using a multifunctional nanoscale particulate itself as a new form of medicine."; "...... may open new avenues in human cancer therapeutics".

2. Xing-Jie Liang, Huan Meng, Yingze Wang, Haiyong He, Jie Meng, Juan Lu, Paul C. Wang, Yuliang Zhao, Xueyun Gao, Baoyun Sun, Chunying Chen, Genmei Xing, Dingwu Shen, Michael M. Gottesman, Yan Wu, Jun-jie Yin, Lee Jia, Metallofullerene nanoparticles circumvent tumor resistance to cisplatin by reactivating endocytosis, PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America), 107, 7449-7454 (2010).

Note: the work directly uses manufactured nanomaterials [Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂]_n as novel cancer medicine but not as usual as the drug carrier, has been cited >590 times by 2018, and was commented :"...... may lead to a revolutionary shift in the strategy applied for cancer management by directly using a multifunctional nanoscale particulate itself as a new form of medicine."; "...... may open new avenues in human cancer therapeutics".

3. Seung-gu Kang, Guo qiang Zhou, Ping Yang, Ying Liu, Baoyun Sun, Tien Huynh, Huan Meng, Lina Zhao, Gengmei Xing, Chunying Chen, Yuliang Zhao, Ruhong Zhou, Molecular mechanism of pancreatic tumor metastasis inhibition by Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂ and its implication for de novo design of Nanomedicine, PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America), 109, 15431-15436 (2012).

Note: the work directly uses manufactured nanomaterials [Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂]_n as novel cancer medicine but not as usual as the drug carrier, has been cited >150 times by 2018, and was commented:"...... may lead to a revolutionary shift in the strategy applied for cancer management by directly using a multifunctional nanoscale particulate itself as a new form of medicine."; "...... may open new avenues in human cancer therapeutics".

4. Ying Liu, Chunying Chen, Pengxu Qian, Xuefei Lu, Baoyun Sun, Xiao Zhang, Liming Wang, Xingfa Gao, Han Li, Zhiyun Chen, Jinglong Tang, Weijie Zhang, Jinquan Dong, Ru Bai, Peter E. Lobie, Qingfa Wu, Suling Liu, Huafeng Zhang, Feng Zhao, Max Wicha, Tao Zhu, Yuliang Zhao, Gd-metallofullerenol nanomaterial as non-toxic breast cancer stem cell-specific inhibitor, Nature Communications, 6, 5988 (2015).

Note: the work directly uses manufactured nanomaterials [Gd@C₈₂(OH)₂₂]_n as novel cancer medicine but not as usual as the drug carrier, has been cited > 70 times, and was commented:"...... may lead to a revolutionary shift in the strategy applied for cancer management by directly using a multifunctional nanoscale particulate itself as a new form of medicine."; "...... may open new avenues in human cancer therapeutics". 

5. Suping Li, Qiao Jiang, Shaoli Liu, Yinlong Zhang, Yanhua Tian, Chen Song, Jing Wang, Yiguo Zou, Gregory J Anderson, Jing-Yan Han, Yung Chang, Yan Liu, Chen Zhang, Liang Chen, Guangbiao Zhou, Guangjun Nie, Hao Yan, Baoquan Ding, Yuliang Zhao, A DNA nanorobot functions as a cancer therapeutic in response to a molecular trigger in vivo, Nature Biotechnology, 36, 258-264 (2018).

Note: the work was rated as a “landmark“ and highlighted by more than 90 media worldwide, including Nature Review Cancer, Nature Biotechnology, Science Translational Medicine, etc, and was elected as the “Top Technical Advances”by Scientist Magazine, USA, in December, 2018.

6. Xuexiang Han, Yiye Li, Ying Xu, Xiao Zhao, Yinlong Zhang, Xiao Yang, Yongwei Wang, Ruifang Zhao, Gregory J. Anderson, Yuliang Zhao, Guangjun Nie, Reversal of pancreatic desmoplasia by re-educating stellate cells with a tumour microenvironment activated nanosystem, Nature Communications, 9, 3390 (2018).

7. Suping Li, Yinlong Zhang, Shih-Hsin, Ho, Bozhao Li, Meifang Wang, Wei Xiong, Na Yang, Guangna Liu, Zefang Lu, Junchao Xu, Quanwei Shi, Jing-Yan Han, Lirong Zhang, Yan Wu, Yuliang Zhao, Guangjun Nie, Co-administration of the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin enhances the long-term healing efficacy of tumor infarction therapy, Nature Biomedical Engineering, 3, (2019).

8. Xueyun Gao, Gengmei Xing, Yanlian Yang, Xiaoli Shi, Ru Liu, Weiguo Chu, Long Jing, Feng Zhao, Chang Ye, Hui Yuan, Xiaohong Fang, Chen Wang, Yuliang Zhao, Detection of trace Hg²⁺ via induced circular dichroism of DNA wrapped around single-walled carbon nanotubes, JACS (Journal of the American Chemical Society), 130, 9190-9191 (2008).

Note: the work has been cited >110 times by 2018.

9. Cuiji Sun, Hui Yang, Yi Yuan, Xin Tian, Liming Wang, Yi Guo, Li Xu, Jianlin Lei, Ning Gao, Gregory J. Anderson, Xing-Jie Liang, Chunying Chen, Yuliang Zhao, Guangjun Nie, Controlling assembly of paired gold clusters within apoferritin nanoreactor for in vivo kidney targeting and biomedical imaging, JACS (Journal of the American Chemical Society), 133, 8617-8624 (2011).

Note: the work has been cited >200 times by 2018.

10. Gan Tian, Zhanjun Gu, Liangjun Zhou, Wenyan Yin, Xiaoxiao Liu, Liang Yan, Shan Jin, Wenlu Ren, Gengmei Xing, Shoujian Li, and Yuliang Zhao, Mn²⁺ dopant-controlled synthesis of NaYF₄: Yb/Er upconversion nanoparticles for in vivo imaging and drug delivery, Advanced Materials, 24, 1226-1231 (2012).

Note: the work has been cited >550 times by 2018.