Dawei Deng

Biography

06-2015now: Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University. The research interests are focused on the syntheses of inorganic or organic near-infrared nanomaterials and their bioapplications. 06-201307-2014: Visiting scholar, Department of Chemical Engineering,University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), USA. Supervisor: Prof. Nicholas A. Kotov. 12-200706-2015: LecturerAssociate professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University. 06-201006-2012: Postdoctor, State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.Supervisor: Prof. Zhongze Gu. 07-201108-2011: Institute for Biological and Medical Imaging, Munich Technical University, German. Supervisor: Prof. Vasilis Ntziachristos. 09-200412-2007: Ph.D., School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Analytical chemistry. Title: “Preparation and characterization of water-soluble CdE (E=S, Se, Te) quantum dots, one-dimensional CdTe nanocrystals and variously shaped Se nanocrystals”.Supervisor: Prof. Junsheng Yu and Prof. Yi Pan. 09-200107-2004: M.S., School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jilin University, Analytical chemistry. Title: “Determination of Component of the OceanicMineral Samples by ICP AES”. 09-199707-2001: B.S., School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jilin University, Applied chemistry.  

Research Interest

Molecular optical imaging and monitoring treatment response of diseases. Accurate and rapid detection of tumors is of great importance for assessing the molecular basis of cancer pathogenesis, preventing disease complications, and implementing a tailored therapeutic regimen. For these reasons, we design and develop new molecular probes and nanomaterials (fluorescent quantum dots, Fe3O4 nanocrystals, et al.) for imaging the expression of aberrant genes, proteins, and other pathophysiologic processes. To utilize optical methods for cellular and in vivo imaging by optical methods, we focus on developing materials that are fluorescent in the near infrared wavelength region (700–900 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum where light can penetrate deep in thick tissue. Specific delivery of the contrast agents to target cell organelles or tissue is accomplished by linking the agents to bioactive molecules such as peptides, proteins, and drugs. Alternatively, the inherent chemical properties of the contrast agents provide a mechanism to monitor cell trafficking or physiological processes such as tissue hypoxia and ion transport in cells.