Our research

Nanomaterials powering the future of diagnostics

Our research develops platform technologies using designed multifunctional nanomaterials and sensing systems for biomarker detection and cancer subtyping to advance point of care diagnostics and personalised nanomedicine.

Multifunctional nanomaterials: Design, synthesis and characterisation

Multifunctional nanomaterials combine the strengths of different materials to create new structures with enhanced optical and chemical properties.

By controlling their size, shape and composition, we tailor nanomaterials for stability and performance. Using plasmonic metals such as gold or silver, we develop substrates for enhanced electrochemical and Raman (SERS) detection.

Our work involves synthesising these materials through wet chemistry and characterising them using TEM, UV-vis, electrochemistry and Raman spectroscopy.

Nano-liquid biopsy for cancer diagnostics and personalised medicine

Cancer is a complex disease with many molecular subtypes that develop as tumours grow and spread. Because of this diversity, non-invasive analysis of cancer biomarkers in body fluids has become essential for accurate diagnosis and personalised treatment. Liquid biopsy methods are fast, low-cost and minimally invasive, while providing high-quality biological information.

Advances in nanotechnology now allow plasmonic nanomaterials and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to be used for sensitive and precise cancer detection. These technologies offer molecular 'fingerprint' information, excellent stability and the ability to detect multiple targets at once.

Our research designs multifunctional nanoparticles and rapid sensor platforms to simultaneously detect key cancer biomarkers, including circulating tumour cells, tumour DNA and extracellular vesicles. This work aims to improve early cancer diagnosis and support personalised nanomedicine.

A new molecular tool for direct reading of chemical modifications on DNA

Chemical modifications to DNA and RNA, such as methylation, play crucial roles in controlling gene activity by switching genetic programs on and off. The most common DNA modification is the addition of a methyl group to cytosine (5mC), which helps regulate gene expression, protein production and genome stability. Newer discoveries show that related cytosine derivatives, including 5hmC, 5fC and 5caC, also contribute to the balance between methylation and demethylation.

Because these modifications carry rich biological information, accurately reading the 'DNA methylation landscape' has become one of the major challenges in cell biology and clinical diagnostics.

This project aims to develop a new molecular tool that can directly and dynamically read DNA epigenetic modifications using advanced nanomaterials and Raman spectroscopy. By avoiding complex chemical steps, this technology seeks to provide a clear molecular fingerprint of DNA epigenetics, offering a faster and more precise approach to studying gene regulation.

Single cell glycomis: Mapping the cell surface glycans by using SERS nanotags

Cell surface glycans are sugar molecules that cover every cell and play essential roles in cell communication, function and disease, including cancer and infections. Understanding how these glycans are arranged on the cell surface is important for studying cellular behaviour and biological processes.

This project aims to create a new technology for mapping glycans on single cells. By using specially designed plasmonic nanoparticles, Raman tags and targeted lectins, we are developing a method that can barcode glycan patterns without damaging the cells. This approach will allow detailed analysis of glycan signatures in their natural state and how they change under different conditions.

Biosensors

Due to the rarity and low amount of biomarkers for diagnostics, the development of sensor platform with the features of high sensitivity and multiplexed capability has attracted much attentions.

In this project, we aim to develop a simple and rapid sensor platform for protein and gene biomarkers detection by combining the assay, eg microfluidic, lateral flow assay, magnetic beads, with the unique optical properties of nanomaterials.