Associate Professor Sophia Gu
PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Australia
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, The University of Queensland, Australia
Zi (Sophia) Gu is an Associate Professor and Head of NanoBiotechnology Research听Laboratory听at School of Chemical Engineering of 探花系列. After PhD training at The University of Queensland and Cornell University, she was awarded听an NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellowship, prior to听joining 探花系列 in 2016. Currently, she leads a NanoBiotechnology Research Group听working on multidisciplinary research projects that combine the knowledge and skills across material chemistry, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology, and developed several nanoparticle platforms for disease diagnosis and treatment. She has published >90 research papers and filed a provisional patent. Most of these publications are in top tier journals in the fields of Material Science (Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Materials Horizons), Nanotechnology (Advanced Science, Small, Small Methods), Chemistry (Chemistry of Materials), Biomaterials (Biomaterials), and Pharmaceutical Science (Journal of Controlled Release, Pharmaceutics). She has been awarded several competitive grants and awards and has several academic leadership roles such as international conference chair and an Associate Editor for the听Journal of Nanobiotechnology (Springer Nature/BMC).
Research Appointments
Associate Professor, University of New South Wales, 2023-present
Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales, 2019-2022
Lecturer and NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellow, University of New South Wales, 2016-2018
NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellow, University of Queensland, 2014-2016
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Queensland, 2011-2013
Research Scholar, Cornell University, US, 2010
Research Projects
Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for precision diagnosis and treatment of diseases. My research group utilises interdisciplinary approaches that bring together material science, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology to develop smart nanoparticles and advanced drug delivery technologies.
Research theme 1: Drug delivery technologies.
Research theme 2: Catalytic nanomedicine.
Research theme 3: Bioresponsive nanoparticles for disease diagnosis and treatment.
My Expertise
Drug delivery | Pharmaceutical engineering | Biomaterials | Bio-imaging contrast agent design and development | Theranostic nanomedicine听| Bio-nano interaction | Nanozyme | Catalytic nanomedicine | Nanomedicine and biomaterials for cancer therapy, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disorders | Nanoparticle synthesis and modification | Two-dimensional nanomaterials | Antibacterial Materials
We are looking for highly motivated, intelligent and team-playing students to do their PhD, Master by Philosophy, or Honours project in our group.听
Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities
Domestic Research Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/domestic-research-scholarships
International听Research Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/international-research-scholarships
探花系列-China Scholarship Council (CSC)听Joint Scholarship program. For more details, click听here. To apply CSC, click听here. Top-up scholarship (7k pa) will be provided to CSC awardees.
探花系列 / HEC Pakistan Joint Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/unsw-home-country-joint-scholarships;
探花系列 / CONICYT Chile Joint Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/unsw-home-country-joint-scholarships;
Postdoc and Research Assistant positions听are available at specific time.听
Course Teaching
CEIC6712 Pharmaceutical Design and Engineering
CEIC2007 Chemical Engineering Laboratory
CEIC Thesis A, B, C (project supervision)
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- Publications
- Media
- Grants
- Awards
- Research Activities
- Engagement
- Teaching and Supervision
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ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2025)
NHMRC Ideas Grants (2025)
ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2024)
Tour de Cure Pioneering Research Grant (2024)
ARC听Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) (2024)
National Heart Foundation Vanguard Grant (2023)
ARC听Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) (2023)
NSW Health Cardiovascular Research Capacity Program (2022)
探花系列 RNA Institute Seed Grant (2022)
ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2020)
探花系列-CAS Joint Research Fund (2019)
Industrial Contract Research Fund (2019)
Australian Centre for NanoMedicine Seed Research Fund (2017)
探花系列-Tsinghua Joint Research Fund (2016)
NHMRC Fellowship (Peter Doherty Biomedical EC Fellowship) (2014)
Ian Potter Foundation Travel Award (2014)
2022 Nanoscale Emerging Investigator Award
2021 Outstanding Reviewer Award, Nanoscale
2020, 2021 Outstanding Editor Award, Journal of Nanobiotechnology
2019, Academic & Professional Women in Leadership Program, 探花系列
2018,听Research Excellence Award, Australian Association of Chinese Biomedical Scientists
2018, Rising Star Award, Australian Association of Chinese Biomedical Scientists
2017, Monash Engineering Women's Leadership Award
2014-2018, NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical EC Fellowship
2014, Ian Potter Foundation Travel Award
2013, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Award, The University of Queensland
2010, Graduate School International Travel Award, The University of Queensland
2008-2010, Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship
2007, Best Student Poster Award at 4th ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials Annual Conference
Research Projects
Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for precision diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening diseases. My research group utilises interdisciplinary approaches that bring together material chemistry, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology to synthesise functional nanoparticles, optimise their biomedical properties, and develop smart nanoparticles and advanced delivery strategies. Major interests of our research:
Research interest 1: Targeted, controlled and selective drug delivery system.听
Research interest 2: Bioimaging probe/contrast agent design for disease diagnosis.听
Research interest 3: Multifunctional bioactive nanoparticles, biomimetic nanoparticles, catalytic nanomedicine听
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My Expertise
Drug delivery | Bio-imaging nanoprobe construction and application | Theranostic nanomedicine听| Bio-nano interface | Nanozyme | Catalytic nanomedicine | Nanoparticles for cancer therapy, cardiovascular disease | Nanoparticle synthesis and modification | Two-dimensional nanomaterials
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Ten Most Significant Career Publications
- Cao Z; Zhang L; Liang K; Cheong S; Boyer C; Gooding JJ; Chen Y;* Gu Z,* 2018, 'Biodegradable 2D Fe鈥揂l Hydroxide for Nanocatalytic Tumor-Dynamic Therapy with Tumor Specificity', Advanced Science, vol. 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/advs.201801155, (IF 16.8)
- Li B; Gu Z;* Kurniawan N; Chen W; Xu ZP,* 2017, 'Manganese-Based Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles as a T 1 -MRI Contrast Agent with Ultrasensitive pH Response and High Relaxivity', Advanced Materials, vol. 29, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201700373 (IF 30.85)
- Li B; Hao G; Sun B; Gu Z;* Xu ZP,* 2020, 'Engineering a Therapy-Induced 鈥淚mmunogenic Cancer Cell Death鈥 Amplifier to Boost Systemic Tumor Elimination', Advanced Functional Materials, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201909745 (IF 18.81)
- Zhang H; Zhang L; Cao Z; Cheong S; Boyer C; Wang Z; Yun S.L.J; Amal R; Gu Z,* 2022, Two-dimensional ultrathin nanosheets with extraordinarily high drug loading and long blood circulation for cancer therapy Small DOI:10.1002/smll.202200299, accepted in March 2022. (IF 13.28)
- Zhang H; Cao Z; Zhang Q; Xu J; Yun SLJ; Liang K;* Gu Z,* 2020, 'Chemotaxis-Driven 2D Nanosheet for Directional Drug Delivery toward the Tumor Microenvironment', Small, vol. 16, pp. e2002732, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.202002732 (IF 13.28)
- Cao Z; Li B; Sun L; Li L; Xu ZP;* Gu Z,* 2020, '2D Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles: Recent Progress toward Preclinical/Clinical Nanomedicine', Small Methods, vol. 4, (IF 14.188)
- Li B; Tang J; Chen W; Hao G; Kurniawan N; Gu Z;* Xu ZP*, 2018, 'Novel theranostic nanoplatform for complete mice tumor elimination via MR imaging-guided acid-enhanced photothermo-/chemo-therapy', Biomaterials, vol. 177, pp. 40 - 51, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.05.055, (IF 12.48)
- Guo Z; Wang T; Rawal A; Hou J; Cao Z; Zhang H; Xu J; Gu Z;* Chen V; Liang K,* 2019, 'Biocatalytic self-propelled submarine-like metal-organic framework microparticles with pH-triggered buoyancy control for directional vertical motion', Materials Today, vol. 28, pp. 10 - 16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2019.04.022. (IF 31.04)
- Gu Z; Rolfe BE; Thomas AC; Campbell JH; Lu GQM; Xu ZP, 2011, 'Cellular trafficking of low molecular weight heparin incorporated in layered double hydroxide nanoparticles in rat vascular smooth muscle cells', Biomaterials, vol. 32, pp. 7234 - 7240, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.05.083 (IF 12.48)
- Gu Z; Thomas AC; Xu ZP; Campbell JH; Lu GQ,* 2008, 'In vitro sustained release of LMWH from MgAl-layered double hydroxide nanohybrids', Chemistry of Materials, vol. 20, pp. 3715 - 3722, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cm703602t (IF 10.159)
(*Corresponding author)
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We are looking for highly motivated, intelligent and team-playing students to do their PhD, Master by Philosophy, or Honours proje in our group.听
Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities
Domestic Research Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/domestic-research-scholarships
International听Research Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/international-research-scholarships
探花系列-China Scholarship Council (CSC)听Joint Scholarship program. For more details, click听here. To apply CSC, click听here. Top-up scholarship (7k pa) will be provided to CSC awardees.
探花系列 / HEC Pakistan Joint Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/unsw-home-country-joint-scholarships;
探花系列 / CONICYT Chile Joint Scholarship:听https://research.unsw.edu.au/unsw-home-country-joint-scholarships;
Postdoc and Research Assistant positions听are available at specific time.听