Functional Materials have played more and more critical role in development of novel treatment methods for different diseases. Our group focus on designing all kinds of functional materials, at different scales, to solve clinical and biological problems. We have broad collaborations with hospitals, and most of our projects have clinical doctors involved and initial from a real-life clinical question. Our group is multidisciplinary, which interplay between physics, materials science, synthetic organic chemistry, engineering, biology and medicine. We aim that many of our designs could be clinical applicable in future, and to have a great social impact in treating diseases.
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Contact: hongbo.zhang@abo.fi
PhD Student
Wali Inam did his master studies in discovery and development from the University of Turku. He joined Hongbo’s research group for master’s thesis focused on “Optimization of microfluidic encapsulation with nanoprecipitation for controlled drug delivery”. After completion of his master studies, he continued as a PhD student in the same group. His PhD work focuses on the understanding the mechanism of microfluidics-based polymer encapsulation of inorganic particles and electrophysical properties of nanoparticles using dynamic light scattering technique.
Dhayakumar Rajan Prakash (D.K) received his bachelor degree in bioengineering and master degree in Medical Nano technology where he did his master thesis project at Pharmaceutical sciences laboratory at Åbo Akademi university. He then started to work with ChinFin innovation and incubation oy where it was supporting his PhD studies and from 2021 February he started working in Brinter oy as Bionic Engineer. His thesis research topic is focused on smart stimuli responsive material manipulation and manufacturing.
Yu Chen is awarded his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in medicine from Anhui University of Science & technology and Bengbu Medical College, respectively. Currently, he is a PhD student in Åbo Akademi University, Finland. His supervisor is Prof. Hongbo Zhang from Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering. Simultaneously, Prof. Wenguo Cui from Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine acts as his co-supervisor. His work is focused on the development of novel biomaterials and nanomaterials for tissue regeneration, drug delivery, and disease treatment.
Oliver Koivisto has received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Physiology and Genetics at the University of Turku in Finland. He completed his master’s thesis in 2020 in Prof. Hongbo Zhang´s group at the Pharmaceutical science laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering at Åbo Akademi University. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. within the same research group, focusing on leveraging CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tools to develop innovative delivery systems for cancer therapy. Additionally, Oliver is involved in a Business Finland-funded project that explores mitochondrial functions and conducts competitor analysis in the field.
Chaoping He obtained his Bachelor of Science and Master of Medicine degrees at Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Hunan University of traditional Chinese Medicine respectively.Now, he is studying for a PhD in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University. Simultaneously, Prof. Wen Yang from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine acts as his co-supervisor. Focuses on enhancing myocardial mitochondrial activity in vitro and associated energy metabolism for heart failure treatment.
Yu Zhang received his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Henan Normal University and Soochew University in China. Now, he is studying for a PhD in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University. His main research direction is to develop new biomaterials to regulate the bone marrow immune microenvironment and promote bone regeneration.
Shengyi Wang received his bachelor and master degree in Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University and Nanchang University in China. Then, he started working in EYE & Hospital of Fudan University and focus on gene editing and treatment for hereditary deafness.
Yuchen Su was awarded her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Polymer Engineering from the Beijing University of Chemical Technology. Recently, under the guidance of Dr. Shiqi Wang and Prof. Hongbo Zhang, she is a Pharmacy PhD student at the University of Helsinki and continues her project at the Åbo Akademi University. She focuses on cell-medicated drug delivery and anti-tumor therapy.
Dabao Shang received his bachelor's degree in clinical medicine from The Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, and received a Master's Degree at Shanghai Jiaotong University in clinical medicine in China. Afterward, he started his PhD in the field of Drug Development and Medical Technology in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University and the group of Prof. Wenguo Cui in the Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine/Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics. His work is focused on the development of new drug-based therapeutic strategies for bone and joint repair and functional reconstruction based on biomedical materials.
Xiwen Geng received her Bachelor and Master Degree in Nanjing Agriculture University and Shandong University in China. From May 2021, she started her PhD studies in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Åbo Akademi University and she is co-supervised by Prof. Yuanjin Zhao in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University. Her work is focused on the development of therapeutic strategies against antimicrobial resistance based on biomedical materials.
Pengzhen Zhuang got his Bachelor and Master’s Degree from Anhui University of Technology and Wuhan University of Technology, respectively. Currently, he is starting his PhD studies in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Åbo Akademi University and he is co-supervised by Prof. Wenguo Cui at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School/Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics. His work focuses on the development of inorganic nanomaterials related to bone repair.
Meixin Ran received her bachelor and master degree in pharmaceutics at the Shenyang Pharmaceutical University in China. Afterwards she started her PhD in the field of novel technologies for gene delivery in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University. Her work is focused on the development of miRNA-responsive nanogel for gene delivery.
Fanny Frejborg received her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at the University of Helsinki and her master’s degree in biomedicine, drug discovery and development at the University of Turku. Fanny’s master’s thesis focused on antiviral RNA interference in Veijo Hukkanen’s group at the University of Turku. Now she is a Ph.D. student at Åbo Akademi University under the supervision of Prof. Jessica Rosenholm and Prof. Hongbo Zhang, while collaborating with Prof. Hannu Järveläinen and Veijo Hukkanen at the University of Turku. Her research focuses on combining nanoparticles with oncolytic viruses.
Wu Yang is awarded his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in medicine from Guizhou Medical University and Chongqing Medical University, respectively. Afterwards he started his PhD in the field of Drug Development and Medical Technology in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University and the group of Prof. Wenguo Cui in the Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine/ Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics. His work is try to regulate the bone regeneration using Gene Therapy.
Brandon Garate earned his Bachelor's degree in Biology from the National Agrarian University La Molina in 2017. He later completed his Master's degree in Chemistry at Osaka University in 2023, focusing on vaccine development and immunology. His current research is centered on developing immunodiagnostic tools, particularly for Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and CAR-T cell therapies.
Yuanyuan Jiang received her bachelor and master degree at Jiangsu University. Currently, she is a doctor student of pharmaceutical science, working on the development of Bio-inspired natural platelet hydrogels for wound healing under the supervision of professor Hongbo Zhang at Åbo Akademi University in Finland.
Li Wang received his Bachelor in Nanjing Tech University, and received his master degree in Southeast University. Afterwards, he started his PhD in the field of applications of Intelligent Hydrogel System in Drug Delivery of Gastric Diseases, in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Finland.
Chengcheng Li received his bachelor's degree in biotechnology from Xinxiang University and his master's degree in bioengineering from Zhengzhou University. Afterward, he started his Ph.D. studies in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University. His work focuses on the development of photoresponsive nanofibers for tissue regeneration.
Xin Yang graduated from China Pharmaceutical University with a master's degree in pharmaceutical engineering. His master's research focused on nanocomposite hydrogel dressings for chronic wound healing. After completing his master's degree, he joined Hongbo's research group as a Ph.D. student. His PhD work focuses on the development of microfluidic synthesis technology for nano drug delivery systems.
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Jessica Salo received her Bachelor´s degree in pharmacy from the University of Eastern Finland in 2020 and received her Master´s degree in biomedical imaging from Åbo Akademi University. After that, She started her Ph.D. research at Hongbo Zhang´s research group in the pharmacy, faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University. Her research focuses on delivering the novel, edited Crispr/Cas9 plasmid system into cancerous cells of the liver.
Lu Fan received her Bachelor's degree from the Taiyuan University of Technology and received her master's degree from Southeast University. Afterward, she started her Ph.D. research at Åbo Akademi University. Her work focuses on the development of drug-loaded microneedles for drug delivery.​​
Yuhehui Xiao received her bachelor's degree in Clinical Medicine from Kunming Medical University, China, Master's degree in Internal Medicine from Kunming University of Science and Technology, China. Afterwards, she started her PhD in the field of new mitochondria-related technologies in the team of Prof. Hongbo Zhang, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University. Her work focuses on mitochondrial transfection for the treatment of heart failure.
​​Yuanqiang Li received his bachelor's and master's degree in Biotechnology from Jilin Agricultural University. Currently, he is starting his PhD in Hongbo's group at Åbo Akademi University. His research focuses on the application of DNA functional nanomaterials in medicine.
Xiang Lin received his Bachelor's degree at National Engineering Laboratory for Modern Silk from Soochow University in 2020. He completed his master's thesis at Southeast University. After that, he started his Ph.D. research at Åbo Akademi University. His current scientific interests include bio-printing and organs-on-chips.
Jinbo Li received her bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Northeastern University and received her master's degree at Southeast University in biomedical engineering. Currently, she starts her Ph.D. study on 5.2023 at Abo Akademi University at Hongbo Zhang's group, and she focuses on the fabrication and biomedical applications of monodisperse microgels.
Minjie Fan received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in clinical medicine from Nanjing Medical University in China. Afterwards, he started his PhD in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Finland.
Jing Yang obtained her Bachelor's degree in Science from Shandong First Medical University and her Master's degree in Medicine from Hainan University. Her primary focus during her Master's degree was the development of novel targeted carrier-drug conjugates using click chemistry and the study of their activity. She will be studying for a PhD in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering，Ãbo Akademi University.
Chengcheng Zhang, a doctoral student at Åbo Akademi University, is engaged in research related to drug research, with a focus on nano drug delivery systems. His supervisor is Professor Zhang Hongbo of Åbo Akademi University, who is the director of the Bio city biomaterials and medical devices research project, a joint project between the University of Turku and Akademi University in Åbo, Finland. Before pursuing his doctorate, he worked in drug clinical trials for 2 years. He has participated in the management of 45 clinical drug experiments, including 37 drug-related clinical trials (3 Novo Nordisk global multi-center semaglutide projects), 6 kit IVD-related clinical trials, and 2 medical devices, of which more than half of the projects have been completed. In this process, he participated in the review of project contracts and documents, served as a communication bridge between hospital and company representatives, ensured the smooth start of the project, supervised the standardization of the project during the project operation, and finally supervised the smooth completion of the project and completed the necessary filing and sorting of documents. Of course, he will also work with other colleagues to complete the review and proofreading of project funds. It is what he has always hoped to do to commercialize scientific research results to help more people.
Chenyu Zong received his Bachelor and Master of Surgery degrees from Hainan Medical University and Nantong University in China. Now, he is studying for a PhD in the group of Prof. Hongbo Zhang in the Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University. His main research direction is to develop new biomaterials to treat and improve amyotrophy and muscle-related diseases.
Chen Wang graduated from Kunming University of Science and Technology in China with a Master's degree in 2024. Afterwards, she continued her Ph.D. studies in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences with Prof. Hongbo Zhang's group, where her work centered on peripheral nerve-related research.
Longxi Wu starts his PhD study on 12.2022 in Abo Akademi Universityfocus on the Influence and mechanism of LDHA-mediated glucose metabolism innucleus pulposus cell degeneration.