Professor W.P. WANG 汪衛平
Associate Professor
- BSc, PhD
Biography
Prof. Weiping Wang is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy & Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, The University of Hong Kong. He is also a Principal Investigator at the State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at HKU. He obtained his Ph.D. (supervisor: Prof. Ying Chau) in Chemical Engineering from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2011. He worked as a Research Fellow (supervisor: Prof. Daniel Kohane) at Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Postdoctoral Associate (supervisor: Prof. Robert Langer) at Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a visiting scholar in 2024 at the lab of Prof. Ben Feringa (Nobel Laureate) at the University of Groningen.
Memberships
- Lifetime Member of International Photodynamic Association
- Member of American Institute of Chemical Engineers
- Member of Society for Biological Engineering
- Lifetime Member of Chinese Association for Biomaterials
Editorships
Guest Editor, Special Issue on Photopharmacology, Medicinal Research Reviews, Wiley Publishing, 2024-2025
Guest Editor, Special Issue on Advanced Technologies for Biomedical Applications by Emerging Researchers in Asia-Pacific, Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, Wiley Publishing, 2022-2023
Guest Editor, Special Topic on Drug/Gene Delivery and Theranostics, APL Bioengineering, American Institute of Physics (AIP) Publishing, 2022-2023
Honours and Awards
- Two Gold Medals & one Silver Medal, International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, 2024
- Overseas Fellowship Award, HKU, 2023 (Visiting the Lab of the Nobel Laureate Prof. Ben Feringa in 2024)
- NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund (Hong Kong and Macau), National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), 2022
- Gold Medal, Special Edition 2022 Inventions Geneva Evaluation Days, 2022
- Thieme Chemistry Journals Award, Thieme Chemistry Journals, 2021
- Journal of Materials Chemistry B Emerging Investigator, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2020
- Faculty Outstanding Research Output Award, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, HKU, 2020
- Young Innovator Award in Nanobiotechnology (NR 45, 45 outstanding young investigators under 45), Nano Research, Tsinghua University Press & Springer Nature, 2018
Research Interests
- Nanomedicine
- Photopharmacology
- Ocular drug delivery
- Photoresponsive drug delivery
- Engineering stimuli-responsive nanomaterials for drug delivery
Publications
Selected Publications
Ten Selected Original Research Articles
- Shuting Xu1, Jia Li1, Kaiqi Long, Xiaoling Liang*, Weiping Wang*, Light-Activated Anti-Vascular Combination Therapy against Choroidal Neovascularization, Advanced Science, 2024, 2404218
- Yuwei Liu, Kaiqi Long, Tianyi Wang, Yaming Zhang, Jianping Lei, Weiping Wang*, Sequential light irradiation-controlled cancer stemness inhibition for sensitized photothermal therapy, Nano Today, 2024, 57, 102342
- Kaiqi Long, Wen Lv, Zihan Wang, Yaming Zhang, Kang Chen, Yichi Zhang, Weiping Wang*, Near-infrared Light-Triggered Prodrug Photolysis by One-step Energy Transfer, Nature Communications, 2023, 14, 8112
- Tianyi Wang1, Yaming Zhang1, Yuwei Liu, Yi Huang, Weiping Wang*, Amino acid-starved cancer cells utilize macropinocytosis and ubiquitin-proteasome system for nutrient acquisition, Advanced Science, 2023, 2304791
- Shuting Xu1, Kaixuan Cui1, Kaiqi Long, Jia Li, Wai-Ching Lam, Xiaoling Liang*, Weiping Wang*, Red light-triggered anti-angiogenic and photodynamic combination therapy of age-related macular degeneration, Advanced Science, 2023, 2301985 (Highlighted on the journal cover)
- Yang Zhou1, Kang Chen1, Wing Kak Lin, Jinzhao Liu, Weirong Kang, Yaming Zhang, Ranyao Yang, Leigang Jin, Yiyun Cheng, Aimin Xu*, Weiping Wang*, Photo-enhanced synergistic induction of ferroptosis for anti-cancer immunotherapy, Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2023, 2300994 (Highlighted on the journal cover)
- Tianyi Wang1, Yaming Zhang1, Kang Chen, Yi Huang, Yuwei Liu, Shuting Xu, Weiping Wang*, CDK4/6 Nano-PROTAC Enhances Mitochondria-dependent Photodynamic Therapy and Anti-tumor Immunity, Nano Today, 2023, 50, 101890
- Yuwei Liu, Kaiqi Long, Tianyi Wang, Weirong Kang, Weiping Wang*, Carrier-free nanodrugs for stemness inhibition-enhanced photodynamic therapy, Aggregate, 2023, 4, e284 (Highlighted on the journal cover)
- Kaiqi Long1, Yang Yang1, Wen Lv, Kuan Jiang, Yafei Li, Amy Cheuk Yin Lo, Wai Ching Lam, Changyou Zhan*, Weiping Wang*, Green light-triggered intraocular drug release for intravenous chemotherapy of retinoblastoma, Advanced Science, 2021, 2101754 (Highlighted on the journal cover)
- Wen Lv, Yafei Li, Feiyang Li, Xin Lan, Yaming Zhang, Lili Du, Qiang Zhao, David L. Phillips, Weiping Wang*, Upconversion-like photolysis of BODIPY-based prodrugs via a one-photon process, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2019, 141, 44, 17482-17486
Invited Review Articles
- Jinzhao Liu, Yang Zhou, Qingyang Lyu, Xiaotong Yao, Weiping Wang*, Targeted protein delivery based on stimuli-triggered nanomedicine, Exploration, 2024, 4, 20230025
- Yuwei Liu, Shuting Xu, Qingyang Lyu, Yi Huang, Weiping Wang*, Ce6 nanoassemblies: molecular mechanism and strategies for combinational anti-cancer therapy, Aggregate, 2024, 5, e443
- Weirong Kang, Yuwei Liu, Weiping Wang*, Light-responsive nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy, Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B, 2023, 13, 6, 2346-2368
- Jinzhao Liu1, Weirong Kang1, Weiping Wang*, Photocleavage-based photoresponsive drug delivery, Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2022, 98, 2, 288-302
- Kaiqi Long, Yuwei Liu, Yafei Li and Weiping Wang*, Self-assembly of trigonal building blocks into nanostructures: molecular design and biomedical applications, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 2020, 8, 6739-6752
- Wen Lv and Weiping Wang*, One-Photon Upconversion-Like Photolysis: A New Strategy to Achieve Long-Wavelength Light-Excitable Photolysis, Synlett, 2020, 31, 1129-1134 (Synpacts)
- Yafei Li, Yaming Zhang and Weiping Wang*, Phototriggered targeting of nanocarriers for drug delivery, Nano Research, 2018, 11, 5424–5438
Full List of Publications:http://wanglab.org/publications/
Patents
- Weiping Wang, Xiaoling Liang, Yang Zhou, Jia Li, A photoresponsive peptide delivery system based on BODIPY modification, Chinese Patent (No. 202311653291.X)
- Weiping Wang, Yichi Zhang, Biomimetic intraocular drug delivery system for the treatment of retinoblastoma, US Provisional Patent (No. 63/583,620, 2023)
- Weiping Wang, Tianyi Wang, Polymersome Nanoparticles Exhausting Intracellular Amino Acid for Cancer Starvation Therapy, US Provisional Patent (No. 63/514,949, 2023)
- Weiping Wang, Yaming Zhang, Reactive oxygen species-responsive polymeric prodrug nanoparticles for selective and effective treatment of inflammatory diseases, US Provisional Patent (No. 63/515,837, 2023)
- Weiping Wang, Tianyi Wang, Polymersome Nanoparticles Exhausting Intracellular Amino Acid for Cancer Therapy and Methods Thereof, US Provisional Patent (No. 63/514,949, 2023)
- Weiping Wang, Kaiqi Long, Near-infrared Light-Triggered Upconversion-like Prodrug Photolysis by One-step Energy Transfer, US Provisional Patent (No. 63/506,991, 2023)
- Weiping Wang, Kaiqi Long, Yifan Wang, Photocleavable prodrug-based nanomedicine for in-situ monitorable cancer therapy, PCT Patent (No. PCT/CN2022/124524, 2022)
- Weiping Wang, Kaiqi Long, Shuting Xu, Photoactivatable prodrug nanoparticles for combined anti-angiogenesis and photodynamic therapy, PCT Patent (No. PCT/CN2022/107621, 2022)
- Weiping Wang, Yaming Zhang, ROS-responsive prodrugs and compositions and methods of thereof, PCT Patent (No. PCT/CN2022/104160, 2022)
- Weiping Wang, Tianyi Wang, Kaiqi Long, Compositions and Methods of optochemical control of mTOR signaling and mTOR-dependent autophagy, CN Patent (No. 202210749138.6, 2022), US Patent (No. 17/850,720, 2022)
- Weiping Wang, Yang Zhou, Yafei Li, A photoresponsive delivery system based on a modified PAMAM and methods thereof, PCT Patent (No. PCT/CN2022/097804, 2022)
- Weiping Wang, Yafei Li, Compositions and methods of macropinocytosis inhibitors to treat cancers, PCT Patent (No. PCT/CN2022/092398, 2022)
- Weiping Wang, Kaiqi Long, A controlled drug release system of photoresponsive nanocarriers, methods of making and using thereof, PCT Patent (No. PCT/CN2021/081262, 2021), CN Patent (Application No. 202180029535.X, 2022), US Patent (Application No. 17/904,833, 2022), European Patent (Application No. 21793651.7, 2022)
- Weiping Wang, Wen Lyv, Triplet-triplet energy transfer with light excitation at long wavelengths and methods thereof, PCT Patent (No. PCT/CN2019/101689, 2019), CN Patent (No. 201980054786.6, 2021), US Patent (No. 17/262,452, 2021).
Funding
Photoresponsive mRNA Delivery System for Esophageal Carcinoma Treatment (No. N_HKU778/23), 2024-2027, PI, NSFC/RGC Joint Research Scheme, HKD 1,184,400
Photoresponsive drug delivery systems (No. 82222903), 2023-2025, PI, NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund, RMB 2,000,000
Development of photoresponisve prodrug nanoparticles based on mTOR inhibitors for the treatment of skin cancer (No. 09201616), 2022-2025, PI, Health and Medical Research Fund, HKD 1,419,200
Development of near-infrared light-triggered drug delivery system, 2021-2022, PI, Karolinska Institutet’s MWLC Associate Member Programme, HKD 525,000
Low-irradiance red light-triggered drug release for the treatment of retinoblastoma (No. 27115220), PI, Early Career Scheme of Research Grants Council, 2020-2023, HKD 936,520
Development of Photo-targeted Nanocarriers for Esophageal Cancer Therapy (No. 07181936), PI, Health and Medical Research Fund, 2020-2023, HKD 1,405,630
Engineering nanomaterials for drug delivery, genome editing and bioimaging, PI, Karolinska Institutet’s MWLC Associate Member Programme, 2019-2020, HKD 525,000
Development of ultrasound-responsive polymeric nanoreactors for retinoblastoma therapy (No. 06173456), PI, Health and Medical Research Fund, 2019-2021, HKD 1,499,628
Hydrogen sulfide-responsive small-molecule nanoparticles as drug delivery carriers (No. 81803469), PI, Young Scientists Fund of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, 2019-2021, RMB 210,000
Preparation of Self-assembled Nanodrugs (SANDs) by an Ice-template Assisted Method (No. ITS/372/17), Co-PI, Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Support Programme, 2018-2019, HKD 300,000 allocated
Photoresponsive nanoparticles inducing cellular autophagy and enhancing targeted drug delivery for cancer therapy (No. 2017A050506016), Co-PI, Guangdong-Hong Kong Technology Cooperation Funding Scheme, 2017-2019, RMB 150,000 allocated
Other Information
Lab Website: www.wanglab.org
Positions Available
PhD Students:
Outstanding applicants are encouraged to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). The Fellowship provides a monthly stipend of HK$28,100 and research related travel allowance of HK$14,000/year for the awardees for 4 years. The HKPFS holders will be awarded the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship. On top of the HKPF package, each awardee will receive HK$40,000 in Year 1; HK$20,000 per year in the remaining normative study period. Furthermore, HKU waives first-year composition fees of HK$42,100 for HKPF awardees.
Interested outstanding students please contact Prof. Wang (wangwp@hku.hk, please reference "HKPF application @ The Wang Lab" in the subject line) with an updated CV.
Visiting Students:
Interested outstanding undergraduate or graduate students from around the world please contact Prof. Wang (wangwp@hku.hk) with an updated CV for internship or exchange studies.
Postdoctoral Researchers:
One Postdoctoral Fellow position is available at Prof. Wang's lab. Applicants are expected to have an excellent track record with strong expertise and experimental background in one of the areas/techniques including gene delivery, ocular drug delivery, photopharmacology, nanomedicine, and anticancer animal studies. The position will focus on molecular engineering for understanding biological events or solving medical problems.
The qualified applicant must be highly motivated, creative, energetic and have an interest in applying novel technologies for biomedical applications. Those interested please contact Prof. Wang (wangwp@hku.hk, please reference "Postdoc application @ The Wang Lab" in the subject line) with an updated CV.
A highly competitive salary commensurate with qualifications and experience will be offered, in addition to annual leave and medical benefits.
**We would like to thank all applicants in advance and regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
Office
2/F, 21 Sassoon Road, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory Block, Faculty of Medicine Building, Hong Kong SAR, China.