Research

The major research interests of our lab are in the areas of biomolecular interfaces, biomaterials/tissue engineering, and biosensors. Biomolecular interfaces drive most biological processes both in vitro and in vivo. For example, they will determine the fate of implanted biomaterials and the limit of surface-based detections. The research in the lab focuses on (a) understanding and controlling interfacial phenomena and properties of biological and chemical systems at the molecular level and (b) developing and applying new biomaterials and biosensor techniques for biomedical and engineering applications.

We are currently working on the following areas:

1. Develop anti-fouling materials for biomedical applications

The development of nonfouling materials and surfaces is critical to many biomedical applications, such as biomaterials, tissue scaffolds, drug delivery carriers and biosensors. For example, a very low amount, at the scale of 1 ng/cm2, of protein adsorption to the synthetic blood vessel could lead to the platelet adhesion and accumulation, thrombosis, and therefore failure of the device. Several newly developed non-fouling polymers are under investigation for their resistance to protein adsorption and cell adhesion. The goal of this project is to develop tissue scaffolds and drug delivery carriers based on the novel nonfouling materials.

2. Electrospun multi-functional polymers for wound healing

Fibrous membranes made from functional polymers are being investigated for deep wound treatment. The same materials are being explored for multiple applications such as wound dressings and engineered skin grafts.

3. Study the behavior of cells on well-controlled engineered surfaces

The research focuses on controlling protein orientation, conformation and distribution to modulate cell behavior for biomaterials and tissue engineering applications, in which surface modification and characterization, protein-surface interactions, protein-protein interactions and protein-cell interactions are involved. To achieve biomaterials that promote normal wound healing, biomaterial surfaces must be developed that control the orientation and conformation of proteins with precision so that the body will specifically recognize them. We are exploring different approaches to control the orientation and conformation of functional proteins on various surfaces. In the preferred orientation and conformation, the functional domains of protein molecules will be presented to cells to the greatest extent and promote healing. Protein distribution, or gradient, plays an important role in cell migration. Cell migration is essential in many physiological processes such as angiogenesis, wound healing, and tumor metastasis. Particularly, angiogenesis is critical to wound healing (since the newly formed blood vessels provide nutrition and oxygen to growing tissues) and thus is critical to the success of implanted biomaterials and tissue-engineered constructs. We are studying how the gradients of extracellular matrix proteins and growth factors affect the migration of endothelial cells. Findings from this project will provide useful information for directing cell migration into tissue-engineered constructs and can be potentially used for those applications where cell migration is critical, such as angiogenesis.

4. Molecular engineering of surfaces for SPR sensing and detection

SPR sensor, which allows for fast, real-time, quantitative and label-free detection, has been extensively used as a platform for biosensor development. Surface chemistry for the immobilization of biomolecular recognition elements is the key to the success of a sensor. The major challenges in sensing and detection are the ability of a sensor to achieve the low detection limit (i.e., high sensitivity) and to avoid false alarms (i.e., high specificity). Our lab is exploring several novel surface functionalization approaches to realize both high sensitivity and high specificity, by controlling the orientation/conformation of the ligands immobilized on a super-nonfouling background. The newly developed platforms will be used for various applications, such as food safety monitoring and early disease diagnostics.

Publications

1.   Wenchen Li, Qingsheng Liu, and Lingyun Liu*, Antifouling gold surfaces grafted with aspartic acid and glutamic acid based zwitterionic polymer brushes, Langmuir, 2014; 30: 12619-12626. [DOI]

2.    Jheng-Fong Jhong, Antoine Venault, Lingyun Liu, Jie Zheng, Sheng-Han Chen, Akon Higuchi, James Huang, and Yung Chang, Introducing mixed-charge copolymers as wound dressing biomaterials, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2014; 6: 9858−9870. [DOI]

3.    Qinghua Yang, Wenchen Li, Longgang Wang, Guangzhi Wang, Zhen Wang, Lingyun Liu, and Shengfu Chen, Investigation of nonfouling polypeptides of poly(glutamic acid) with lysine side chains synthesized by EDC.HCl/HOBt chemistry, Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 2014; 25: 1717-1729. [DOI]

4.    Wenchen Li, Qingsheng Liu, and Lingyun Liu*, Amino acid – based zwitterionic polymers: antifouling properties and low cytotoxicity, Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 2014; 25: 1730-1742 [DOI]

5.    Qingsheng Liu, Ankit A. Patel, and Lingyun Liu*, Superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate)-grafted glass fiber filters for oil−water separation, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2014; 6: 8996−9003. [DOI]

6.Lingyun Liu*, Wenchen Li, and Qingsheng Liu, Recent development of antifouling polymers: structure, evaluation, and biomedical applications in nano/micro-structures, WIREs Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology (invited), 2014; 6: 599-614. [DOI]

7.    Qingsheng Liu, Wenchen Li, Anu Singh, Gang Cheng, and Lingyun Liu*, Two amino acid – based superlow fouling polymers: poly(lysine methacrylate) and poly(ornithine methacrylate), Acta Biomaterialia, 2014; 10: 2956-2964. [DOI]

8.   Qingsheng Liu, Wenchen Li, Hua Wang, and Lingyun Liu*, A facile method of using sulfobetaine-containing copolymers for biofouling resistance, Journal of Applied Polymer Science (invited), 2014; 131: 40789. [DOI]

9.   Qingsheng Liu, Anuradha Singh, and Lingyun Liu*, Amino acid-based zwitterionic poly(serine methacrylate) as an antifouling material, Biomacromolecules, 2013; 14: 226-231. [DOI]

10.  Bin Cao, Qiong Tang, Linlin Li, Jayson Humble, Haiyan Wu, Lingyun Liu, and Gang Cheng*,Switchable antimicrobial and antifouling hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties, Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2013; 2: 1096-1102. [DOI]

11.   Lingyun Liu*, Qingsheng Liu, Anuradha Singh, Polyacrylamide: evaluation of ultralow fouling properties of a traditional material, in “Proteins at Interfaces III State of the Art” (editors: T. Horbett, J. L. Brash, W. Norde), American Chemical Society: Washington DC, 2012; 661-676.

12.    Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Electrospun zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) for nonadherent, superabsorbent, and antimicrobial wound dressing applications, Biomacromolecules, 2012;13: 1853-1863.[DOI] 

13.    Qingsheng Liu, Anuradha Singh, Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Ultralow fouling polyacrylamide grafted on gold via surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization, Biomacromolecules, 2012; 13: 1086-1092. [DOI]

14.   Michael Spagnuolo, and Lingyun Liu*, Fabrication and degradation of electrospun scaffolds from L-tyrosine based polyurethane blends for tissue engineering applications, ISRN Nanotechnology, 2012; Article ID 627420: 1-11. [DOI]

15.    Jui-Chen Yang, Chao Zhao, I-Fan Hsieh, Senthilram Subramanian, Lingyun Liu, Gang Cheng, Lingyan Li, Stephen Cheng, and Jie Zheng, Strong resistance of PEG-based L-tyrosine polyurethanes to protein adsorption and cell adhesion, Polymer International, 2012; 61: 616-621. [DOI]

16.  Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Synthesis, characterization, and electrospinning of zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate), Polymer, 2011; 52(23): 5344-5354. [DOI]

17.  Bo Zhang, Reza Lalani, Fang Cheng, Qingsheng Liu, Lingyun Liu*, Dual-functional electrospun poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), Journal of Biomedical Materials Research A, 2011; 99A: 455-466. [DOI]

18.  Shaohui Lin, Bo Zhang, Michael J. Skoumal, Brian Ramunno, Xiaopeng Li, Chris Wesdemiotis, Lingyun Liu*, and Li Jia*, Antifouling poly(β-peptoid)s, Biomacromolecules, 2011; 12(7): 2573-2582. [DOI]

19.   Qiuming Wang, Nilam Shah, Jun Zhao, Chengshan Wang, Chao Zhao, Lingyun Liu, Lingyan Li, Feimeng Zhou, and Jie Zheng, Structural, morphological, and kinetic studies of b-amyloid peptide aggregation on self-assembled monolayers, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2011; 13: 15200-15210. [DOI]

20.   Yung Chang, Wan-Ling Chu, Wen-Yih Chen, Jie Zheng, Lingyun Liu, Ruoh-chyu Ruaan, and Akon Higuchi, A systematic SPR study of human plasma protein adsorption behavior on the controlled surface packing of self-assembled poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer surfaces, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research A, 2010; 93A: 400-408. [DOI]

21.   Zheng Zhang, Timothy Chao, Lingyun Liu, Gang Cheng, Buddy D. Ratner, and Shaoyi Jiang, Zwitterionic hydrogels: an in vivo implantation study, Journal of Biomaterials Science-Polymer Edition, 2009; 20(13): 1845-1859. [DOI]

22.   Lingyun Liu, Gang Cheng, Timothy Chao, Buddy D. Ratner, E. Helene Sage and Shaoyi Jiang, Reduced foreign body reaction to implanted biomaterials by surface treatment with oriented osteopontin, Journal of Biomaterials Science-Polymer Edition, 2008; 19(6): 821-835. [DOI]

23.  Lingyun Liu, Buddy D. Ratner, E. Helene Sage and Shaoyi Jiang, Endothelial cell migration on surface-density gradients of fibronectin, VEGF, or both proteins, Langmuir, 2007; 23: 11168-11173. [DOI]

24.   Lingyun Liu, Chunlin Qin, William T. Butler, Buddy D. Ratner and Shaoyi Jiang, Controlling the orientation of bone osteopontin to modulate osteoblast adhesion via its specific binding with collagen I, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research A, 2007; 80A: 102-110. [DOI]

25.  Lingyun Liu, Joy G. Ghosh, John I. Clark and Shaoyi Jiang, Studies of aB crystallin subunit dynamics by surface plasmon resonance, Analytical Biochemistry, 2006; 350(2): 186-195. [DOI]

26. Shengfu Chen, Lingyun Liu, Shaoyi Jiang, Strong resistance of oligo(phosphorylcholine) self-assembled monolayers to protein adsorption, Langmuir, 2006; 22(6): 2418-2421. [DOI]

27. Lingyun Liu, Shengfu Chen, Cecilia M. Giachelli, Buddy D. Ratner and Shaoyi Jiang, Controlling osteopontin orientation on surfaces to modulate endothelial cell adhesion, Journal of Biomedical Materials Research A, 2005; 74A(1): 23-31. [DOI]

28. Victoria Lockhart, Lingyun Liu and Shaoyi Jiang, Interactions between secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), and type I collagen identified by surface plasmon resonance biosensor, Journal of Undergraduate Research in Bioengineering, 2004; 4(2): 69-74. [DOI]

29.  Shengfu Chen, Lingyun Liu, Jian Zhou and Shaoyi Jiang, Controlling antibody orientation on charged self-assembled monolayers, Langmuir, 2003; 19(7): 2859-2864. [DOI]

30. Xiaoying Lv, Yan Huang, Zuming Tang, Qingyue Hong, Zuhong Lu, Yinping Zhong, Weihua Ye, Lingyun Liu, Use of Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) for real time in situ study of adsorption of proteins onto surface of polyurethane, Chinese Journal of Biomedical Engineering, 2003; 22(2): 165-170. [DOI]

31. Jianhua Gu, Bingjie Liang, Lingyun Liu, Yianqing Tian, Yiwen Chen, Bin Lu and Zuhong Lu, Photoinduced properties of liquid crystalline azobenzene polymer in Langmuir-Blodgett films investigated by surface plasmon resonance, Thin Solid Films, 1998; 327-329: 427-430. [DOI]

32.  Jianhua Gu, Junfu Liu, Hua Lv, Yiwen Chen, Lingyun Liu, Peng Wang, Jianming Ma and Zuhong Lu, Enhancement of the sensitivity of surface plasmon resonance biosensor with colloidal gold labeling technique, Supramolecular Science, 1998; 5: 695-698. [DOI]

Presentations

  1. Lingyun Liu, Nanjing Normal University, China, Dec. 5, 2013, Invited Seminar
  2. Lingyun Liu, Southeast University, China, Dec. 4, 2013, Invited Seminar
  3. Lingyun Liu, International Conference on Bioinspired and Zwitterionic Materials, Dec. 3, 2013, Hangzhou, China. Invited Talk
  4. Lingyun Liu, Antifouling polymers in wound care, Rubber Division ACS Advanced Materials in Healthcare Conference, October 7, 2013, Cleveland, OH. Invited Talk
  5. Lingyun Liu, Liquid Crystal Institute (LCI), Kent State University, September 25, 2013, Kent, OH. Invited Seminar
  6. Qingsheng Liu, Anuradha Singh, Lingyun Liu*, Amino acid – based antifouling poly(serine methacrylate), Society for Biomaterials 2013 Annual Meeting, Apr. 10-13, 2013, Boston, MA. Poster Presentation (STAR Award – Student Travel Award Recognition)
  7. Qingsheng Liu, Reza Lalani, Dimitria Kontoveros, Lingyun Liu*, Electrospun ultralow-fouling poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) for nonadherent, superabsorbent, antimicrobial, and reusable wound dressings, Society for Biomaterials 2013 Annual Meeting, Apr. 10-13, 2013, Boston, MA. Oral Presentation (STAR Award Honorable Mention)
  8. Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Superlowfouling electrospun scaffolds of zwitterionic polysulfobetaine methacrylate for biomedical applications, The 9th World Biomaterials Congress (WBC), Jun. 1-5, 2012, Chengdu, China. Oral Presentation
  9. Qingsheng Liu, Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Superlow fouling polyacrylamide grafted on gold surfaces via atom transfer radical polymerization, The 9th World Biomaterials Congress (WBC), Jun. 1-5, 2012, Chengdu, China. Poster Presentation
  10. Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Nonadherent, superabsorbent, and antimicrobial wound dressings based on electrospun zwitterionic polysulfobetaine methacrylate, National Value-driven Engineering Conference, Apr. 22-24, 2012, Akron, OH. Poster Presentation
  11. Qingsheng Liu, Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Ultralow fouling polyacrylamide grafted on gold surfaces via atom transfer radical polymerization, 243rd ACS National Meeting & Exposition, Mar. 25-29, 2012, San Diego, CA. Oral Presentation
  12. Lingyun Liu*, Nonadherent and superabsorbent hydrofiber wound dressings with controlled antimicrobial activity, Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron together with The University of Akron’s College of Engineering, IDEATION Session, Jan. 26, 2012, Akron, OH. Oral Presentation
  13. Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Preparation and characterization of superlowfouling electrospun scaffolds of zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) for biomedical applications, Annual Meeting of American Institute of Chemical Engineers,  Oct. 16-21, 2011, Minneapolis, MN. Oral Presentation
  14. Lingyun Liu*, Bo Zhang, Reza Lalani, and Qingsheng Liu, Dual-functional electrospun poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), Annual Meeting of American Institute of Chemical Engineers,  Oct. 16-21, 2011, Minneapolis, MN. Oral Presentation
  15. Lingyun Liu*, Control of protein orientation and adsorption on surfaces to modulate cell behavior, University of Akron 2nd  Biomaterials Symposium, Apr. 27, 2011, Akron, OH. Oral Presentation (Invited)
  16. Lingyun Liu*, Biointerfacial control for the biomaterial/tissue engineering and biosensor applications, University of Akron Biomaterials Forum, Feb. 02, 2011, Akron, OH. Oral Presentation
  17. Bo Zhang, Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Electrospun poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) as non-fouling scaffolds, Society for Biomaterials 2010 Annual Meeting, Apr. 21-24, 2010, Seattle, WA. Oral Presentation
  18. Reza Lalani, Bo Zhang, and Lingyun Liu*, Preparation and characterization of superlowfouling electrospun scaffolds of zwitterionic polysulfobetaine methacrylate for tissue engineering applications, Society for Biomaterials 2010 Annual Meeting, Apr. 21-24, 2010, Seattle, WA. Poster
  19. Bo Zhang, Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Electrospun poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) as non-fouling scaffolds, Society for Biomaterials 2010 Annual Meeting, Apr. 21-24, 2010, Seattle, WA. Poster
  20. Bo Zhang, Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Electrospun poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) as non-fouling scaffolds, Heal Ohio 2009, Oct. 22, 2009, Rootstown, OH. Poster
  21. Reza Lalani, Bo Zhang, and Lingyun Liu*, Preparation and characterization of superlowfouling electrospun scaffolds of zwitterionic polysulfobetaine methacrylate for tissue engineering applications, Heal Ohio 2009, Oct. 22, 2009, Rootstown, OH. Poster (Best Presentation Award)
  22. Michael S. Spagnuolo, and Lingyun Liu*, Formation of blended biocompatible polyurethane tissue engineering scaffolds, Heal Ohio 2009, Oct. 22, 2009, Rootstown, OH. Poster
  23. Bo Zhang, Reza Lalani, and Lingyun Liu*, Electrospun poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) as low-fouling scaffolds, Central Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (CERMACS), May 20-23, 2009, Cleveland, OH. Oral presentation
  24. Reza Lalani, Bo Zhang, and Lingyun Liu*, Preparation and characterization of superlowfouling electrospun scaffolds of zwitterionic polysulfobetaine methacrylate for tissue engineering applications, Central Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (CERMACS), May 20-23, 2009, Cleveland, OH. Oral presentation
  25. Michael S. Spagnuolo, and Lingyun Liu*, Controllable hydrolytic degradation of electrospun biopolymer scaffolds, Central Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society (CERMACS), May 20-23, 2009, Cleveland, OH. Oral presentation
  26. Lingyun Liu*, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, March 26, 2009, Cleveland, OH. Invited Seminar
  27. Lingyun Liu*, Department of Biology, University of Akron, February 12, 2009, Akron, OH. Invited Seminar
  28. Lingyun Liu*, Faculty Research Grant Recipient Colloquium, University of Akron, Nov. 14, 2008, Akron, OH.
  29. Lingyun Liu*, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southeast University, June 17, 2008, Nanjing, China. Invited Seminar
  30. Lingyun Liu*, 2008 International Workshop for Bioelectronics and Biomaterials, June 14-15, 2008, Suzhou, China. Oral Presentation (Invited)
  31. Lingyun Liu*, Department of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Science and Technology,  June 7, 2008, Dalian, China. Invited Seminar
  32. Lingyun Liu*, Control of Cell-Protein-Surface Interactions for Biomaterial and Biosensor Applications, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Ohio University, May 13, 2008, Athens, OH. Invited Seminar
  33. Lingyun Liu*, Control of Cell-Protein-Surface Interactions for Biomaterial and Biosensor Applications, Akron General Medical Center, Apr. 10, 2008, Akron, OH. Invited Seminar
  34. Lingyun Liu*, Control of Protein-Surface, Protein-Protein and Cell-Protein Interactions for Biomaterial and Biosensor Applications, Department of Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Feb. 29, 2008, Akron, OH. Invited Seminar
  35. Lingyun Liu*, Engineering Biointerfaces for Biomaterial, Tissue Engineering and Biosensor Applications, Oct. 24, 2007, Society of Women in Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH. Invited Seminar