Research Interests:
Our group works on a variety of interdisciplinary research projects concerning sustainability and human health. Ongoing projects range from metal-organic frameworks, to catalysis, to renewable energy, to nanomedicine. While addressing fundamental chemical problems, our research addresses crucial social issues, such as the environment and sustainability (catalysis and actinide sequestration); alternative renewable energy (solar fuels and biofuels); and human health (nanomedicine and metallopharmaceuticals).
Metal-organic Frameworks
Our group pioneered the rational design of functional solids based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). We have designed a large number of MOFs and explored their applications in nonlinear optics, asymmetric catalysis, gas storage/separation, and solar energy utilization. Current efforts are particularly focused on using MOFs as single-site solid asymmetric catalysts, storage media for hydrogen and methane, and sensory materials; for gas separations and carbon dioxide capture; and for light-harvesting and photocatalysis.
Catalysis
Catalysis is a major research effort that cuts across many different research directions. We are designing new highly enantioselective catalysts for a variety of organic transformations and applying our findings to solar and bioenergy generation. By taking advantage of our multidisciplinary expertise, we are not only discovering new homogeneous catalysts but also developing novel strategies for heterogenization of these relevant catalytic systems. To further improve these catalysts, we are interested in elucidating the mechanisms and fundamental issues concerning many of these interesting catalytic reactions.
Renewable Energy
Our research in renewable energy targets three different forms of alternative energy: solar, biological, and nuclear. We are currently exploring new concepts for achieving artificial photosynthesis by integrating different functional components into hierarchically ordered molecular solids. We have developed strong expertise in light harvesting, water oxidation, and proton reduction. Our biofuel research involves designing new catalytic systems for efficient conversion of cheap, nonfood feedstocks to biofuels and increasing the performance of biofuels. Finally, our contributions to nuclear energy focus on developing novel sorbents for efficient extraction of uranium from seawater. By extracting uranium from seawater, which contains 1000 times more uranium than all terrestrial ores, we can ensure the availability of affordable, carbon-neutral power for many generations to come.
Nanomedicine
We are developing hybrid nanomaterials (including nanoscale metal-organic frameworks, silicas, polysilsequioxanes, and degradable polymers) for biomedical imaging and drug delivery. We use the unique properties of nanoparticles to disproportionally accumulate in diseased tissues via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect to actively target tumors. These nanoparticles combine the attractive features of both inorganic and organic materials, making them promising platforms for translation to the clinic. Ongoing research efforts include designing nanoscale multimodal imaging contrast agents (magnetic resonance, computed tomography, and optical imaging) for early diagnosis of cancers as well as targeted delivery of potent drugs for improved cancer therapy. Strong emphasis is placed on preclinical evaluations of these systems to enable their clinical translation.
Recent Publications
Jiang, X.; He, C.; Wenbin Lin,; Lin, W. Supramolecular metal-based nanoparticles for drug delivery and cancer therapy. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, 2021, 61, 143-153.
Quan, Y.; Shi, W.; Song, Y.; Jiang, X.; Wang, C; Lin, W. Bifunctional Metal–Organic Layer with Organic Dyes and Iron Centers for Synergistic Photoredox Catalysis. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143 (8), 3075-3080.
Quan, Y.; Lan, G.; Shi, W.; Xu, Z.; Fan, Y.; You, E.; Jiang, X.; Wang, C.; Lin, W. Metal–Organic Layers Hierarchically Integrate Three Synergistic Active Sites for Tandem Catalysis. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2021, 60, 3115.
Nash, G. T.; Luo, T.; Lan, G.; Ni, K.; Kaufmann, M.; Lin, W. Nanoscale Metal–Organic Layer Isolates Phthalocyanines for Efficient Mitochondria-Targeted Photodynamic Therapy. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143 (5), 2194-2199.
Ling, X.; Gong, D.; Shi, W.; Xu, Z.; Han, W.; Lan, G.; Li, Y.; Qin, W.; Lin, W. Nanoscale Metal–Organic Layers Detect Mitochondrial Dysregulation and Chemoresistance via Ratiometric Sensing of Glutathione and pH. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143 (3), 1284-1289.
Feng, X.; Pi, Y.; Song, Y.; Xu, Z.; Li, Z.; Lin, W. Integration of Earth-Abundant Photosensitizers and Catalysts in Metal–Organic Frameworks Enhances Photocatalytic Aerobic Oxidation. ACS Catalysis, 2021, 11 (3), 1024-1032.
Feng, X.; Song, Y.; J. S.; Xu, Z.; S., J.; Lin, W. Rational Construction of an Artificial Binuclear Copper Monooxygenase in a Metal–Organic Framework, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2021, 143 (2), 1107-1118.
Ling, X.; Jiang, X.; Li, Y.; Han, W.; Rodriguez, M.; Xu, Z.; Lin, W. Sequential Treatment of Bioresponsive Nanoparticles Elicits Antiangiogenesis and Apoptosis and Synergizes with a CD40 Agonist for Antitumor Immunity, ACS Nano, 2021, 15 (1), 765-780.
Ni, K.; Lan, G.; Guo, N.; Culbert, A.; Luo, T.; Wu, T.; Weichselbaum, R. R.; Lin, W. Nanoscale metal-organic frameworks for x-ray activated in situ cancer vaccination, Science Advances, 2020, 6, 40.
Feng, X.; Song, Y.; Lin, W. Transforming Hydroxide-Containing Metal–Organic Framework Nodes for Transition Metal Catalysis, Trends in Chemistry, 2020, 2 (11), 965-979.