Dr. Lin Zhu's Lab

Research Interests

• Development of novel drug delivery systems and nanomedicine for small and macro molecules. 

• Design and synthesis of functional polymers/conjugates for drug delivery. 

• Targeted and stimulus-responsive delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents. 

• In vitro and in vivo characterization of drug delivery systems/therapeutics. 

• Cancer therapy.

Research Support

Honors & Awards

• Outstanding Poster Award in “Polymers for Advanced Technologies (PAT) 2019”
• NIH/NCI R15 Award. Title: Improving tumor specificity and overcoming drug resistance of proteasome inhibitors by a dual-targeted drug delivery system. Role: PI. 2018-2021
• Grant reviewer: NIH Special Emphasis Panel ZRG1 BST-F (80), 2019; The Israel Science Foundation, 2018; Czech Science Foundation, 2017
• Controlled Release Society (CRS) T. Nagai Postdoctoral Research Achievement Award, 2014
• American Cancer Society-Ellison Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2013
• AAPS Graduate Student Symposium Award in Biotechnology, 2009
• University of Tennessee Student Travel Award, 2009
• AAPS Travel Awards in Biotechnology, 2008 & 2009

Dr. Zhu's lab and research in the news

1. Vital Record, Texas A&M HSC (December 2^nd, 2014)
Title: Tiny drug ‘vehicles’ could attack cancer cells without damaging healthy cells http://news.tamhsc.edu/?post=tiny-drug-vehicles-could-attack-cancer-cells-without-damaging-healthy-cells

Title: Tiny Drug ‘Vehicles’ Could Attack Cancer Cells http://today.tamu.edu/2015/01/14/tiny-drug-vehicles-could-attack-cancer-cells/

Title: Texas A&M researcher working on targeted cancer Treatment  http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/texas-a-m-researcher-working-on-targeted-cancer-treatment/article_f0db0d8e-24f4-52e3-ac62-6525b8031991.html

Title: A NEW CANCER DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM https://vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu/new-cancer-drug-delivery-system/

Title: Enzyme could make ‘smart’ cancer drugs a reality https://www.futurity.org/enzyme-smart-cancer-drugs-1817032/

Title: A Little-Known Enzyme Might Hold The Key To Cancer Drug Targeting ://today.tamu.edu/2018/07/26/a-little-known-enzyme-might-hold-the-key-to-cancer-drug-targeting/

Patents & Invention Disclosures

• Zhu L, Perche F, Torchilin VP, “Copolymers for the delivery of drugs into cells”, November 30, 2012 (WO2014/085579 A1)
• Zhu L, Torchilin VP, “System for co-delivery of polynucleotides and drugs into protease-expressing cells” May 7, 2015 (WO2015/065773 A1)
• Zhu L, Tu Y “Polymers for the delivery of drugs and nanoparticles into cells” March 23, 2015 (Application No.: 62/136,952).
• Zhu L, Liu Y, Tu Y “Intracellular delivery and mitochondrial targeting by fluorination” March 27, 2019 (Application No.: 62824791)

Publications (* Corresponding author)

Peer-reviewed Research Articles

1. Zhu L, Zhu J*, Tu Y, Tian X, The Study of All-trans Retinoic Acid Mixed Micelles Injection, Acta Pharm Sin, 2004, 39(3), 220-222.
2. Tu Y, Zhao L*, Zhu L, Wang G, Xiang B, Shan Z, Separation and Determination of Main Constituents in Traditional Chinese Medicine Shenbao Tablet by Reversed Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Electrospray Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry, Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry, 2004,32(12), 1603-1607.
3. Tu Y, Zhao L*, Zhu L, Wang G, Xiang B, Separation and Identification of 20 Chemical Constituents in the Traditional Chinese Medicinal Preparation Shenbao Tablet by LC-ESI-MS3, Journal of Chromatographic Science, 2004, 42(4), 177-183.
4. Zhu L, Wang L, Ni K*, Tong X, Dai L, Preparation of Stable Magnetoliposomes with High Encapsulation Efficiency of Methotrexate，Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 2006, 41 (17), 1324-1327.
5. Tu Y, Zhao L*, Zhu L, Wang G, Xiang B, Simultaneous Determination of Acteoside, Astragaloside IV and Icariside-I in the Traditional Chinese Medicinal Preparation Shenbao by HPLC–MS. Chromatographia, 2006, 64(7-8), 453-458.
6. Wang L, Zhu L, Ni K*, Tu Y, Peng G, Study on Tissue Distribution of Methotrexate Magnetoliposomes in Mice by HPLC，Chinese Pharmaceutical Journal, 2006, 41(20), 1572-1575.
7. Cheng G, Zhu L, Mahato RI*, Caspase-3 Gene Silencing for Inhibiting Apoptosis in Insulinoma Cells and Human Islets, Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2008, 5 (6), 1093-1102.
8. Huo Z, Zhu L, Xiao Y, Tong X, Ni K*, Study of the Preparation and Targeting Effect of Thermosensitive Magneto-liposomes, Strait Pharmaceutical Journal, 2008,20(7), 14-17.
9. Zhu L, Ye Z, Cheng K, Miller DD and Mahato RI*, Site-specific Delivery of Oligonucleotides to Hepatocytes after Systemic Administration. Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2008, 19(1), 290-298.
10. Tu Y, Zhu L, Wang G*, Zhao L, Xiang B, Development and Validation of a LC-ESI-MS Assay for Determination of Icariin in Rat Plasma after Administration of Herba Epimedii. Chromatographia. 2008, 67(7-8), 591-597.
11. Zhu L, Lu Y, Miller DD, Mahato RI*, Structural and Formulation Factors Influencing Pyridinium Lipid-based Gene Transfer, Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2008, 19 (12), 2499-2512.
12. Zhu L, Huo Z, Wang L, Tong X, Xiao Y, Ni K*, Targeted Delivery of Methotrexate to Skeletal Muscular Tissue by Thermosensitive Magnetoliposomes, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2009, 370(1-2),136-143.
13. Zhu L, Mahato R*, Targeted Delivery of siRNA to Hepatocytes and Hepatic Stellate Cells by Bioconjugation, Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2010, 21(11), 2119-2127.
14. Zhu L, Kate P, Torchilin VP*, Matrix Metalloprotease 2-responsive Multifunctional Liposomal Nanocarrier for Enhanced Tumor Targeting, ACS Nano, 2012, 6 (4), 3491–3498.
15. Wu H, Zhu L, Torchilin, VP*, pH-Sensitive Poly(histidine)-PEG/DSPE-PEG Copolymer Micelles for Cytosolic Drug Delivery, Biomaterials, 2013, 34(4):1213-1222.
16. Zhu L, Wang T, Perche F, Taigind A, Torchilin VP*, Enhanced Anticancer Activity of Nanopreparation Containing a Novel MMP2-sensitive PEG-drug Conjugate and Cell-penetrating Moiety, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2013, 110 (42), 17047-17052.
17. Sawant R, Jhaveri A, Koshkaryev A, Zhu L, Qureshi F, Torchilin, VP*, Targeted Transferrin-Modified Polymeric Micelles: Enhanced Efficacy in Vitro and in Vivo in Ovarian Carcinoma, Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2014, 11 (2), 375–381.
18. Perche F, Biswas S, Wang T, Zhu L, Torchilin VP*, Hypoxia-targeted siRNA Delivery, Angewandte Chemie, 2014, 53(13):3362-6.
19. Zhu L, Perche F, Wang T, Torchilin VP*, Matrix Metalloproteinase 2-sensitive Multifunctional Polymeric Micelles for Tumor-specific Co-delivery of siRNA and Hydrophobic Drugs, Biomaterials, 2014, 35 (13), 4213-4222.
20. Zhou Q, Yang T, Qiao Y, Guo S, Zhu L, Wu H*, Preparation of Poly (β-L-malic acid)-based Charge-conversional Nanoconjugates for Tumor-specific Uptake and Cellular Delivery, International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2015, 10, 1941–1952.
21. Tu Y, Zhu L*, Enhancing Cancer Targeting and Anticancer Activity by a Stimulus-sensitive Multifunctional Polymer-drug Conjugate, Journal of Controlled Release, 2015, 212, 94-102.
22. Dai Z, Tu Y, Zhu L*, Multifunctional Micellar Nanocarriers for Tumor-targeted Delivery of Hydrophobic Drugs, Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology, 2016, 12, 1199-1210.
23. Dai Z, Yao Q, Zhu L*, MMP2-sensitive PEG-lipid Copolymers: A New Type of Tumor-targeted P-glycoprotein Inhibitor, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2016, 8 (20), 12661-12673.
24. Yang T, Li W, Duan X, Zhu L, Fan L, Qiao Y, Wu H*, Preparation of Two Types of Polymeric Micelles Based on Poly (β-L-Malic Acid) for Antitumor Drug Delivery, PLOS ONE, 2016, 11(9), e0162607
25. Zhou Q, Hou Y, Zhang L, Wang J, Qiao Y, Guo S, Fan L, Yang L, Zhu L, Wu H*, Dual-pH Sensitive Charge-reversal Nanocomplex for Tumor-targeted Drug Delivery with Enhanced Anticancer Activity, Theranostics, 2017; 7(7):1806-1819.
26. Yao Q, Gutierrez DC, Hoang NH, Kim D, Wang R, Hobbs C, Zhu L*, Efficient Codelivery of Paclitaxel and Curcumin by Novel Bottlebrush Copolymer-based Micelles, Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2017, 14 (7), 2378–2389.
27. Yao Q, Dai Z, Choi JH, Kim D, Zhu L*, Building stable MMP2-responsive multifunctional polymeric micelles by an all-in-one polymer-lipid conjugate for tumor-targeted intracellular drug delivery, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2017, 9 (38), 32520–32533.
28. Yao Q, Choi JH, Dai Z, Wang J, Kim D, Tang X, Zhu L*, Improving tumor specificity and anticancer activity of dasatinib by dual-targeted polymeric micelles, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2017, 9 (42), 36642–36654.
29. Wang J, Lee JS, Kim D, Zhu L*, Exploration of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles as a Multi-target and Multi-functional Anticancer Nanomedicine, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2017, 9 (46), 39971–39984.
30. Liu Y, Zhi D, Wang J, Tu Y, Zhu L*, Folate-targeted pH-sensitive bortezomib conjugates for cancer treatment, Chemical Communications, 2019, 55, 4254-4257.
31. Yao Q, Liu Y, Kou L, Tu Y, Tang X, Zhu L*, Tumor-targeted drug delivery and sensitization by MMP2-responsive polymeric micelles, Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine, 2019,19, 71-80.

Peer-reviewed Review Articles

1. Zhu L, Zhu J*, Microdialysis Sampling Techniques Used in Pharmacokinetics, Foreign Medical Sciences Section on Pharmacy, 2002, 29(5), 296-301.
2. Zhu L, Mahato R*, Lipid and Polymeric Carrier Mediated Nucleic Acid Delivery, Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 2010, 7(10), 1209-1226.
3. Zhu L, Torchilin VP*, Stimuli-Sensitive Nanopreparations for Tumor Targeting, Integrative Biology, 2013, 5, 96-107.
4. Tu Y, Zhu L*, Lipids and Their Derivatives: By-products Used as Essential Building Blocks for Modern Drug Delivery Systems, Current Drug Targets, 2014, 15(5), 502-517.
5. Yao Q, Kou L, Tu Y, Zhu L*, MMP-responsive “smart” drug delivery and tumor targeting, Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, 2018, 39 (8), 766-781 (Cover article).

Book Chapters

1. Zhu L*, One chapter in the Chinese textbook “Pharmaceutics” (for university students), Chemical Industry Press, March 2004.
2. Zhu L, Movassaghian S, Torchilin VP*, “Overcoming Biological Barriers with Parenteral Nanomedicines: Physiological and Mechanistic Issues” (Chapter 8.1) in the book “Nanostructured Biomaterials for Overcoming Biological Barriers”, Editor: Dr. Maria Jose Alonso, RSC Drug Discovery Series (RSC Publishing) (ISBN: 978-1-84973-363-2), 2012.
3. Zhu L* and Ying Tu, “Matrix Metalloproteinase-sensitive Nanocarriers” (Chapter 3), in the book “Smart Pharmaceutical Nanocarriers”, Editor: Dr. Vladimir P. Torchilin, Imperial College Press, 2015.

Books

1. Zhu L (Editor) “Stimuli-Responsive Nanomedicine” Pan Stanford Publishing, 2019 (under review)

Presentations

Podium presentations (* Speaker)

1. Mahato RI*, Cheng K, Ye Z, Chen Yong and Zhu L, Site-specific Delivery and Targeting of Oligonucleotides and siRNA for Treating Hepatitis and Liver Fibrosis, 5th Annual Drug Discovery Conference and Expo, Shanghai, China, May, 2007.
2. Zhu L*, Lu Y, Miller DD, Mahato RI, Effect of Structure and Formulation Factors of Pyridinium Cationic Lipids on Gene Delivery, AAPS PharmForum, Little Rock, AR, May 18-20, 2008.
3. Zhu L*, Lu Y, Ye Z, Cheng K, Miller DD, Mahato RI, Design of Lipid and Polymeric Carriers for Nucleic Acid Delivery, AAPS Annual, Los Angeles, CA, Nov 8-12, 2009.
4. Mahato RI*, Yang N, Zhu L, Kumar V, Singh S, Delivery and Targeting of RNA Molecules for Treating Liver Diseases, 15^th International Biotechnology Symposium, South Korea, September 13-16, 2012
5. Zhu L*, Taigind A, Torchilin VP, Tumor Cell-Specific Delivery of Paclitaxel Using a Self-assembled Matrix Metalloprotease 2-sensitive Nanocarrier, CRS Annual, Québec City, Canada, July 15-18, 2012.
6. Zhu L*, Perche F, Wang T, Taigind A, Torchilin VP, Enhancing Tumor Targeting and Therapeutic Activity Using Nanopreparations Containing Cell-penetrating Moiety and MMP2-sensitive PEG-Paclitaxel Conjugate, 2nd Junior Investigator Conference for NanoScience and Emerging Technology in Cancer Research, La Jolla, CA, Feb. 9-10, 2013. (Invited speaker)
7. Zhu L*, Perche F, Wang T, Taigind A, Torchilin VP, Co-delivery of siRNA and Paclitaxel using Matrix Metalloproteinase 2-sensitive Polymeric Micelles, Bouvé College of Health Sciences Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Showcase, Boston, MA, May 24, 2013.
8. Zhu L*, Design of MMP2-sensitive multifunctional nanocarriers for drug delivery. CRS Annual, Chicago, Illinois, July 13-16, 2014. (Invited award lecture)
9. Zhu L*, Stimuli-sensitive microencapsulation, 20th International Symposium on Microencapsulation, Boston, MA, Oct 1-3, 2015. (Invited speaker and Session Chair)
10. Zhu L*, MMP2-sensitive tumor-targeted drug delivery and sensitization, ACS Spring 2019 National Meeting, Orlando, FL, March 31 - April 4, 2019. (Invited speaker and Co-Chair of Session “Polymer-Based Gene & Drug Delivery Systems”)
11. Zhu L*, MMP2-sensitive Polymeric Micelles for Tumor Targeting and Drug Sensitization, Polymers for Advanced Technologies (PAT2019), College Station, TX, Aug 8-10, 2019 (Co-Chair of Session “Life and Health”)

Poster presentations (*Corresponding author)

1. Zhu L, Ye Z, Miller DD, Mahato RI, Site-specific Delivery of Short Interfering RNA to Hepatocytes, AAPS Annual, San Antonio, TX, Oct 29-Nov 02, 2006.
2. Zhu L, Lu Y, Miller DD, Mahato RI, Synthesis and Characterization of Pyridinium Cationic Lipids for Nucleic Acid Delivery. AAPS PharmForum, Memphis, TN, May 30-31, 2007.
3. Zhu L, Ye Z, Cheng K, Miller DD, Mahato RI, Site-specific Delivery of Oligonucleotides to Hepatocytes. CRS Annual, Long Beach, CA, July 07-11, 2007.
4. Zhu L, Lu Y, Miller DD, Mahato RI, Synthesis and Characterization of Pyridinium Cationic Lipids for Nucleic Acid Delivery, AAPS Annual, San Diego, CA, Nov 11-15, 2007.
5. Zhu L, Lu Y, Miller DD, Mahato RI, Enhancing Gene Delivery Using Pyridinium Cationic Lipids, AAPS Annual, Atlanta, GA, Nov 16-20, 2008.
6. Zhu L, Lu Y, Miller DD, Mahato RI, Pyridinium Cationic Lipid Based Gene and siRNA Delivery, AAPS Annual, Los Angeles, CA, Nov 8-12, 2009.
7. Dai Z, Tu Y, Zhu L*, MMP2-Sensitive Polymeric Micelles for Tumor-Targeted Delivery of Hydrophobic Drugs, AAPS Annual, Orlando, FL, Oct 25-29, 2015
8. Tu Y, Zhu L*, A Matrix Metalloproteinase 2-Sensitive Multifunctional Polymer-Drug Conjugate for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery, AAPS Annual, Orlando, FL, Oct 25-29, 2015
9. Tu Y, Zhu L*, A Matrix Metalloproteinase 2-Sensitive Multifunctional Polymer-Drug Conjugate for Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery, AAPS Annual, Orlando, FL, Oct 25-29, 2015
10. Dai Z, Tu Y, Zhu L*, MMP2-Sensitive Polymeric Micelles for Tumor-Targeted Delivery of Hydrophobic Drugs, AAPS Annual, Orlando, FL, Oct 25-29, 2015
11. Dai Z, Yao Q, Zhu L*, Improving Tumor Targetability and Overcoming Multidrug Resistance by a Novel MMP2-sensitive Co-polymer, 2016 College of Pharmacy Research Colloquium, College Station, TX, June 02-03, 2016.
12. Yao Q, Dai Z, Zhu L*, Improving tumor targetability by a stimulus-sensitive folate receptor-targeted polymeric micellar nanoparticle, 2016 College of Pharmacy Research Colloquium, College Station, TX, June 02-03, 2016.
13. Yao Q, Hobbs C, Zhu L*, Development of novel polymeric micelles with high drug loading capacity for combination drug therapy, 2016 College of Pharmacy Research Colloquium, College Station, TX, June 02-03, 2016.
14. Yao Q, Dai Z, Zhu L*, Development of an MMP2-sensitive folate receptor-targeted polymeric micelle for tumor-targeted drug delivery and cancer sensitization, AAPS Annual, Denver, CO, Nov 13-17, 2016
15. Yao Q, Hobbs C, Zhu L*, Efficient co-delivery of paclitaxel and curcumin by novel bottlebrush copolymer-based micelles, AAPS Annual, Denver, CO, Nov 13-17, 2016
16. Yao Q, Zhu L*, Overcoming multidrug resistance by an MMP2-sensitive PEG-PE-based polymer, AAPS Annual, San Diego, CA, Nov 12-15, 2017
17. Yao Q, Dai Z, Choi JH, Kim D, Zhu L*, Tumor-targeted intracellular delivery of paclitaxel by a multifunctional polymer-lipid conjugate, AAPS Annual, San Diego, CA, Nov 12-15, 2017
18. Liu Y, Yao Q, Dai Z, Tu Y, Zhu L*, Design of stimulus-sensitive polymeric micelles for tumor targeting and drug sensitization, Polymers for Advanced Technologies (PAT2019), College Station, TX, Aug 8-10, 2019 (Outstanding poster)

Publication Citations

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=iNqdyjMAAAAJ&hl=en

Postdoctoral Fellows

Yin Liu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
2018-present

Jian Zhang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
2019-present

Student Researchers

Maria Tirado, Biomedical Sciences, TAMUK, 2019- present

Amaris Trevino, Chemical Engineering, TAMUK, 2019- present

Visiting Scholars

Ying Tu, Ph.D., Visiting Research Scientist, 2013-present

Lab Alumni

Zhi Dai, Ph.D. (2014-2015) Postdoctoral Research Associate.

Jiao Wang, Ph.D. (2016-2017) Postdoctoral Research Associate. Current: Postdoctoral Fellow, Purdue University

Nargis Aman, Visiting Ph.D. student (2015). Current: COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan

Qing Yao, Visiting Ph.D. student (2015-2017). Current: Senior Lecturer, Wenzhou Medical University, China