Research Assistant Professor at The Eighth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, China
Dr. Meiling Zhu is an accomplished biomedical engineering researcher currently serving as an Associate Researcher at the Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) under the prestigious Hundred Talents Program. With a deep-rooted commitment to regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and drug delivery systems, she has consistently contributed cutting-edge research in stem cell differentiation, nanoparticle therapeutics, and tissue engineering. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges pharmaceutics, biomedical engineering, and nanotechnology, propelling forward impactful innovations in healthcare.
Profile
Scopus
Education
Dr. Zhu’s academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutics from Guangdong Pharmaceutical University in 2010. She then pursued her MPhil in Biomedical Engineering at Sun Yat-sen University from 2010 to 2013, where she was mentored by Prof. Yihong Gong and Prof. Zhangqi Feng. She went on to earn her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2016 under the supervision of Prof. Liming Bian. Her education laid a strong foundation in biomaterials, drug delivery, and stem cell biology, enabling her to explore interdisciplinary solutions in biomedical research.
Experience
Dr. Zhu has accumulated extensive academic and research experience. From 2013 to 2019, she held positions as a Research Assistant and Postdoctoral Fellow at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and the LI Ka Shing Institute of Health Science. She furthered her postdoctoral studies at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. Since December 2020, she has served as an Associate Researcher at SYSU, leading innovative research on hydrogels, nanoparticles, and bio-derived delivery systems. Her career reflects a strong blend of academic excellence and practical application, particularly in the fields of regenerative medicine and nanomedicine.
Research Interest
Dr. Zhu’s primary research interests include biomaterials, hydrogels, supramolecular chemistry, mesenchymal stem cells, and tissue regeneration. She focuses on designing bio-inspired scaffolds and nanoparticles for targeted and sustained drug delivery, enhancing cellular interactions and therapeutic efficacy. Her work also delves into the effects of mechanical and biochemical cues on stem cell behavior, the development of host–guest complexation for responsive drug release, and the engineering of functional microenvironments for osteogenesis and chondrogenesis. These interests underscore her mission to improve clinical outcomes through translational biomaterials research.
Awards
Dr. Zhu has received several prestigious awards recognizing her scientific contributions. In 2018, she was honored with the Outstanding Thesis Award by the Faculty of Engineering at The Chinese University of Hong Kong—being the sole recipient. She was selected for the SYSU Hundred Talents Program in 2020. She also received the Trainee Award at the World Biomaterials Congress in 2016 and held scholarships at CUHK and SYSU. Additionally, she has been a reviewer for leading journals such as ACS Nano and Journal of Applied Nanoscience, reflecting her recognition in the academic community.
Publications
Dr. Zhu has published extensively in top-tier journals. Below are seven selected publications with corresponding years and citations:
-
Zhu, M., Lin, S., Sun, Y., et al. (2016). “Hydrogels functionalized with N-cadherin mimetic peptide enhance osteogenesis of hMSCs by emulating the osteogenic niche.” Biomaterials, 77:44–52. – Cited by 275 articles.
-
Li, R., Lin, S., Zhu, M., et al. (2019). “Synthetic presentation of noncanonical Wnt5a motif promotes mechanosensing-dependent differentiation of stem cells.” Science Advances, 5: eaaw3896. – Cited by 320 articles.
-
Wei, K., Zhu, M., Sun, Y., et al. (2016). “Robust biopolymeric supramolecular ‘Host−Guest Macromer’ hydrogels for cartilage regeneration.” Macromolecules, 49(2): 509–518. – Cited by 180 articles.
-
Zhu, M., Feng, Q., Bian, L. (2014). “Differential effect of hypoxia on human mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis in hydrogels.” Acta Biomaterialia, 10(3):1333–1340. – Cited by 210 articles.
-
Choi, C.K., Xu, Y., Zhu, M., et al. (2015). “A gold@polydopamine core-shell nanoprobe for intracellular detection of microRNAs.” J. Am. Chem. Soc., 137(23):7337–7346. – Cited by 140 articles.
-
Zhu, M., Lin, S., et al. (2020). “Surface Decoration of Development-inspired Synthetic N-cadherin Motif via Ac-BP Promotes Osseointegration.” Bioactive Materials, accepted. – Cited by 65 articles.
-
Wu, L., Liu, B., Zhu, M., et al. (2019). “Patterning Perfluorinated Surface with Graphene Oxide and the Biological Applications.” Micromachines, 10(3):173. – Cited by 90 articles.
Conclusion
Dr. Meiling Zhu embodies the criteria of a Best Researcher Award recipient through her outstanding academic training, innovative research contributions, international collaborations, and scientific excellence. Her work bridges fundamental science with translational medicine, and she has consistently demonstrated originality, rigor, and relevance. Her active engagement in publishing, presenting, mentoring, and collaborating marks her as a leader among emerging researchers.