Water-templated nanopores ( J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 141)

1. New Strategies for Controlled Release of LiposomesYan Zhao, Iowa State University, DMR 1005515 Pore-forming agents are promising for drug delivery, sensing, catalysis, and the single-molecule detection of RNAs and DNAs. We recently prepared pore-forming macrocycles with highly unusual properties. Cholesterol, for example normally slows down the permeation of hydrophilic molecules across bilayer membranes but our water-templatednanopores are assisted by cholesterol in the membranes, making the membrane more permeable. Large hydrophilic molecules normally have difficulty moving across the membrane. A tetramericmacrocycle, however, can transport a longer sugar (maltotriose) faster than a shorter one (glucose). Water-templated nanopores (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 141) Cleavable Polymerized Liposomes (Bioconjuate Chem. 2011, 22, 523)

2. New Strategies for Controlled Release of LiposomesYan Zhao, Iowa State University, DMR 1005515 Most Ph.D. students in chemistry go to industry after graduation but receive little exposure to the patent literature in the graduate school. With my industrial experience, I included many examples of industrial research in graduate teaching. During such training, the students were asked to identify innovative applications of physical organic chemistry in patents and thus became more familiar with patents and the patenting process. In addition, I participated in several programs on campus including the Program for Women in Science and Engineering (PWSE) to encourage women and girls of all ethnic backgrounds to pursue careers in science.