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Yong GaoAssociate Professor Neckers 315 |
B.Sc. Wuhan University, China, 1990
Magnetic Organic Nanomaterials and Biomaterials Our research efforts have been focusing on design, synthesis and application of magnetic nanomaterials and biomaterials. We are particularly interested in the use of magnetic nanoparticles for nano-catalysis and bio-imaging. Magnetic nanoparticle-supported chemical, biological and biomimetic catalyses. Recycling of homogeneous metal catalysts is a great challenge in industrial processes. Our group has recently examined the employment of magnetic nanoparticles as novel soluble matrices for supporting a number of metal-mediated organic reactions. Under an external magnetic field, a soluble catalyst immobilized on the surface of a magnetic nano-matrix can be magnetically concentrated and recovered for repeated uses. Magnetic nanometer-sized particles were also investigated as an orthogonal matrix of solid-phase resins for chromatography-free work-ups of three-phase reactions.
(Left): concentration of magnetic nanoparticle-supported homogeneous catalysts under an external permanent magnet. (Right) the use of magnetic nanoparticles for a three-phase “host-guest” Suzuki cross-coupling reaction.
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In addition, our group is also interested in magnetic nanoparticle-supported enzymatic and biomimetic catalyses. Some of the immobilized bio-catalysts were found to exhibit tunable catalytic activity and selectivity‑‑dependent on the structure of their nano-hosts. Magnetic nanoparticles as MRI contrast agents for bio-imaging and magnetic modulators for tumor hyperthermia therapies. Our group has constructed a group of composites of maghemite nanoparticles and polymers/dendrimers. Maghemite nanoparticles have been approved by the FDA as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Functionalization of magnetic nanoparticles with polymers (dendrimers) will allow us to systematically adjust magnetic relaxivities as well as physiological properties of our nanomaterials for tissue/cell-specific magnetic bio-imaging.
Students and postdoctoral fellows in our group will have an opportunity to be exposed to multidisciplinary research techniques used in organic synthesis, nanomaterials fabrication, and molecular biology. For example, TEM/SEM, NMR, SQUID, XPS, HPLC, GC, CE, PCR, cell/tissue culture, and small animal experiments were routinely carried out in our laboratory. Positions open: Organic Synthetic Chemists-Postdocs/Visiting Scholars Prof. Gao’s group seeks to fill one or more twelve-month, variable employment percentage postdoc/visiting scholar position(s). Renew of the appointment is possible. A minimum of a Ph.D./M.Sc. degree (or a pending PhD/M.Sc. degree) with a minimum of three year’s experience in organic synthesis is required. Experience with multiple-step organic synthesis and the following characterization techniques are preferred: GC-MS, FT-IR, and NMR. Submit a CV and list of references as a PDF file to Dr. Yong Gao: ygao@chem.siu.edu Recent Peer-Reviewed Publications: 14. Fan, J.; Gao, Y. “Nanoparticle-Supported Catalysts and Catalytic Reactions”, J. Exp. Nanosci.(royal society publication), in print (invited contribution).
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