Dr Lijun Wang is currently the group leader of a nanobiology lab with team members being cell biologist, chemists, biochemist, biomedical engineers, pharmacist and physicist. With a PhD in Molecular Physiology and after working in basic research in life sciences for more than 15 years during which she had gained extensive experience in cell biology, biochemistry and microscopy, Lijun switched her research to translational direction of the ever fast emerging and expending nanoscience and nanotechnology area when in 2008 she joined IMSaT and established a nanobiology lab within the institute. The laboratory utilizes a wide variety of multi-disciplinary interface approaches and combines cell biology, biochemistry, physico-chemistry, physics, nano-engineering, and advanced scanning probe microscopy to explore the potential benefits for the use of nanostructures in disease diagnosis and treatment and to address the biosafety issues of nanomaterials in parallel to their potential biomedical applications. Her research group is focused on the biology, toxicity and application of nanostructures in drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and diagnostic & therapeutic imaging.

Lijun was awarded an EPSCR grant (£275,300, Dec 2009-Nov 2012) on the nanofabrication of iron oxide nanoparticles suitable for promoting nerve regeneration. The project was also part of European Commission’s Nanoscience Programme (NanoSci-E+). The collaboration involves nano-engineers, physicists, chemists, cell biologists and medical neurobiologists from other European groups, and IMSaT Dundee team is the major player in elucidating cellular interaction and bioactivity of the developed nanoparticles. She was also involved (as co-applicant and lead cell biologist) in the successful grant application led by Prof A Melzer from Marie Curie Action (EU FP7, £1.42 M, May 2009-April 2013). She has been supervising two PhD students and three research fellows in this FP7 project that aims at developing novel thermo-sensitive nano-carriers for targeted drug delivery. Lijun has been leading or involved in a number of projects for development of novel nanostructures in medical applications and her team is now working on the biosafety profiles of these engineered nanomaterials.

Lijun has been acted as an independent reviewer for the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology encompass the understanding of the fundamental physics, chemistry, biology and technology of nanometre-scale objects, materials below 100nm and often at atomic and molecular scale. Whilst, nanotechnology has the potential to create many new materials and devices with a vast range of applications in medicine, electronics, biomaterials, energy production and beyond, as with any disruptive new technologies, it raises several concerns, including nanotoxicity and the environmental impact in general of nanomaterials. The Nanobiology Lab in IMSaT was established in 2009 and was set out to explore the potential benefits for the use of nanomaterials in disease diagnosis and treatment, in an environment that also accommodates expertise and facilities for research and development in medical MRI, biophotonics, laser physics, medical ultrasound, surgical and robotic technology and micro-bioreactor engineering. The remit of the Nanobiology Lab is to address the biosafety issues in parallel with the potential biomedical applications of nanostructures. There are three strains in the long-term objective of the work by our group: 1) engineering of novel nanostructures; 2) biosafety of nanomaterials; 3) biocompatible nanostructures for medical applications in drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and diagnostic & therapeutic imaging. The laboratory utilizes a wide variety of multidisciplinary interface approaches and combines cell biology, physico-chemistry, physics and nano-engineering. At present, our laboratory focuses on iron oxides nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, iron oxides-gold core-shell nano-hybrids and thermal sensitive nanocarriers for their nanotoxicity and potential use in nerve regeneration, tumour ablation/hyperthermia and image-guided molecular diagnostics and interventions.




MSc Biomedical Engineering, University of Dundee
MSc Design for Medical Technologies, University of Dundee
MSc Imaging and Instrumentation for Medicine and Surgery, University of Dundee
Biochemistry (undergraduate students), Peking University Health Science Centre
Molecular Biology (MSc students), Peking University Health Science Centre
Supervision of PhD students, Peking University and University of Dundee
Supervision of MSc research students, University of Dundee and University of Abertay Dundee

1. Liu D, Wang L*, Wang Z, and Cuschieri A. Cell membrane disruption and cell viscoelasticity change by carbon nanotubes: a focused in vitro study by atomic force microscopy. (In preparation, planned submission to J Cell Biol)
2. Liu D, Wang L, Wang Z, and Cuschieri A. Magneto-poration and magneto-lysis of cancer cells via carbon nanotubes induced by rotating magnetic fields. Nano Lett (Under review)
3. Calatayud MP, Riggio C, Raffa V , Sanz B, Torres TE, Ibarra MR, Hoskins C, Cuschieri A, Wang L, and Goya GF. Magnetic loading of human neuroblastoma cells for magnetically assisted neural guidance. ACS Nano. (Under review)
4. Liu D, Wang L, Wang Z, and Cuschieri A. Different cellular response mechanisms contribute to the length-dependent cytotoxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Nanoscale Res Lett. (Under review)
5. Hoskins C, Min Y, Gueorguieva M, McDougall C, Volovick A, Prentice P, Wang Z, Melzer A, Cuschieri A, and Wang L*. (2012) Hybrid gold-iron oxide nanoparticles as a multifunctional platform for biomedical application. J Nanobiotechnol. (In press)
6. Wang Z, Aarya I, Gueorguieva M, Liu D, Luo H, Manfredi L, Wang L, McLean D, and Cuschieri A. (2012). Image-based 3D modelling and validation of radiofrequency interstitial tumor ablation using a tissue-mimicking breast phantom. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg (IJCARS). (In press)
7. Liu D, Wang Z, Wang L, and Cuschieri A. (2012) Finite element study of carbon nanotube induced cell membrane poration for drug and gene delivery. J Med Imag Health Inform. (In press)
8. Riggio C, Calatayud MP, Hoskins C, Pinkernelle J, Sanz B, Torres TE, Ibarra MR, Wang L, Keiholf G, Goya GF, Raffa V, and Cuscheri A. (2012) Poly-l-lysine-coated magnetic nanoparticles as intracellular actuators for neural guidance. Int J Nanomed. (In press)
9. Hoskins C, Cuschieri A, and Wang L*. (2012) Cytotoxicity of polycationic iron oxide nanoparticles: Common endpoint assays and alternative approaches for improved understanding of cellular response mechanism. J Nanobiotechnol. 10:15.
10. Chen S, Hoskins C, Wang L, MacDonald MP, and Andre P. (2012) A Water-Soluble Temperature nanoProbe based on a Multimodal Magnetic-Luminescent nanoColloid. Chem Commun. 48:2501.
11. Hoskins C, Wang L*, Cheng W-P, and Cuschieri A. (2012) Dilemmas in the reliable estimation of the in-vitro cell viability in magnetic nanoparticle engineering: which tests and what protocols? Nanoscale Res Lett. 7:77.
12. Gourevich D, Gerold B, Arditti F, Xu D, Liu D, Volovick A, Wang L, Medan Y, Gnaim J, Prentice P, Cochran S and Melzer A. (2012) Ultrasound activated nano-encapsulated targeted drug delivery and tumour cell poration. Adv Exp Med Biol. 733:135.
13. Wang Z, Mills R, Luo H, Zheng X, Hou W, Wang L, Brown SI and Cuschieri A. (2011) A micro-power piezoelectric actuator for implantable middle ear hearing device. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 58:452.
14. Chen S, Wang L, Duce S, Brown SI, Lee S, Melzer A, Cuschieri A and Andre P. (2010) Engineered biocompatible nanoParticles for in-vivo imaging applications. J Am Chem Soc 132:15022.
15. Wang L, Wang Z, Frank TG, Brown SI, Chudek JA and Cuschieri A. (2009) Rapid and efficient cell labelling with MRI contrast agent by electroporation in the presence of protamine sulphate. Nanomed (Lond) 4:305.
16. Wang Z, Wang L, Frank TG, Brown SI and Cuschieri A. (2009) Ferromagnetisation of target tissues by injection of magnetic fluid: formulation and evidence of efficacy for magnetic retraction. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 56:2244.
17. Wang Z, Wang L, Tang B, Frank TG, Brown SI and Cuschieri A. (2008) Retraction by surface ferromagnetisation of target tissues: preliminary studies on feasibility of magnetic retraction for endoscopic surgery. Surg Endo 22:1838.
18. Wang Z, Wang L, Frank TG, Brown SI and Cuschieri A. (2007) Surgical applications of tissue magnetization. Minimally Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies. 16 (5).
19. Wang L and Lucocq JM. (2007) p38 MAPK regulates COPII recruitment. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 363:317.
20. Konstantakopoulos A, Lowe M, Choudhury R, Kular G, Wang L, Prescott AR and Lucocq JM. (2005) Lowe syndrome protein OCRL1 is concentrated in endosomes and TGN and regulates endomembrane PtdIns4P and PtdIns 4,5P2. Biochem. J. 391: 712.
21. Tang X, Wang L, Proud CG and Downes CP. (2003) Muscarinic receptor-mediated activation of p70 S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) in 1321N1 astrocytoma cells: permissive role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Biochem J 374:137.
22. Wang L, Rolfe M and Proud CG. (2003) Ca²⁺-independent protein kinase C activity is required for α1-adrenergic-receptor-mediated regulation of ribosomal protein S6 kinases in adult cardiomyocytes. Biochem. J. 373: 603.
23. Valovka T, Verdier F, Cramer R, Zhyvoloup A, Fenton T, Rebholz H, Wang ML, Gzhegotsky M, Lutsyk A, Matsuka G, Filonenko V, Wang L, Proud CG, Parker PJ and Gout IT. (2003) Protein kinase C phosphorylates ribosomal protein S6 kinase betaII and regulates its subcellular localization. Mol. Cell. Biol. 23:852.
24. Eskelinen EL, Prescott AR, Cooper J, Brachmann SM, Wang L, Tang X, Backer JM and Lucocq JM. (2002) Inhibition of autophagy in mitotic animal cells. Traffic. 3:878.
25. Wang L and Proud CG. (2002) Regulation of the phosphorylation of elongation factor 2 by MEK-dependent signalling in adult rat cardiomyocytes. FEBS Lett. 531:285.
26. Wang L and Proud CG (2002) Ras/Erk signalling is essential for activation of protein synthesis by Gq protein-coupled receptor agonists in adult cardiomyocytes. Circ. Res. 91:821.
27. Wang L, Gout IT and Proud CG. (2001) Cross-talk between the ERK and p70 S6 Kinase (S6K) Signalling Pathways: MEK-DEPENDENT ACTIVATION OF S6K2 IN CARDIOMYOCYTES. J. Biol. Chem. 276: 32670.
28. Mcleod LE, Wang L and Proud CG. (2001) Β-adrenergic agonists increase phosphorylation of elongation factor 2 in cardiomyocytes without eliciting calcium-independent eEF2 kinase activity. FEBS Lett.489:225.
29. Wang L, Wang X and Proud CG. (2000) Activation of mRNA translation in rat cardiac myocytes by insulin involves multiple rapamycin-sensitive steps. Am J Physiol. 278: H1056.

*Correspondence

1. Wang Z, Wang L, Tang B, Frank TG, Brown SI, Cuschieri A. Surgical procedures assisted by tissue ferromagnetisation – surface magnetic retraction for mucosal dissection. EAES, 2007.
2. Wang Z, Wang L, Tang B, Brown S, Cuschieri A. Subsurface tissue magnetisation for mucosal dissection. SAGES, 2008.
3. Wang L, Wang Z, McDonald RP, Brown S, Frank TG, Melzer A, Cuschieri A. Rapid and efficient labelling of cancer cells with SPION and its potential applications ISMRM & ESMRMB, 2008.
4. Wang L, Wang Z, Brown S, Cuschieri A. Intracellular loading of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles SMIT, 2008.
5. Wang Z, Wang L, Brown S, Cuschieri A. A novel multi-functional probe for thermal ablation of tumour. WCIO, Beijing 2009.
6. Wang Z, Brown AW, Brown SI, Liu D, Wang L, Cuschieri A. Intra-luminal injection of ferromagnetic glue-based media for bowel retraction in laparoscopic surgery. WCES/SAGES 2010.
7. Wang Z, Brown AW, Brown SI, Wang L, Andre P, Florence GJ, Cuschieri A. Intra-luminal Injection of Ferro-fluid for Magnetic Bowel Retraction in Minimal Access Surgery IEEE 2010.
8. Liu D, Wang Z, Wang L, and Cuschieri A. FEM analysis of carbon nanotube induced cell poration under electric field. BMEI’10, Yantai 2010.
9. Arditti FD, Gerold B, Gourevich D, Liu D, Volovick A, Cochran S, Gnaim J, Prentice P, Wang L, Medan Y, Neria E, Melzer A. Progress towards ultrasound-activated targeted drug delivery with nano-encapsulants and tumour cell-poration. FUS Foundation 2nd International Symposium. MR-Guided Focused Ultrasound, Washington 2010.
10. Arditti F, Gerold B, Gourevich D, Athamna M, Liu D, Volovick A, Cochran S, Gnaim J, Prentice P, Wang L, Medan Y, Neria E, Melzer A. The Nanoporation project: Towards MR Guided Focused Ultrasound-Activated Targeted Drug Delivery from Nano-Encapsulants. 19th Symposium on Radiotherapeutical Sciences, ISRS. 10th Biannual Congress and Exhibition, Paris 2011.
11. Gerold B, Gourevich D, Xu D, Arditti F, Prentice P, Cochran S, Gnaim J, Medan Y, Wang L, Melzer A. Applicator for in-vitro ultrasound-activated targeted drug delivery. The International Symposium for Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU) 2011.
12. Xu D, Melzer A, Wang L, Cochran S, Prentice P, Malik R, Gerold B, Gnaim J, Ardittti FD, Arar N, Gourevich D, Dogadkin O, Vachutinsky Y, Medan Y, Volovick A. MR Guided Focused Ultrasound Activated Nano Encapsulated Targeted Drug Delivery. SMIT, 2011.
13. Malik R, Madhwani D, Fiabane J , Kakchingbatam D, Dogadkin O, Sharma S, Pancholi K, Andre P, Habeshaw R, Wang L, Prentice P, Cochran S, Melzer A. Formulations for ultrasound triggered image- guided targeted chemotherapy. The 1st European Symposium, MR-guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy, Rome 2011.
14. Gourevich D, Dogadkin O, Malik R, Volovick A, Wang L, Medan Y, Gnaim J, Cochran S, Melzer A. An in-vitro study of ultrasound facilitated drug uptake with clinical MRgFUS system. The 1st European Symposium, MR-guided Focused Ultrasound Therapy, Rome 2011.
15. Hoskins C, Cuschieri A, Wang L. Effect of surface charge of magnetic nanoparticles on cellular interactions. Bruker SPM Conference & Users' Meeting, Manchester 2011.
16. Liu D, Wang L, Wang Z, McLean D, Cuschieri A, Impact of carbon nanotubes on cell structures. Bruker SPM Conference & Users' Meeting, Manchester 2011.
17. Wang L, Liu D, Wang Z, Cuschieri A. Cell membrane disruption and cytoskeleton stress contribute to the cytotoxicity of carbon nanotubes: a focused study by atomic force microscopy. European Summit for Clinical Nanomedicine (CLINAM), Basel 2012.
18. Wang Z, Aarya I, Gueorguieva M, Liu D, Luo H, Manfredi L, Wang L, McLean D, Cuschieri A. Image-based 3D modelling and validation of radiofrequency interstitial tumor ablation using a tissue-mimicking breast phantom. 26th International Congress and Exhibition Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery (CARS), Pisa 2012.
19. Xu D, Melzer A, Wang L, Cochran S, Bobeica M, Prentice P, Gerold B, Gourevich D, Gnaim J, Arditti F, Volovick A. A novel sonicator for in vitro studies of focused ultrasound mediated release of nano-encapsulated drugs for MRgFUS pre-clinical research. The 9th Interventional MRI Symposium, Boston 2012.
20. Gourevich D, Volovick A, Dogadkin O, Malik R, Wang L, Medan Y, Gnaim J, Cochran S and Melzer A. Ultrasound facilitated targeted drug delivery: An in-vitro study of drug uptake with a clinical MRgFUS system. The 9th Interventional MRI Symposium, Boston 2012.
21. Min Y, Wang Z, Cuschieri A and Wang L. Atomic and magnetic force microscopy study of magnetic nanoparticle-neuronal cell interaction. The 8th NanoBio-Europe Conference, Varese 2012.

Dr Suzanne Duce, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, UK
Dr Colin Henderson, College of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, University of Dundee, UK
Dr Pascal André, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, UK
Prof Kishan Dholakia, School of Physics & Astronomy, University of St Andrews, UK
Dr V.Simona Raffa, University of Pisa, Italy
Prof Gerardo F. Goya, Nanoscience Institute of Aragon, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
Prof Gerburg Keilhoff, Institute of Medical Neurobiology, University of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
Dr Jallal Gnaim, CapsuTech Ltd, Nazareth, Israel