Assistant Professor

+886-2-2787-1232
EDUCATION AND POSITIONS HELD:
- B.S., Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, 2005–2009
- M.S., Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, 2009–2011
- Ph.D., Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2014–2019
- Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA, 2019–2020
- Postdoctoral fellow, Center for Nanomedicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA, 2020–2023
- Assistant Professor, Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, 2023-present
HONORS:
- Research Proposals Grant for College-Level Students, National Science Council, Taiwan, 2008-2009
- The Research Idea Award, National Science Council, Taiwan, 2009
- Dean's Award, College of Science, National Taiwan University, 2009
- Thesis Award in Nanomaterial Chemistry, Chemical Society Located in Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, 2010
- Honorary Member, The Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society, 2010
- Mr. Kao Ying-Shih Research Scholarship, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 2010
- Dean's Award, College of Science, National Taiwan University, 2011
- Master Poster Thesis Award, Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 2011
- Dean’s Scholar Award, College of Science, UCLA, 2014
- Government Scholarship to Study Abroad, the Ministry of Education, Taiwan, 2015
- Southern California Scholarship Award, the Yin Chin Foundation USA and STUF United Fund Inc., 2018
- Mautner Graduate Award (For meritorious graduate students in UCLA), Division of Physical Sciences, UCLA, 2018
- Ralph & Charlene Bauer Award for research in Inorganic Chemistry (Outstanding Research Achievements in Inorganic Chemistry), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, 2019
- Inorganic Faculty Chemistry Dissertation Award (Outstanding Research Achievements in Chemistry), Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, 2019
- International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM), Young Scientist Award, 2022
- American Heart Association (AHA) Transformational Project Award, Co-Investigator, 2023
- Newly-Appointed Faculty Academic Research Grant, Academia Sinica, 2023
- Nanoscale Emerging Investigator Award, Royal Society of Chemistry, 2024
- "Dr. Yun MOU" Outstanding Young Scholar Award, Taiwan Nanomedicine Society, Taiwan, 2024
- 2030 Cross-Generation Young Scholars Program (Emerging Young Scholars), National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan, 2024
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
The Chen Lab brings together multidisciplinary expertise in Nanomedicine, Biomedical Engineering, Drug Delivery, Chemistry, Materials Science, Nanotechnology, Immunology, and Biology. Our research interest spans the innovation of fundamental materials, including nanoparticles, two-dimensional materials, hydrogels, and RNA nanomedicine, as well as living materials like engineered microalgae, microbes, and cells. These materials find diverse applications in disease treatment, vaccine development, and translational medicine. Our innovations are aimed at enabling efficient therapeutic delivery to targeted areas, addressing a range of diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, inflammatory diseases, while also exploring applications in anti-aging and tissue regeneration. Additionally, our research interest includes the development of innovative diagnostic agents that leverage protein corona phenomena on nanoparticle surfaces to enhance our understanding of biological processes and the intricate interactions at the nano-bio interface.
The Chen Lab actively recruits undergraduate students, Master's students, PhD students, research assistants, and postdoctoral researchers in diverse fields, such as chemistry, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, nanotechnology, biology, medicine, immunology, materials science engineering, pharmacy, chemical engineering, or related disciplines. If you are interested in our research and would like to apply for any of these positions, please email your CV or resume to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.(Professor Wei Chen Laboratory).
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS:
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
- Zhuoming Zhou, Wei Chen*, Yihai Cao, Reza Abdi, Wei Tao*, accepted, “Nanomedicine-based Strategies for the Treatment of Vein Graft Disease”, Nature Reviews Cardiology. (SCIE)
- Zhongshan He#, Wei Chen#*, Kuan Hu,# Yaoyao Luo, Wanqin Zeng, Xi He, Tingting Li, Jiang Ouyang, Yongjiang Li, Lin Xie, Yiding Zhang, Qin Xu, Shuping Yang, Mengran Guo, Wei Zou, Yanfei Li, Lingjing Huang, Lu Chen, Xingcai Zhang, Qimanguli Saiding, Rui Wang, Ming-Rong Zhang, Na Kong, Tian Xie, Xiangrong Song*, Wei Tao* *: Co-corresponding author; #: Co-first author, equal contribution, 2024, “Resolvin D1 delivery to lesional macrophages using antioxidative black phosphorus nanosheets for atherosclerosis treatment”, Nature Nanotechnology, doi.org/10.1038/s41565-024-01687-1, online-online. (SCIE)
- Muhammad Muzamil Khan, Yongjiang Li, Zhuoming Zhou, Abigale Ni, Qimanguli Saiding, Duotian Qin, Wei Tao*, Wei Chen*, 2024, “Macrophage-modulating nanomedicine for cancer immunotherapy”, Nanoscale, 16, 7378-7386. (SCIE)
- Yesi Shi, Xueyan Zhen, Yiming Zhang, Yongjiang Li, Seyoung Koo, Qimanguli Saiding, Na Kong*, Gang Liu*, Wei Chen*, Wei Tao* *: Corresponding author, 2024, “Chemically Modified Platforms for Better RNA Therapeutics”, Chemical Reviews, 124, 929-1033. (SCIE)
- Yongjiang Li#, Wei Chen#, Yong Kang, Xueyan Zhen, Zhuoming Zhou, Chuang Liu, Shuying Chen, Xiangang Huang, Hai-Jun Liu, Seyoung Koo, Na Kong, Xiaoyuan Ji, Tian Xie*, Wei Tao* #: Co-first author, equal contribution, 2023, “Nanosensitizer-mediated augmentation of sonodynamic therapy efficacy and antitumor immunity”, Nature Communications, 14, 6973. (SCIE)
- Zhongmin Tang#, Xinru You#, Yufen Xiao#, Wei Chen, Yongjiang Li, Xiangang Huang, Haijun Liu, Fan Xiao , Chuang Liu , Seyoung Koo, Na Kong, and Wei Tao*, 2023, “Inhaled mRNA nanoparticles dual-targeting cancer cells and macrophages in the lung for effective transfection”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 120, e2304966120. (SCIE)
- Shuying Chen#, Xiangang Huang#, Yonger Xue#, Ester Álvarez-Benedicto#, Yesi Shi, Wei Chen, Seyoung Koo, Daniel J. Siegwart*, Yizhou Dong*, Wei Tao*, 2023, “Nanotechnology-based mRNA vaccines”, Nature Reviews Methods Primers, 3, 63. (SCIE)
- Siyue Ma#, Ji Hyeon Kim#, Wei Chen#, Lu Li, Jieun Lee, Junlian Xue, Yuxia Liu, Guang Chen,* Bo Tang,* Wei Tao,* Jong Seung Kim* #: Co-first author, equal contribution, 2023, “Cancer Cell-Specific Fluorescent Prodrug Delivery Platforms”, Advanced Science, 10, 2207768. (SCIE)
- Hai-Jun Liu#, Wei Chen#, Gongwei Wu#, Jun Zhou, Chuang Liu, Zhongmin Tang, Xiangang Huang, Jingjing Gao, Yufen Xiao, Na Kong, Nitin Joshi, Yihai Cao, Reza Abdi, Wei Tao* #: Co-first author, equal contribution, 2023, “Glutathione-scavenging nanoparticle-mediated PROTACs delivery for targeted protein degradation and amplified antitumor effects”, Advanced Science, 10, 2207439. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Yongjiang Li, Chuang Liu, Yong Kang, Duotian Qin, Shuying Chen, Jun Zhou, Hai-Jun Liu, Bijan Emiliano Ferdows, Dylan Neal Patel, Xiangang Huang, Seyoung Koo, Na Kong, Xiaoyuan Ji, Yihai Cao, Wei Tao*, Tian Xie*, 2023, “In situ Engineering of Tumor-Associated Macrophages via a Nanodrug-Delivering-Drug (β-Elemene@Stanene) Strategy for Enhanced Cancer Chemo-Immunotherapy.”, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 62, e202308413. (SCIE)
- Liu Yu#, Mian Yu#, Wei Chen#, Shengjie Sun, Wenxin Huang, Tianqi Wang, Zhangwen Peng, Zewen Luo, Yixuan Fang, Yongjiang Li, Yang Deng,* Meiying Wu,* Wei Tao*, #: Co-first author, equal contribution, 2023, “In situ separable nanovaccines with stealthy bioadhesive capability for durable cancer immunotherapy”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 145, 8375-8388. (SCIE)
- Yichu Nie#, Wei Chen#, Yong Kang#, Xue Yuan, Yongjiang Li, Jun Zhou, Wei Tao*, Xiaoyuan Ji*, #: Co-first author, equal contribution, 2023, “Two-dimensional porous vermiculite-based nanocatalysts for synergetic catalytic therapy”, Biomaterials, 295, 122031. (SCIE)
- Jiang Ouyang, Wei Chen*, Wei Tao*, 2022, “Design of application-optimized hydrogels based on a swollen polymer network model”, Matter, 5, 2471-2473. (SCIE)
- Yufen Xiao, Zhongmin Tang, Xiangang Huang, Wei Chen, Jun Zhou, Haijun Liu, Chuang Liu, Na Kong*, Wei Tao*, 2022, “Emerging mRNA technologies: delivery strategies and biomedical applications”, Chemical Society Reviews, 51, 3828-3845. (SCIE)
- Dongxiao Zhang, Danni Zhong, Jiang Ouyang, Jian He, Yuchen Qi, Wei Chen, Xingcai Zhang*, Wei Tao*, Min Zhou*, 2022, “Microalgae-based oral microcarriers for gut microbiota homeostasis and intestinal protection in cancer radiotherapy”, Nature Communications, 13, 1413. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Wei Tao*, 2022, “Precise Control of the Structure of Synthetic Hydrogel Networks for Precision Medicine Applications”, Matter, 5, 18-19. (SCIE)
- Bijan Ferdows, Dylan Patel, Wei Chen*, Xiangang Huang, Na Kong, Wei Tao*, 2022, “RNA cancer nanomedicine: nanotechnology-mediated RNA therapy”, Nanoscale, 14, 4448-4455. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Maaike Schilperoort, Yihai Cao, Jinjun Shi*, Ira Tabas*, Wei Tao*, 2021, “Macrophage-targeted nanomedicine for the diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis”, Nature Reviews Cardiology, 19, 228-249. (SCIE)
- Danni Zhong#, Dongxiao Zhang#, Wei Chen#, Jian He, Chaojie Ren, Xingcai, Zhang, Na Kong, Wei Tao*, Min Zhou*, #: Co-first author, equal contribution, 2021, “Orally Deliverable Strategy Based on Microalgal Biomass for Intestinal Disease Treatment”, Science Advances, 7, abi9265. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Chi-An Cheng, Danlei Xiang, Jeffrey I. Zink*, 2021, “Expanding Nanoparticle Multifunctionality: Size-Selected Cargo Release and Multiple Logic Operations”, Nanoscale, 13, 5497-5506. (SCIE)
- Xiaoyuan Ji, Lanlan Ge, Chuang Liu, Zhongmin Tang, Yufen Xiao, Wei Chen, Zhouyue Lei, Wei Gao, Sara Blake, Diba De, Bingyang Shi, Xiaobing Zeng*, Na Kong*, Xingcai Zhang*, Wei Tao*, 2021, “Capturing Functional Two-Dimensional Nanosheets from Sandwich-Structure Vermiculite: Synthesis and Application in Cancer Theranostics”, Nature Communications, 12, 1124. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Chuang Liu, Xiaoyuan Ji, John Joseph, Zhongmin Tang, Jiang Ouyang, Yufen Xiao, Na Kong, Nitin Joshi, Omid C Farokhzad*, Wei Tao*, Tian Xie*, 2021, “Stanene-Based Nanosheets for β-Elemene Delivery and Ultrasound-Mediated Combination Cancer Therapy”, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 60, 7155-7164. (SCIE)
- Chi-An Cheng, Wei Chen, Le Zhang, Holden H. Wu, Jeffrey I. Zink, 2020, “Magnetic resonance imaging of high-intensity focused ultrasound-stimulated drug release from a self-reporting core@shell nanoparticle platform”, Chemical Communications, 56, 10297-10300. (SCIE)
- Chi-An Cheng#, Wei Chen#, Le Zhang, Holden H. Wu*, Jeffrey I. Zink*, #: Co-first author, 2019, “A Responsive Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Platform for Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound-Stimulated Cargo Delivery with Controllable Location, Time, and Dose”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 141, 17670-17684. (SCIE)
- Liping Ruan, Wei Chen, Ruining Wang, Jie Lu, and Jeffrey I. Zink*, 2019, “Magnetically Stimulated Drug Release Using Nanoparticles Capped by Self-Assembling Peptides”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 11, 43835-43842. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Chi-An Cheng, Emily Cosco, Shyam Ramakrishnan, Jakob Lingg, Oliver Bruns*, Jeffrey I Zink*, Ellen Sletten*, 2019, “Shortwave Infrared Imaging with J-aggregates Stabilized in Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles.”, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 141, 12475-12480. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Carlotta A. Glackin, Marcus A. Horwitz, Jeffrey I. Zink*, 2019, “Nanomachines and Other Caps on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery”, Accounts of Chemical Research, 52, 1531-1542. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Chi-An Cheng, Jeffrey I. Zink*, 2019, “Spatial, Temporal, and Dose Control of Drug Delivery Using Noninvasive Magnetic Stimulation”, ACS Nano, 13, 1292-1308. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Chi-An Cheng, Bai-Yu Lee, Daniel L Clemens, Wen-Yen Huang, Marcus A Horwitz, Jeffrey I Zink*, 2018, “Facile Strategy Enabling Both High Loading and High Release Amounts of the Water-Insoluble Drug Clofazimine Using Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles”, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 10, 31870-31881. (SCIE)
- Cheng-Chung Chou*, Wei Chen, Yann Hung, Chung-Yuan Mou, 2017, “Molecular Elucidation of Biological Response to Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles in Vitro and in Vivo”, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 9, 22235-22251. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Ping-Hsing Tsai, Yann Hung, Shih-Hwa Chiou*, Chung-Yuan Mou*, 2013, “Nonviral Cell Labeling and Differentiation Agent for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Based on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles”, ACS Nano, 7, 8423-8440. (SCIE)
- Wei Chen, Fang Lu, Chiao-Chi V Chen, Kuan-Chi Mo, Yann Hung, Zhi-Xuan Guo, Chia-Hui Lin, Ming-Huang Lin, Yu-Hsuan Lin, Chen Chang, Chung-Yuan Mou, 2013, “Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Rat Brain Based on Slow Cerebral Delivery of Mn(II) with Silica-Encapsulated MnxFe1–xO Nanoparticles”, NMR in Biomedicine, 26, 1176-1185. (SCIE)