Zi (Sophia) Gu is an Associate Professor and Head of NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory at School of Chemical Engineering of UNSW. After PhD training at The University of Queensland and Cornell University (US), she was awarded an NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellowship in 2014, prior to joining UNSW in 2016. Currently, she leads a NanoBiotechnology Research Group working on multidisciplinary research projects that combine the knowledge...view more
Zi (Sophia) Gu is an Associate Professor and Head of NanoBiotechnology Research Laboratory at School of Chemical Engineering of UNSW. After PhD training at The University of Queensland and Cornell University (US), she was awarded an NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellowship in 2014, prior to joining UNSW in 2016. Currently, she leads a NanoBiotechnology Research Group working on multidisciplinary research projects that combine the knowledge and skills across material chemistry, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology, and developed several nanoparticle platforms for disease diagnosis and treatment. She has published >70 research papers and filed a provisional patent. Most of these publications are in top tier journals in the fields of Material Science (Advanced Materials, Advanced Functional Materials, Materials Horizons), Nanotechnology (Advanced Science, Small, Small Methods), Chemistry (Chemistry of Materials), Biomaterials (Biomaterials), and Pharmaceutical Science (Journal of Controlled Release, Pharmaceutics). She has been awarded several competitive grants and awards and has several academic leadership roles such as international conference chair and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Nanobiotechnology (Springer Nature).
Research Appointments
Associate Professor, University of New South Wales, 2023-present
Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales, 2019-2022
Lecturer and NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellow, University of New South Wales, 2016-2018
NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical Fellow, University of Queensland, 2014-2016
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Queensland, 2011-2013
Research Scholar, Cornell University, US, 2010
Research Projects
Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for precision diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening diseases. My research group utilises interdisciplinary approaches that bring together material chemistry, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology to synthesise functional nanoparticles, optimise their biomedical properties, and develop smart nanoparticles and advanced delivery strategies. Major themes of our research:
Research theme 1: Targeted, controlled and selective drug delivery system.
Research theme 2: Bioimaging probe/contrast agent design and development for disease diagnosis and monitoring.
Research theme 3: Multifunctional bioactive nanoparticles, biomimetic nanoparticles, catalytic nanomedicine
My Expertise
Drug delivery | Bio-imaging contrast agent design and development | Theranostic nanomedicine | Bio-nano interface | Nanozyme | Catalytic nanomedicine | Nanoparticles for cancer therapy, cardiovascular disease | Nanoparticle synthesis and modification | Two-dimensional nanomaterials | Antibacterial Materials
We are looking for highly motivated, intelligent and team-playing students to do their PhD, Master by Philosophy, or Honours project in our group.
Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities
Domestic Research Scholarship: https://research.unsw.edu.au/domestic-research-scholarships
International Research Scholarship: https://research.unsw.edu.au/international-research-scholarships
UNSW-China Scholarship Council (CSC) Joint Scholarship program. For more details, click here. To apply CSC, click here. Top-up scholarship (7k pa) will be provided to CSC awardees.
UNSW / HEC Pakistan Joint Scholarship: https://research.unsw.edu.au/unsw-home-country-joint-scholarships;
UNSW / CONICYT Chile Joint Scholarship: https://research.unsw.edu.au/unsw-home-country-joint-scholarships;
Postdoc and Research Assistant positions are available at specific time.
Course Teaching
CEIC6712 Pharmaceutical Design and Engineering
CEIC2007 Chemical Engineering Laboratory
CEIC Thesis A, B, C (project supervision)
My Grants
ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2025)
NHMRC Ideas Grants (2025)
ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2024)
Tour de Cure Pioneering Research Grant (2024)
ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) (2024)
National Heart Foundation Vanguard Grant (2023)
ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) (2023)
NSW Health Cardiovascular Research Capacity Program (2022)
UNSW RNA Institute Seed Grant (2022)
ARC Discovery Project (DP) (2020)
UNSW-CAS Joint Research Fund (2019)
Industrial Contract Research Fund (2019)
Australian Centre for NanoMedicine Seed Research Fund (2017)
UNSW-Tsinghua Joint Research Fund (2016)
NHMRC Fellowship (Peter Doherty Biomedical EC Fellowship) (2014)
Ian Potter Foundation Travel Award (2014)
My Qualifications
PhD in Biomedical Engineering, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Australia
Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, The University of Queensland, Australia
My Awards
2022 Nanoscale Emerging Investigator Award
2021 Outstanding Reviewer Award, Nanoscale
2020, 2021 Outstanding Editor Award, Journal of Nanobiotechnology
2019, Academic & Professional Women in Leadership Program, UNSW
2018, Research Excellence Award, Australian Association of Chinese Biomedical Scientists
2018, Rising Star Award, Australian Association of Chinese Biomedical Scientists
2017, Monash Engineering Women's Leadership Award
2014-2018, NHMRC Peter Doherty Biomedical EC Fellowship
2014, Ian Potter Foundation Travel Award
2013, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Award, The University of Queensland
2010, Graduate School International Travel Award, The University of Queensland
2008-2010, Endeavour International Postgraduate Research Scholarship
2007, Best Student Poster Award at 4th ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials Annual Conference
My Research Activities
Research Projects
Nanotechnology has emerged as a promising approach for precision diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening diseases. My research group utilises interdisciplinary approaches that bring together material chemistry, biomedical engineering and nanotechnology to synthesise functional nanoparticles, optimise their biomedical properties, and develop smart nanoparticles and advanced delivery strategies. Major interests of our research:
Research interest 1: Targeted, controlled and selective drug delivery system.
Research interest 2: Bioimaging probe/contrast agent design for disease diagnosis.
Research interest 3: Multifunctional bioactive nanoparticles, biomimetic nanoparticles, catalytic nanomedicine
My Expertise
Drug delivery | Bio-imaging nanoprobe construction and application | Theranostic nanomedicine | Bio-nano interface | Nanozyme | Catalytic nanomedicine | Nanoparticles for cancer therapy, cardiovascular disease | Nanoparticle synthesis and modification | Two-dimensional nanomaterials
Ten Most Significant Career Publications
- Cao Z; Zhang L; Liang K; Cheong S; Boyer C; Gooding JJ; Chen Y;* Gu Z,* 2018, 'Biodegradable 2D Fe–Al Hydroxide for Nanocatalytic Tumor-Dynamic Therapy with Tumor Specificity', Advanced Science, vol. 5, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/advs.201801155, (IF 16.8)
- Li B; Gu Z;* Kurniawan N; Chen W; Xu ZP,* 2017, 'Manganese-Based Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles as a T 1 -MRI Contrast Agent with Ultrasensitive pH Response and High Relaxivity', Advanced Materials, vol. 29, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adma.201700373 (IF 30.85)
- Li B; Hao G; Sun B; Gu Z;* Xu ZP,* 2020, 'Engineering a Therapy-Induced “Immunogenic Cancer Cell Death” Amplifier to Boost Systemic Tumor Elimination', Advanced Functional Materials, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201909745 (IF 18.81)
- Zhang H; Zhang L; Cao Z; Cheong S; Boyer C; Wang Z; Yun S.L.J; Amal R; Gu Z,* 2022, Two-dimensional ultrathin nanosheets with extraordinarily high drug loading and long blood circulation for cancer therapy Small DOI:10.1002/smll.202200299, accepted in March 2022. (IF 13.28)
- Zhang H; Cao Z; Zhang Q; Xu J; Yun SLJ; Liang K;* Gu Z,* 2020, 'Chemotaxis-Driven 2D Nanosheet for Directional Drug Delivery toward the Tumor Microenvironment', Small, vol. 16, pp. e2002732, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smll.202002732 (IF 13.28)
- Cao Z; Li B; Sun L; Li L; Xu ZP;* Gu Z,* 2020, '2D Layered Double Hydroxide Nanoparticles: Recent Progress toward Preclinical/Clinical Nanomedicine', Small Methods, vol. 4, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smtd.201900343 (IF 14.188)
- Li B; Tang J; Chen W; Hao G; Kurniawan N; Gu Z;* Xu ZP*, 2018, 'Novel theranostic nanoplatform for complete mice tumor elimination via MR imaging-guided acid-enhanced photothermo-/chemo-therapy', Biomaterials, vol. 177, pp. 40 - 51, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.05.055, (IF 12.48)
- Guo Z; Wang T; Rawal A; Hou J; Cao Z; Zhang H; Xu J; Gu Z;* Chen V; Liang K,* 2019, 'Biocatalytic self-propelled submarine-like metal-organic framework microparticles with pH-triggered buoyancy control for directional vertical motion', Materials Today, vol. 28, pp. 10 - 16, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mattod.2019.04.022. (IF 31.04)
- Gu Z; Rolfe BE; Thomas AC; Campbell JH; Lu GQM; Xu ZP, 2011, 'Cellular trafficking of low molecular weight heparin incorporated in layered double hydroxide nanoparticles in rat vascular smooth muscle cells', Biomaterials, vol. 32, pp. 7234 - 7240, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.05.083 (IF 12.48)
- Gu Z; Thomas AC; Xu ZP; Campbell JH; Lu GQ,* 2008, 'In vitro sustained release of LMWH from MgAl-layered double hydroxide nanohybrids', Chemistry of Materials, vol. 20, pp. 3715 - 3722, http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/cm703602t (IF 10.159)
(*Corresponding author)
We are looking for highly motivated, intelligent and team-playing students to do their PhD, Master by Philosophy, or Honours proje in our group.
Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunities
Domestic Research Scholarship: https://research.unsw.edu.au/domestic-research-scholarships
International Research Scholarship: https://research.unsw.edu.au/international-research-scholarships
UNSW-China Scholarship Council (CSC) Joint Scholarship program. For more details, click here. To apply CSC, click here. Top-up scholarship (7k pa) will be provided to CSC awardees.
UNSW / HEC Pakistan Joint Scholarship: https://research.unsw.edu.au/unsw-home-country-joint-scholarships;
UNSW / CONICYT Chile Joint Scholarship: https://research.unsw.edu.au/unsw-home-country-joint-scholarships;
Postdoc and Research Assistant positions are available at specific time.
My Research Supervision
Areas of supervision
nanoparticle, nanomaterial, material chemistry, biomaterials, nanomedicine, drug delivery, cancer therapy, cardiovascular diseases, imaging contrast agent
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7153-6596