报告摘要：
DNA moleculesstore genetic information and play a critical role in all living organisms. Our research focuses on engineering DNA (and also RNA) as both genetic (bio) and generic (nano) materials. More specifically, by treating DNA as a true polymer and employing a variety of enzymatic and physical tools, we can precisely control and manipulate DNA into nanoscale materials building blocks. We have since developed DNA materials, including dendrimers-like DNA, DNA gels, DNAsomes, and DNA-nanoparticle hybrid assemblies, all in bulk scale. With these novel DNA materials, we are exploring real-world applications ranging from biological materials in diagnostics, pharmaceutics, cell-free protein production, drug delivery, cell culture and optoelectronics. In this talk, I will focus on the materials aspects of our DNA engineering including design and syntheses, characterizations and applications. In particular, I will introduce a DNA meta-hydrogel that has the properties that are not found in nature.

报告人简介：
Dan Luo is a Full Professor in the Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University. He is currently also a faculty member in Nanobiotechnology Center, Cornell Center for Materials Research, Biomedical Engineering and New Life Science Initiatives at Cornell. Prof. Luo obtained his BS degree from the University of Science and Technology of China and his PhD in 1997 from The Ohio State University in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. After a postdoctoral training in the School of Chemical Engineering at Cornell, he joined Cornell faculty in 2001. Prof. Luo currently is an Associate Editor for "Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology", Editorial Board Member for "Nanomedicine" and also for "Nano Today". Prof. Luo was awarded National Science Foundation's CAREER award in 2006 and Cornell Provost's Award for Distinguished Scholarship in 2007. Prof. Luo was also a recipient of New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) Technology Transfer Incentive Program Award (2005) and NYSTAR Faculty Development Program Award (2007). More recently in 2008, Prof. Luo was awarded the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities.
Prof. Luo's research interests have focused on using DNA as both a genetic and a generic material for real world applications including biosensing, drug discovery, drug delivery, alternative energy, photonic-electronic devices, etc. Since becoming a faculty member at Cornell in 2001, Prof. Luo has given more than 100 invited talks worldwide. He has published 54 papers in Nature Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Communications, Nature Biotechnology, Nature Protocols, Angew Chem, JACS etc.