• Yu IRU
• Hsiao-hua Yu
• Research Topics
• Publications
• Members
• Career Opportunities
• Contacts and Directions
• Galleries

• RIKEN Advanced Science Institute
• RIKEN

Research Topics

Efficient synthesis of thiophene-based functional pi materials

In tradition, functional pi materials are often synthesized via transition metal mediated cross-coupling reactions. Although this method is very powerful and efficient, many toxic side products are produced. In many cases, the synthetic approaches taken place are not atom economical. We investigate on the development of novel synthetic methodology to build functional-pi materials, including small molecules and polymers. They are important as a greener and more efficient synthetic approach toward these functional materials.

 

Molecular building blocks for hydrophilic conducting polymers

In order to apply conducting polymers for bioengineering applications, monomers with resistive binding to proteins and stability in aqueous solutions are required. We synthesized a number of new hydrophilic molecular building blocks of thiophenes. Hydrophilic conducting polymer and alternative hydrophobic-hydrophilic conducting blockcopolymer would be suitable for bioelectronic applications.

 

Protein-resistive conducting polymer biointerfaces for cell engineering

Mimicking membrane-extra cellular matrix (ECM) interface, we compose conducting polymer thin films with zwitterionic sidechains and these thin films have shown great resistance of biomacromolecule binding. For example, the new conducting polymer biointerface have shown zero bovium serine albumin (BSA) binding and can be potentially applied for medical implants. We are investigating the application for them for cell engineering.

 

Controlled oxidative polymerization to form conducting polymer nanostructures

Although simple, it is often very difficult to control the oxidative polymerization. The nanostructures created are very sensitive to the reaction conditions. We are developing general approaches to form specific conducting polymer nanostructures with a variety of functional groups.

 

Functional and nanostructured conducting polymers for cell capturing

Efficient cell capturing is very important for diagnostics and therapeutics of many diseases. We have demonstrated the possibility to create novel functional and nanostructured surfaces to enhance the cell capturing efficiency by conducting polymers. Continuous improvement will lead to breakthroughs in biomedical applications

 

Cells and nanostructured conducting polymers integration

We are designing conducting polymer-based bioniterface to control cell behaviors. Utilizing both “top-down” and “bottom-up” approaches, we would like tocrear conducting polymer nano-networks and conducting polymer nanofeatures to control the temporal spatial arrangement of cells.