N_CityU102/23
Efficient and Stable Self-assembled Monolayer Hole Transporting Materials for Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Zonglong Zhu (City University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Zhong'an Li (Huazhong University of Science and Technology)
Photovoltaic (PV) technology is a vital component in achieving carbon neutrality, as it facilitates the direct conversion of clean and abundant light energy into electricity. Perovskite solar cells (PVSCs) are a promising alternative to silicon solar cells due to their high efficiency, low cost, and versatility for various applications. Inverted PVSCs, which exhibit better long-term operational stability but lower efficiency than conventional ones (25.4% vs 26.0%), require further improvement. Previous studies have shown that poly[bis(4-phenyl)(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)amine (PTAA) as the bottom hole transporting material (HTM) in inverted PVSCs results in low power conversion efficiency (PCE) due to poor wettability and weak binding with perovskite, leading to excessive defects. Recently, self-assembled monolayer HTMs have drawn increasing attention due to their strong interaction with bottom substrates, as well as good wettability to induce highly crystalline perovskites, leading to a high PCE of 25.37%. However, there are still some challenges for SAM-HTM: (1) the molecular structure diversity of SAM-HTMs is poor, and new molecular design strategies need to be further developed; (2) the monolayer absorption of SAM on the substrate makes it easy to form pinholes, causing energy loss at interface; (3) the mechanism of perovskite crystallization and degradation mechanism of the SAM interface are still unclear.
To address these challenges, this project aims to develop a new series of SAM-HTMs and investigate their impacts on the perovskite crystallization and the interface robustness to create efficient and stable inverted PVSCs. The team will synthesize a series of novel SAMs through backbone engineering, linkage engineering, and rational functionalization. This will enable the realization of energy levels suitable for perovskite crystallization, defect passivation capacity, and template effects. Cross-linkable and double-side anchorable SAMs will also be synthesized to achieve excellent intrinsic stability of SAMs. The properties and stability of these SAMs and their interaction/charge transfer with perovskites will be studied to provide feedback for molecular design. Ultimately, the team aims to apply these SAMs to fabricate PVSCs that achieve highly efficient and stable devices. The joint project team has extensive experience in material synthesis, mechanism study, and device fabrication of PVSCs, with long-term collaboration experience and joint publication records in this research field, demonstrating the feasibility of this joint project. The success of this project will significantly promote the commercialization of PVSCs.
N_CityU114/23
Bio-inspired Anti-impact Compliant Capture and Attitude Takeover Control of Non-cooperative Spacecraft
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Xingjian Jing (City University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Honghua Dai (Northwestern Polytechnical University)
The number of space launch missions around the world is increasing rapidly as the result of current advanced space science and technology, leading to a growing number of on-orbit spacecraft as well as non-cooperative spacecraft such as malfunctioning satellites due to mechanical failure and/or fuel exhaustion. Compliant takeover control of non-cooperative spacecraft is a key technology for on-orbit maintenance of malfunctioning satellites. Currently, the capture process heavily relies on autonomous detection while time delay and detection error easily lead to dexterous collision, and generate a mismatching velocity between servicer and target since malfunctioning satellites tend to have uncertain attitude with no information communication and cooperative maneuver behavior.
To this end, this project will design a novel bio-inspired anti-impact manipulator arm and propose reliable control and calculation methods to capture non-cooperative spacecraft smoothly. The 1st innovative work of this project is to design a bio-inspired anti-impact manipulator arm with perfect vibration isolation performance, where beneficial nonlinear stiffness and damping characteristics are employed for advantageous performance. The other innovative result is to establish a loosely connected system consisting of the servicing spacecraft, the bio-inspired anti-impact manipulator and the non-cooperative spacecraft. With this, a novel coordinated trajectory planning and adaptive impedance control is purposely developed to achieve the active-passive compliant capture as the 3rd contribution. Moreover, based on the loose-connection concept and the analytical mechanics principle, a precise dynamics model of the combined system will be established and a prescribed performance robust control strategy will be proposed by means of reinforcement learning technology and robust control method, considering unknown inertial properties and variable centroid (our 4th contribution). The 5th critical contribution is to develop a highly efficient numerical computation method for fulfilling the real-time requirement and provide technical support for dynamical analysis and control action. Importantly, relevant ground experiments of compliant capture and attitude takeover control for non-cooperative spacecraft will be conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed structure and methods.
N_CityU128/23
Study on thermal environment mechanism and energy characteristics of high performance decoupled radiant cooling system using low temperature source
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Gongsheng Huang (City University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Huijun Wu (Guangzhou University)
Conventional air-cooling systems provide a cool and comfortable built environment but are energy intensive. Radiant cooling systems are similarly effective and also energy efficient, but have high condensation risk and insufficient cooling power in areas with hot and humid climates. We have developed a decoupled radiant cooling panel, which uses a dry-air layer sealed with a high-infrared-transparency membrane to separate the radiant cooling surface from the air-contract surface. Using a heat transfer model that we established, we showed that our decoupled radiant cooling panel can reach radiant cooling temperatures as low as 5°C to enhance the cooling power by 50%–100% without increasing the condensation risk, when compared with conventional radiant cooling panels (without separation of the air-contact and radiant surfaces). On the basis of our previous studies, we propose in this proposal a system that uses multiple decoupled radiant cooling panels to provide cooling for occupants in indoor spaces. We will first investigate the thermal environment mechanism for this system, leading by the Mainland team and assisted by the Hong Kong Team. Using full-scale experiments and computational fluid dynamics simulations, we will model the thermal environment of the system with radiant cooling temperatures in a wide range (5–15°C). Then, using a thermal comfort survey, we will develop a thermal comfort model and identify thermal comfort criteria for the decoupled radiant cooling system. We will then study the energy characteristics, leading by the Hong Kong team and assisted by the Mainland team. Using comprehensive computational fluid dynamics and building energy simulations, we will develop a cooling load prediction method and an energy-use model for the decoupled radiant cooling system when it is operated with a dedicated outdoor air system. By combining the cooling load prediction method and the energy-use model, we will optimize the decoupled radiant cooling system and the dedicated outdoor air system to minimize annual energy use under hot and humid climates. We will quantify the potential energy savings by comparing the decoupled radiant cooling system with conventional systems. We will collaborate closely to realize the proposed research objectives. The models, methods and toolbox developed in this project will be used by other researchers to guide the further design optimization and operation of the decoupled radiant cooling system. Ultimately, the decoupled radiant cooling system can contribute to indoor thermal comfort for built environment users, and building energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction for building managers and developers.
N_CityU136/23
Development of chemical biology tools and structural and functional studies of GPCRX89, an important target in gastrointestinal stromal tumor
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Hongyan Sun (City University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Jinpeng Sun (Shandong University)
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) represent the prevailing mesenchymal neoplasms arising from the gastrointestinal tract. Around 20,000 to 30,000 patients are diagnosed with GIST annually in China. The primary driver behind GIST development is mutations in the tyrosine kinase c-KIT gene. However, the effectiveness of tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib, commonly used as first-line treatments for GIST, is limited due to the high susceptibility of the c-KIT gene to secondary drug-resistant mutations. Therefore, the discovery of new targets for GIST, other than c-KIT, and the development of high-efficacy small molecule drugs based on these new targets are critical clinical problems that need to be urgently solved.
GPCRs represent important drug targets. However, the roles and mechanisms of GPCRs in tumors remain largely unknown. In this proposal, we will endeavor to investigate the roles of GPCRs in GIST progression. In the preliminary research conducted by Prof. Jinpeng Sun's team, the significant role of a GPCR called GPCRX89 in the occurrence and development of GIST has been identified, highlighting its potential as a novel treatment target for GIST. We will collaborate with Professor Hongyan Sun from the City University of Hong Kong to develop GPCRX89 agonists and antagonists. By utilizing cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we can elucidate the structural basis of GPCRX89 ligand recognition and activation, thus providing a solid foundation for the design and development of potent and selective agonists. Based on agonist information, we will develop superresolution imaging probes to study the roles of GPCRX89 in GIST formation. These fluorescent probes can potentially be developed into a test kit for the early diagnosis of GIST. Subsequently we will conduct a thorough investigation into the in vitro and in vivo functions and mechanisms of GPCRX89 in regulating GIST progression. Furthermore, we will develop GPCRX89 antagonists for the treatment of GIST and assess their therapeutic effects both in vitro and in vivo. The project combines a wide range of interdisciplinary approaches to address important questions related to GPCRs in cancers. By integrating the outstanding expertise and cutting-edge technologies of the two teams in GPCR, chemical biology, and bioimaging, we aim to identify new biological targets for GIST, study the biological role of GPCRs in tumorigenesis, and develop useful lead compounds for cancer therapy.
N_CityU141/23
Multi-scale inverse design and experimental verification of high-entropy solder
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Yingxia Liu (City University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Yuzheng Guo (Wuhan University)
To enable continued advances in computation performance, the microelectronics industry is developing advanced packaging technologies in which multiple chips are stacked vertically or horizontally. These technologies use the wetting reactions of solder joints to assemble the chips in a process known as ‘reflow’. During reflow, the whole packaging structure goes through a temperature cycle, leading to a warpage issue. Developing low-melting-point solder can relieve the warpage during the assembly and is critical to manufacturing advanced packaging structures.
However, it is challenging to develop suitable new low-melting-point solder alloys, as these alloys must be selected and satisfy a series of requirements, such as melting range, resistance, and mechanical properties. Decades of study on binary and ternary alloys have yielded only one commonly used solder alloy, SAC 305. The lack of binary or ternary alloys that can function as low-melting-point solders means that high entropy alloys (HEAs) must be explored. But an experimental investigation would require each composition to be examined, as there are no phase diagrams for multi-component alloys. Thus, a comprehensive experimental study would be tremendously laborious and expensive, which may be impossible to complete. In this proposal, we will use inverse design to perform an accelerated and cost-effective search for HEA solder candidates. We will combine the multi-scale simulation capability of the Wuhan University team and the packaging industry research and development experience of City University of Hong Kong team to establish an inverse design theory of HEA solder. By employing machine learning techniques, classical atomic potential data for over 10 HEA elements will be generated. Through experiment verification and inverse design, this proposed project will yield a set of low-melting-point solder alloys suitable for various applications in advanced packaging structures.
N_CityU146/23
Asset-stranding Risks on Energy Firms under the Carbon Neutrality Goals and Spillover Effects on the Capital Market in mainland China and Hong Kong
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Lin Zhang (City University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Dr Wenji Zhou (Renmin University of China)
Countries around the world have set carbon neutrality goals to encourage the transition to low-carbon energy sources in a short period of time. Mainland China aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, whereas Hong Kong is more ambitious, aiming for 2050. Large energy companies in mainland China, such as those involved in coal mining and power generation, possess significant fossil energy assets, exposing them to high risks of stranded assets. Many of these large energy companies are listed on the stock exchange in mainland China or Hong Kong, and the potential stranding of their assets will have a significant impact on both mainland China and Hong Kong capital markets. The aim of this proposed project is to develop a regional macro-level energy system model to assess the risk of stranded assets for energy companies as low-carbon or carbon-neutral policies and practices are adopted. We also aim to develop an asset risk assessment model for listed companies and a contagion model for stranded-asset risks in the financial network.
To achieve the aforementioned goals, the proposal is developed with the integrated interdisciplinary collaboration between mainland China team and Hong Kong team under the National Natural Science Foundation of China/RGC Joint Research Scheme. The proposed collaborative project will contribute to the construction of an analytical framework for stranded asset risks that is suitable for China’s national conditions and socio-economic foundation. Using this framework, we will simulate and calculate the investment requirements and distribution of stranded assets along the carbon emission reduction pathways in different regions. We will analyse the transmission pathways of corporate asset-stranding risks in the financial system, clarify the mechanisms through which asset-stranding risks spread to mainland China and Hong Kong capital markets, and ultimately quantify the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies and decarbonisation policy tools.
N_CityU151/23
Bulk complex concentrated alloys based on grain boundary complexion engineering and study of their toughening mechanisms
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Jian Lu (City University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Ge Wu (Xi'an Jiaotong University)
Strengthening and ductilization of metallic materials is an eternal topic in materials study, but the strength-ductility trade-off affects their practical applications, especially in vehicle and aerospace industries. Novel nanostructuring approaches need to be developed to enhance strength and ductility simultaneously. Grain boundary complexion is a kind of important nanostructure, regulating strength and plasticity of materials. The applicants, et al. introduced grain boundary complexions, in forms of grain boundary amorphous phase (the applicants, et al. Nature 545 (2017) cover page) and grain boundary segregation (the applicants, et al. Nat. Commun. 13 (2022)), into alloys, realizing both ultrahigh strength and large homogeneous plastic deformation. However, the alloys are usually micrometer-thick films in the applicants’ former studies, restricting large scale structural applications. The content of this proposal include: 1) introduction of grain boundary complexions guided by thermodynamic calculations and high-throughput experiments; 2) fabrication of the corresponding bulk alloys in VCoNi-Al-B system. The yield strength of the alloys will be higher than 2 GPa and uniform elongation will be about 10%; 3) investigation of plastic deformation mechanisms in atomic resolution using in-situ transmission electron microscopy micro/nano mechanics and ex-situ aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope platform. The interactions of dislocation-grain boundary complexion and dislocation-chemical short range order/nanoprecipitate will be revealed, providing theory and experiment basis for future practical applications.
N_CityU160/23
Rational Design of Engineered Two Dimensional C3N4 Photocatalyst for Simultaneous Removal of Organic Pollutants and Green Energy Production
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Yun-hau Ng (City University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Yuekun Lai (Fuzhou University)
The ultimate goals in efficiently using solar energy to treat organic pollutant-contained water while transforming them into chemical fuels (such as clean hydrogen) are achievable through careful design and thorough understanding of photoactive semiconductors. This project will contribute to the development of functional photocatalysts with higher efficiency and performance. Given the strategic solar-geographical position of Hong Kong, utilization of sunlight in the form of clean solar fuels (via water splitting) while aiding the treatment process of polluted water could be a promising option to overcome both the challenges in clean water and energy.
N_HKBU201/23
Screening, functional identification and transport mechanism study of tanshinone transporters in Salvia miltiorrhiza
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Pan Liao (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Dr Guoyin Kai (Zhejiang Chinese Medical )University
Salvia miltiorrhiza is a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It owns the functions of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, cooling blood and eliminating carbuncle, removing irritability and calming nerves. Tanshinone is one of the key medicinal components produced in S. miltiorrhiza, which accumulates in the roots, specifically in the periderm, and exhales from inside to outside, suggesting the existence of specific transport mechanism. However, no public reports have been made so far. In plant cells, ABC transporters mediate the transmembrane transport of secondary metabolites with substrate specificity. Based on the transcriptome of specific tissue of S. miltiorrhiza, this project screened candidate ABC transporter genes (SmABCB16, SmABCG4); In vitro rapid functional identification will be used to verify the substrate specificity and transport mechanism of tanshinone; Transgenic plants and hairy root materials were obtained by overexpression and knockout techniques, and the mechanism of tanshinone transport was further analyzed in order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of tanshinone transport after synthesis. The implementation of this project can provide a new theoretical basis, regulatory strategy and target for obtaining high quality S. miltiorrhiza germplasm resources with high yield of tanshinone by means of biotechnology, and can also provide reference for related research of other medicinal plants.
N_EdUHK205/23
Study of TWIK2 channel as the Key Therapeutic Target for Parkinson's Disease
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Ken Kin-lam Yung (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Dr Pingzheng Zhou (Southern Medical University)
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder pathologically characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and intraneuronal aggregation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) in Lewy bodies. PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and the incidence rate of PD is gradually rising with the aging of the global population. However, the uncovering pathogenesis and ideal drug for PD is still lacking.
Overwhelming pieces of evidence have recently demonstrated that both central immune system and peripheral immune system play fundamental roles in the pathophysiology of PD. Of note, the dysregulation of the NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in innate immune cells such as microglia/macrophage plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of PD. TWIK2 potassium channel is specifically expressed in the innate immune cells and essential for the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Our preliminary data demontrates that TWIK2 deficiency protects mice from MPTP-induced PD in Mice. Therefore, we consider that understanding the role and related mechanisms of TWIK2 channel for PD pathology is an important question to be answered. Furthermore, it is urgent and valuable to identify specific and efficient TWIK2 inhibitors and investigate their efficacy to alleviate PD and other NLRP3 inflammasome related diseases.
Our team includes academic researchers with expertise in pharmacology of ion channels, neuropharmacology, computer-aided drug design and other related disciplines. We have taken the initiative to identify TWIK2 inhibitors using a combination of electrophysiology and virtual screening and has successfully identified a series of novel, efficient, and specific TWIK2 inhibitors. Moreover, our preliminary data show these lead compounds of TWIK2 inhibitors identified in our labs could suppress the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and delay the progression of MPTP- induced PD in vivo. The present project would use the TWIK2 knockout mice and pharmacological methods to study the role of TWIK2 in modulating PD development and the mechanisms underlying how TWIK2 modulates the immune function of microglia/macrophage. Besides, we also aim to screen out the TWIK2 inhibitor with high efficacy and specificity. Further, the binding mode of the selected inhibitor on TWIK2 channel and its in vivo pharmacodynamics in treatment of PD would also be investigated. Therefore, the implementation of this project will establish new knowledge on PD progression and provide new therapeutic target and candidate drugs for PD and other neuroinflammatory diseases.
N_HKBU212/23
A Privacy-Preserving Generalised Heterogeneous Federated Learning Framework for Biometrics Verification
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Pong-chi Yuen (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Mang Ye (Wuhan University)
Federated learning (FL) is an effective framework for collaborative learning between clients with a data-stay-local policy, enabling good global models to be trained. Nevertheless, there are three major problems with FL in real-world applications. First, although FL ensures that data stay local and can only be accessed by local clients, (i) personal information, such as sex and health status, can be extracted from biometric images, and (ii) facial images can be reconstructed from feature templates. This implies that personal information can be leaked from local clients, and thus, existing FL frameworks cannot fully protect biometric data. Second, although many clients are willing to engage in collaborative learning via a server for global model learning, they may want to develop their own personalised local models. Moreover, data from different clients may be inconsistent. This leads to model- and data-heterogeneity problems. Third, although FL allows large amounts of information from multiple clients to be used for model learning, it is often difficult to account for all unseen data distributions. As such, the classification/re-identification performance of FL on unseen test domains is usually poor. The aforementioned three problems will be solved in this proposed project. This proposed project will develop the following three novel approaches to solve the above-mentioned problems.
An approach for generating discriminative and anonymised biometric data and features from original raw images for local training while preventing the original images from being exposed to local clients.
An approach for directly mining cross-correlations from unlabelled public data via self-supervised learning and ensemble distillation for knowledge transfer. This approach will be distinct from existing approaches that rely on a shared global consensus model for heterogeneous communication.
An approach to achieve model generalisability, comprising a hierarchical-augmentation scheme to increase data diversity and completeness and a feature-disentanglement scheme to extract domain-invariant features.
This proposed project will have (i) academic impact by generating new knowledge on data privacy and security, model generalisability, and data- and model-heterogeneity for FL and (ii) commercial impact by delivering a generic, fully privacy-preserving heterogeneous FL framework to meet the needs of practical biometric-based applications. This will facilitate the further development of high-end novel artificial intelligence applications in Hong Kong and worldwide.
N_HKBU218/23
Brain Connectome of model-based learning and cognitive flexibility in gifted individuals
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Rongjun Yu (Hong Kong Baptist University)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Dr Shaozheng Qin (Beijing Normal University)
Gifted people have the capability to perform at higher levels compared to their peers, and have an increased potential for high achievement. Young individuals who possess exceptional gifts have immense potential to evolve into highly creative, productive, and invaluable contributors to society as they transition into adulthood. However, there exists a significant gap in our comprehension of the neurocognitive processes that underlie thinking and learning in gifted individuals. By attaining a more detailed understanding of the mechanistic aspects behind the thinking and learning processes within this exceptional group, we can gain valuable insights into human intelligence on a broader scale, encompassing the general population. This endeavor holds the potential to unravel the mysteries of cognitive abilities and their implications for human cognition at large. Moreover, without purposeful training and nurturing, the potential of gifted students may not be fully realized. The Hong Kong Education Bureau has issued educational policies that call for providing off-school advanced learning programs for identified gifted students underpinning the reform process. Understanding the unique way gifted students think and learn and the underlying neural mechanisms may help educators design specially tailored training and teaching programs for this unique cohort.
Previous related studies have limitations in many aspects, such as studying a single dimension of cognitive functions, using behavioral measures only, and neglecting the effect of training and potential cultivation. This joint project between BNU and HKBU, takes model-based learning and cognitive flexibility as the breakthrough point, and uses multi-dimensional and cross-modal technology and methods such as non-invasive brain imaging MRI, cognitive behavior experiments, training program, computational modeling, to systematically depict the full-dimensional psychological behavior characteristics of the gifted population, and deconstruct its potential cognitive computation and neural representation structure. Gifted learners are not a homogeneous group. Combining human brain connectome, neural decoding and intelligent algorithms, we analyze the atypical connection patterns of atypical brain structure and function network of the gifted population, and build a prediction model for cognitive behavior performance and potential training effects. The HK team will conduct fMRI studies at Life Science Imaging Center, using novel cognitive tasks and brain science-inspired training programs. By integrating multimodal multivariable data from Beijing and Hong Kong gifted populations (total N=240 across sites), the two teams jointly identify the differentiation of brain networks that count for individual differences in learning and training effects. This research aims to provide a scientific basis for personalized training and protection measures for the gifted population. We hope this project will inspire more educational neuroscience research on giftedness regionally and globally.
N_CUHK409/23
The Development of Tendon Extracellular Matrix-Enriched, Amino Acid Polymer Hydrogel for Functional Tendon Regeneration
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Dan Wang (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Runhui Liu (East China University of Science and Technology)
Tendon healing is challenging as it is a lengthy process that often yields compromised functionality despite repair. Advanced hydrogel biomaterials have been extensively studied and showed promise in improving the efficacy of stem cell therapy. However, undesired healing outcomes have often been reported, such as functional deficiencies, risk of injury recurrence, and unwanted off-target bone/cartilage formation. To address these challenges, we aim to improve the efficacy of hydrogel-assisted stem cell tendon repair by focusing on two key features of hydrogels: superior cell adhesive and tendon-specific bioactivity. This will be achieved by a logistical extension and advancement of our prior work, in which we are experienced in developing amino acid polymers with cell-adhesive function (Mainland investigator: Angew Chem Int Ed 2020, 59, 6412; Nat Commun. 2021; 12, 562); and investigating tendon extracellular matrix (tECM) for tendon regeneration (Hong Kong investigator: FASEB J 2020, 13, 8172; Stem Cell Res Ther 2022,13, 380).
In our preliminary work, we developed an amino acid polymer (Lys:Nle=5:5) that effectively supported the adhesion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on glass slides and polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel surfaces, which was achieved by modulating their specific amino acid sequences and structure/chirality. Upon further incorporation with tECM, we observed enhanced tendon differentiation both in vitro and in a rat tendon injury model. These exciting preliminary findings will need comprehensive evaluation and investigate the mechanism of the synergistic effects of these amino acid polymers and tECM on cell adhesion and tendon differentiation. Thus, in Aim 1.1, we will develop amino acid polymers that exhibit strong adhesive features for MSCs. In Aim 1.2, we will synthesize tECM-amino acid polymer hydrogels and evaluate their bioactivity on MSC tendon differentiation. Subsequently, we will investigate the mechanism of the tECM-amino acid polymer hydrogel for tendon regeneration (Aim 2) and evaluate its efficacy for tendon repair in a rat tendon injury model (Aim 3). Through our collaboration with our Mainland partners, we anticipate that a fruitful outcome will involve leveraging our individual expertise to establish a new technology platform in both institutions, with the goal of the development of a tECM-amino acid polymer hydrogel with superior cell adhesive features and robust tendon-specific bioactivity for precise tendon repair. Moreover, our strategy of combining the amino acid polymers with cell-adhesive function and tissue ECM with lineage-specific bioactivity, can be utilized with diverse biomaterials for robust and previse tissue regeneration beyond the scope of tendon repair.
N_CUHK410/23
In Vivo Navigation and Control of Robotic Bronchoscopy for Lung Nodule Biopsy in Dynamic Environments
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Qi Dou (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Hesheng Wang (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in China. Diagnosing small and peripheral lung nodules that can be early manifestations of lung cancer remains a clinical challenge. Robotic bronchoscopy is an emerging technology for lung nodule biopsy, which uses a flexible surgical robot through the mouth into the airways. The robot equips a bronchoscope for real-time imaging of in vivo environment, and it serves as the only sensor to provide visual feedback for clinicians. To date, such a minimally invasive intervention is fully manually operated without any autonomy. The challenges of the complexity and dynamics of the internal environment restrict the automation of flexible robotic bronchoscope. Particularly, the movement and visibility of the robot are limited by the narrow space inside the airway with complex topology. The deformation of human tissues and disturbance of physiological movements further make it difficult to safely control the robot. Therefore, achieving automated image-guided robotic bronchoscopy needs breakthroughs in all aspects of environmental sensing, in vivo SLAM, motion planning and control.
In this project, we aim to develop a brand-new in vivo navigation and control system for robotic bronchoscopy. It will be image-guided and intelligent with a remarkable level of autonomy, by incorporating a series of advanced robotics and learning techniques for environmental sensing and modelling with lung CT images, SLAM of bronchoscope in vivo, motion planning and control of the bronchoscope. Firstly, we will innovate a diffusion model driven network to automatically segment the lung nodules from CT image, together with a new graph-based topology optimization method to reconstruct the nodule’s associated multi-level airways. The physiological movements will also be modelled with a designed patient-specific biomechanical approach. Secondly, based on the preoperative image analysis and airway modelling, we will achieve clinically applicable in vivo SLAM with advanced methods for feature matching, map reconstruction and pose estimation, in order to accurately localize the bronchoscope with real-time guidance from endoscopic images. Thirdly, given the environmental sensing and precise localization of bronchoscope inside the lung, we will conduct safe motion planning for the bronchoscope to navigate it under various constraints in the narrow and dynamic scenario. An adaptive control policy will be further added for achieving human-robot collaborative control when driving the robot to precisely reach the targeted nodule. Finally, we will integrate all components into an intelligent in vivo navigation and control system and validate its effectiveness with extensive ex vivo and live animal experiments.
This collaborative project relies on the SJTU-CUHK Joint Research Centre on Medical Robotics. The research expertise and gained experiences of our two teams are complementary, and jointly cover all necessary techniques to complete the project. Both teams have close collaboration among engineers and surgeons, and have conducted preliminary works for this project. The outcome and success of this project will not only advance research frontiers in AI for medical robotics, but also promote precision and availability for early lung cancer diagnosis.
N_CUHK426/23
The Development of Palladium Catalyst Systems for Catalytic Construction of Quaternary Carbon/Silicon-Stereogenic Centers
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Fuk-yee Kwong (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Li-wen Xu (Hangzhou Normal University)
A carbon atom with four non-hydrogen substituents is known as a quaternary stereogenic center, which is commonly found in pharmaceuticals and natural products. In fact, approximately 12% of the top 200 selling drugs worldwide contain quaternary carbon centers, and most of which are derived from naturally occurring precursors with a defined absolute configuration. It would be highly desirable to develop a new protocol or innovative catalyst system that can effectively promote the enantiospecific chiral quaternary center construction in both configurations from readily available starting materials. However, building chiral quaternary carbon and silicon-stereogenic centers remains one of the most challenging topics in the field of asymmetric catalysis. While some precedent protocols for targeting quaternary carbon and silicon-stereogenic centers have been successful, there is a great demand of new methods and catalyst systems to broaden access of this type of stereogenic center and enable further investigation of pharmaceutical-like molecules.
This project aims to address the scientific challenges related to the synthesis of challenging quaternary carbon and silicon-stereogenic centers through the development of new palladium systems based on the strategy of desymmetrization. The project leverages the advantages of palladium-catalyzed activation of ring opening/coupling reactions of symmetric small ring-compounds for creating key organopalladium intermediates with rigid conformation that serve as enantioselectivity-determining species. These chiral and rigid organopalladium intermediates will be subsequently employed in various Pd-catalyzed asymmetric cross-coupling processes. This project particularly focuses on both design of new chiral phosphines and cyclic molecules with unique substrate structures, for instance silacyclobutane, cyclobutanone or its analogues, silacyclopentane, and azacyclobutane, to establish corresponding enantioselective Pd-catalyzed reactions. The project aims to efficiently construct useful compounds containing all-carbon substituted quaternary carbon stereocenters and silicon-stereogenic centers. Moreover, the new reaction mechanism and characteristic/geometry of interesting steric-bulk relief palladium systems will be elucidated.
The collaboration between the KWONG and XU teams has resulted in a synergistic outcome, bringing together complementary expertise to develop a new strategy for accessing high-value chiral quaternary structural motifs that are typically difficult to be achieved efficiently. Through the development and manipulation of palladium complex comprising with new phosphine ligands, as well as the exploration of new chemical transformations, this bridged-team can gain fundamental knowledge that will significantly advance existing quaternary center generation strategies and catalysis sciences. The outcome of this work has rich potential to revolutionize the field, providing a new approach to accessing complex chiral molecules that were previously challenging to be synthesized.
N_CUHK431/23
Development of Multi-Scale Multimodal Intelligent Three-Dimensional Light Microscopy System for Whole-Brain Imaging and Analysis
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Renjie Zhou (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Xu Liu (Zhejiang University)
Understanding brain functions necessitates visualizing all neurons and their connectivity, as well as comprehending neurons' molecular compositions and functions, particularly at synaptic junctions. Recent advances in fluorescence light microscopy and microtomy have allowed for sub-cellular resolution mapping of mesoscopic brain connectivity. However, sparsely labeled structures limit the completeness of neuronal mapping, while limited optical imaging resolution hinders molecular examination within neurons. The notably low throughput of these methods for whole-brain mapping further impedes our progress in elucidating the structural and molecular intricacies. To confront these challenges, we propose a pioneering multi-scale, multimodal, intelligent 3D light microscopy system, which would greatly facilitate comprehensive brain imaging and analysis, encompassing illustrating neural synaptic connectivity and the identification of labeled cellular varieties and their molecular constituents.
In the first stage, two new optical imaging modalities, complementary for brain imaging, will be parallelly developed, namely single-frame optical diffraction tomography (SF-ODT) for 3D imaging of all neurons in brain sections and 4Pi single-molecule modulated illumination localization estimator (4Pi-SMILE) to capture molecular intricacies at super-resolution within labeled neurons. We will advance to SF-ODT from conventional angle-scanning ODT, enabling scan-free volumetric imaging across millimeter-scale brain sections, prepared by a customized oscillating blade microtome, with extended field-of-view and deep learning. Simultaneously, we will develop 4Pi-SMILE, an innovative single-molecule localization microscopy technique. By utilizing a 4Pi configuration with 3D modulated illumination and a maximum likelihood estimator based on optimal joint fitter and Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm, we aim to resolve sub-10 nm molecular features within selected brain regions of interest (ROIs), including cell type-specific receptive fields and synaptic junctures. This will provide detailed insights into molecular composition and architectural arrangement. Additionally, serial scanning electron microscopy (sSEM) will be applied to the identical ROIs to provide robust evidence of comprehensive structural and environmental context. In the second stage, we automate SF-ODT for whole brain imaging, optimizing sample preparation, image acquisition, and reconstruction. Furthermore, a multi-dimensional software platform, bolstered by graphics process unit acceleration, will be devised to synergize multi-scale and multi-dimensional images, aiming to compile a comprehensive whole-brain map and offer 3D visualizations of designated regions. Bringing together multifaceted expertise in label-free imaging, super-resolution imaging, sSEM-based brain mapping, microtomy, and machine learning, the joint team's collaborative history spans a decade, yielding many high-profile publications and accolades such as China's Top 10 Optical Breakthroughs. This collective experience ensures the project's success and is poised to advance optical imaging tools for wider biomedical research.
N_CUHK448/23
Neural Cell-Secreted HTRA1 Protease Promotes Gastric Tumorigenesis via Regulatory of Hippo Pathway in Epithelial Cells
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Ka-fai To (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Zhaocai Zhou (Fudan University)
Gastric cancer (GC) is a deadly disease with a high mortality rate, and the mechanisms underlying its development remain poorly understood. Nervous and endocrine systems are crucial participants involved in the development of malignant GC, yet the underlying molecular and cellular mechanisms that orchestrate these systems in tumorigenesis remain elusive. The applicant has been dedicated to elucidating how dysregulated Hippo signaling promotes cancer cell proliferation and GC development. Especially, the applicant focuses on the characterization of the Hippo pathway in transducing the extracellular pro-proliferative stimuli to intracellular transcriptional activity, and has recently revealed several key signaling cascades in sensing and transducing stimuli such as glucose deprivation, immune and growth factors to YAP-dependent transcriptional outputs (Cancer Cell 2014/2020; J Exp Med 2018/2020; J Clin Invest 2022; Protein Cell 2022). More recently, using advanced secretome analysis tools, the applicant discovered that palmitic acid (PA) treatment could specifically stimulate serine protease HTRA1 secretion from neuron cells. Importantly, the serum HTRA1 level is significantly upregulated in GC patients, and that purified HTRA1 protein can efficiently activate the YAP signaling and subsequent cancer cell growth. Based on these observations, we proposed that, under high-fat diet conditions, the aberrant increase of PA could specifically promote neural cell secretion of HTRA1 into the tumor microenvironment, which would, via an uncharacterized receptor molecular in the membrane of epithelial or tumor cells, initiate Hippo pathway signaling and eventually activate YAP-dependent transcriptional activity, resulting in malignant transformation of epithelial cells and GC development. To test this hypothesis, we plan to elucidate the detailed molecular mechanisms linking the PA-driven HTRA1-mediated neuro-tumor intercellular communication and gastric tumorigenesis. We will use advanced secretome analysis tools to analyze the secreted proteins from neural and GC cells. We will also identify potential receptor molecules in the membrane of epithelial or tumor cells that could mediate the interaction between HTRA1 and the Hippo pathway. We will also perform in vitro and in vivo experiments using animal models and patient-derived organoids to verify the role of HTRA1 in GC development. By elucidating the detailed regulatory networks in GC microenvironment progression from the metabolism-mediated neuro-tumor crosstalk perspective, this study will not only shed light on revealing new regulatory networks in GC development from the metabolism-mediated neuro-tumor crosstalk perspective, but provide novel scientific evidence and potential targets for diagnosis and treatment of GC.
N_CUHK456/23
Mechanistic Basis and Therapeutic Targeting of Pathologic Phase Separation and Aberrant Genome Architecture for Cancer Immunotherapy
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Alfred Sze-lok Cheng (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Jia Wang (Guangzhou Medical University)
Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have transformed the treatment landscapes of solid malignancies including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is currently the sixth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Nevertheless, the strong immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) prohibits sufficient CD8+tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, thus restricting the responsiveness of anti-programmed cell death-(ligand) 1 (anti-PD-[L]1) to a minority of HCC patients. Our recent proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated that TME remodeling by epigenetic enhancer regulation in HCC cells can augment antitumor responses to ICB therapies in preclinical models (Science Translational Medicine 2021). Condensates formed by phase separation have emerged as a new principle governing the organization and functional regulation of cells. We have recently shown that 3D genome reorganization during cellular reprogramming can be regulated by phase separation (Cell Stem Cell 2021). However, whether and how phase separation pathologically reorganizes 3D genome to affect ICB efficacy in HCC remain obscure.
In the preliminary work of this proposal, 1) we identified recurrent high-frequency mutants of CTNNB1 (encoding β-catenin) in human HCCs from patients that exhibit phase separation and cell growth-enhancing abilities. 2) Integrated HiChIP and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis revealed co-localization of β-catenin mutant-specific chromatin loops and condensates in HCC cells, suggesting that aberrant phase separation may induce HCC genome reorganization. 3) dCas9-mediated proximity labelling and proteomic profiling uncovered accumulation of mediator complex MED1 in the condensates, whereas ChIP-seq demonstrated co-occupancy of this transcriptional activator and the β-catenin mutant in the specific chromatin loops. 4) RNA-seq further showed that genes dysregulated by the β-catenin mutant-specific chromatin loops are significantly enriched in immunological functions such as leukocyte migration, inflammation and cytokine responses. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that recurrent β-catenin mutants induce aberrant phase separation and genome reorganization to dysregulate immune gene expressions, thereby promoting tumor immunosuppression and ICB resistance in HCC. In this proposal, we will elucidate a β-catenin mutant-regulated genome reorganization mechanism via pathologic phase separation. We will also delineate the dysregulated genes in aberrant genome architecture that contribute to tumor immune evasion. As we have also identified new small-molecule chemicals that can selectively intervene β-catenin mutant phase separation, we will investigate their effects on 3D genome and therapeutic efficacy in combination with ICB using our newly established resistant mouse models. In the longer term, this work may form the basis for developing new strategies against the disordered genome in cancer cells to avert ICB resistance.
N_CUHK460/23
An Empirical Research of a Multimodal Decision Aid to Support Shared Decision-making among Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Ka-ming Chow (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Jiemin Zhu (Xiamen University)
Breast cancer (BRC) is the leading female cancer in Hong Kong. With advances in medical detection and treatment, more than 80% of BRC patients could now survive five years after diagnosis and beyond. The long-term effects of treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among the patients largely depend on the initial choice on surgery type. HRQoL was found to be negatively associated with decisional conflict and regret. Shared decision-making (SDM) has demonstrated significant effects on reducing decisional conflict and regret, and thus improving HRQoL. Decision aids have been widely used in women with BRC to facilitate SDM but the effects on patients’ outcomes were inconclusive. In addition, its implementation in clinical settings is limited. In view of the rising BRC prevalence and growing focus on patient-centred oncology care to achieve SDM, this novel study therefore aims to 1) develop the Breast Cancer Treatment decision Aid (BCT Aid), an evidence-based multimodal decision aid to support women newly diagnosed with BRC in making a well-informed decision on treatment; 2) evaluate the effects of the BCT Aid on patients’ outcomes; and 3) evaluate its cost-effectiveness. In phase I study, a value clarification exercise will be developed using discrete choice experiment (DCE) with interviewing women treated for BRC to identify relevant attributes and levels, and recruit 100 participants to respond to the DCE survey. The value clarification exercise will be integrated into the BCT Aid, in addition to a self-guided online information on the topics of BRC aetiology, available treatment, common side effects and management, and postoperative care. The BCT Aid is based on Level I-II evidence, a robust theoretical framework and international standards criteria, and learning needs identified from the mainland team’s completed project in women with BRC. The relevance and practicability of the BCT Aid will be enhanced by interviewing 20 women with BRC, and 10 clinicians and nurses working in the BRC unit in phase II study. Phase III randomised controlled trial will recruit women newly diagnosed with BRC (N=160) and randomise them to receive the four-session BCT Aid over 6 months (n=80) or usual care (n=80). The primary outcome is decisional conflict. Secondary outcomes include decisional regret, perceived level of involvement in SDM, HRQoL and cost-effectiveness of the BCT Aid. Qualitative interviews will explore the participants’ experiences and feelings towards the intervention. This study will provide the first pragmatic evidence of the effectiveness of BCT Aid in achieving SDM.
N_CUHK479/23
Three-Dimensional Photonic Topological Insulators Operating at Telecom Wavelengths
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Xiankai Sun (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Zhen Gao (Southern University of Science and Technology)
This project aims to investigate both theoretically and experimentally three-dimensional photonic topological insulators operating at telecom wavelengths.
Three-dimensional photonic topological insulators with complete three-dimensional topological bandgaps and backscattering-immune topological states are expected to play a key role in the realization of three-dimensional robust manipulation of photons. However, due to the lack of systematic design principles and advanced nanofabrication technology, experimental realization of three-dimensional photonic topological insulators has so far been limited to microwave frequencies or synthetic dimensions. To break this bottleneck, this research project focuses on the fundamental theories, practical applications, and experimental realization of micro/nanoscale three-dimensional photonic topological insulators operating at telecom wavelengths.
We have a detailed plan of collaboration between the Hong Kong and Mainland teams with expertise in every aspect of this joint research project. Theoretically, based on three-dimensional space group symmetry analyses and tight-binding models, we will establish a physical mapping method between theoretical models and real structures to design three-dimensional photonic topological insulators, conduct topological band structure analyses, and explore various novel and robust topological states such as topological surface states, higher-order topological hinge/corner states, and topological dislocation states. Experimentally, based on two-photon lithography and optical experimental characterization techniques, we will fabricate and characterize three-dimensional photonic topological insulator functional devices such as topological surface waveguides, topological hinge waveguides, and topological corner cavities.
Combining the two frontier research areas of three-dimensional photonic integrated chips and three-dimensional photonic topological insulators, this project will produce cross-disciplinary innovative results and will promote the development of the related fields. It is expected that the outcomes of this project will lay a solid theoretical and experimental foundation for the realization of robust three-dimensional topological integrated photonic chips and will produce a far-reaching impact on optical communication, sensing, and signal processing.
N_CUHK484/23
Investigation on the Molecular Mechanisms by Which RNA Viruses Control Replication Accuracy with Application to Antiviral Drug Sensitivity Assessment through a Tightly Integrative Approach
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Peter Pak-hang Cheung (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Dr Peng Gong (Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
The molecular mechanisms by which RNA viruses control the rate and fidelity during replication and transcription are of paramount importance for viral evolution, host adaptation, and drug resistance. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) is the core machinery for nucleotide triphosphate (NTP) incorporation into the new RNA strands during the viral life cycle. Here, we propose an integrated platform that combines structural biology, enzymology, computational biology, and virology to systemically identify and profile novel RdRP amino acid residues that regulate RdRP fidelity. Our platform will elucidate how critical residues in the active site and inter-domain regions regulating RdRP incorporation rate and fidelity. Mutant RdRPs with altered fidelity will be interrogated for resistance to the antiviral nucleotide analogue (NuA) drugs.
We will focus on representative RdRP classes from influenza A virus (IAV), enterovirus 71 (EV71), and dengue virus (DENV) to establish the integrative experiment platform. The fidelity of wildtype and mutant RdRPs will be profiled using enzymology assays, and computational simulation. Representative structures will be determined to reveal the structural basis of altered fidelity, and virology assays will be applied to reverse-genetically generated mutant viruses to assay consequent altered genetic diversity. We will study how mutations affect RdRP fidelity and antiviral drug resistance. Representative high-fidelity mutants will be tested for resistance to NuAs in enzymology and virology assays, and the structures of mutant RdRPs bound with NuAs will also be determined for molecular mechanism studies in computational biology.
Our preliminary results show that we can: i) determine crystal structures of wildtype EV71 and DENV and mutant EV71 RdRP elongation complexes; ii) establish Cryo-EM structures of human IAV RdRP complexes; iii) solve structures of EV71 RdRP in complex with NuA drugs. Our established expertise and experimental platforms demonstrate the feasibility of our research objectives.
In summary, the integrated platform encompassing structural biology, enzymology, computational biology, and virology enabled by our complementary expertise places us in a unique position to uncover mechanisms of RNA virus replication fidelity and antiviral resistance. If successful, our proposed platform will uncover molecular mechanisms that determine RNA virus replication fidelity and antiviral drug resistance and shed light on fundamental processes involved in viral adaptation and diversity. This knowledge can guide the rational design of novel antiviral drugs. Meanwhile, our platform is highly applicable to other RNA viruses including coronaviruses and retroviruses. Our findings will lay the groundwork for future RNA virus studies and antiviral development.
N_CUHK486/23
MHC Class II+ Adipocyte in Control of White Adipose Tissue Browning
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Xiaoyan Hui (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Tuo Deng (Central South University)
The global epidemic of obesity, and its associated medical complications, are posing tremendous burden to public health care system. Activation of beige adipocyte within white adipose tissue (WAT), a process called WAT browning, is emerging as a therapeutic approach to combat obesity and metabolic diseases. However, due to the incomplete understanding on the regulatory mechanism of beige adipocyte, efficient and safe strategy to enhance this process is currently lacking. We previously found that a subcluster of white adipocyte with MHCII antigen presenting activity (namely MHCII+ adipocyte) potentiates adipose inflammation and systemic insulin resistance in obesity via altering the immune cells in the visceral WAT. On the other hand, rewiring of immune cells essentially regulates browning in the subcutaneous inguinal WAT (iWAT). However how these immune cells are orchestrated in this process awaits to be elucidated. In this project, taking advantage of the research platforms established by the mainland and Hong Kong teams, we aim to elucidate the function and mechanism of MHCII+ adipocyte in regulation of WAT browning. Firstly, the precursor of MHCII+ adipocyte will be determined. Secondly, two loss-of-function animal models for MHCII+ adipocytes will be used to clarify the function of HMCII+ adipocytes in modulating WAT browning. Thirdly, single nuclei sequencing (sn-Seq) will be conducted to comprehensively delineate the intercellular communications between MHCII+ adipocytes with the tissue resident immune cells. The target cell of MHCII+ adipocyte, which mediates the inhibitory action of MHCII+ adipocytes on WAT browning, will be identified. Finally, MHCII+ adipocyte-derived adipokine will be characterized. The strategy to intervene the interaction between the MHCII+ adipocyte and its target cell for potentiating beige adipocyte activity will be explored. The research team combines the expertise on WAT browning and MHCII-associated immuno-metabolism research. The results will provide novel insights into WAT browning, and identify a new therapeutic target aiming to unleash the WAT browning from the inhibitory action of MHCII+ adipocyte.
N_PolyU526/23
Recycling Construction Waste in Highway Embankments towards Sustainable Development of City Clusters: Geotechnical Assessment Considering Multi-physics Coupling Effects
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Chao Zhou (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Jun-hui Zhang (Changsha University of Science & Technology)
Managing construction and demolition waste (CDW) has become a significant challenge worldwide, with China alone generating 3.5 billion tonnes annually and recycling only 40%. Furthermore, due to strict government regulations on quarrying, there is a severe shortage of fill materials required for highway embankments in China. To address these issues, constructing unsaturated highway embankments using CDW (CDW-HUB) has emerged as a promising solution, particularly in city clusters, with the potential to efficiently consume up to 15 billion tonnes of CDW annually. However, compared to conventional subgrade soils, CDW presents unique features that require comprehensive and in-depth study. These features include significant variations in composition and properties, leading to different fine contents, microstructures, and cyclic hydro-mechanical behaviour. Moreover, low-strength materials in CDW, such as mortar and brick, can crush during construction and subsequent traffic loads and drying-wetting cycles. To date, there has been no study on the long-term performance of CDW-HUBs with different CDW properties and particle breakage. There is also a lack of fundamental understanding and proper modelling of the interdependency between particle breakage and cyclic hydro-mechanical behaviour, making it challenging to accurately predict and manage the performance of CDW-HUB.
This timely project aims to address the above challenges by leveraging the expertise of two research teams with a strong track record of collaboration in geotechnical and pavement engineering. These teams will investigate the long-term hydro-mechanical behaviour of CDW-HUBs through field monitoring in semi-arid and humid regions and accelerated pavement testing. To interpret the results, advanced and extensive laboratory tests will be carried out to reveal the evolution of particle breakage and its influence on the mechanical and hydraulic behaviour of unsaturated CDW. The research will pay particular attention to resilient modulus, plastic strain accumulation, water retention behaviour, and permeability function, while considering various factors such as CDW composition, initial particle size distribution, particle breakage, degree of compaction, stress, and suction conditions. Based on the comprehensive and unique test data, a new constitutive model for unsaturated CDW will be developed, incorporating several key features such as particle breakage and cyclic effects. This model will be implemented in a finite element code to analyse the long-term deformation behaviour of CDW-HUB. Finally, design charts will be developed to enable engineers to predict and optimize the performance of CDW-HUB. The success of this project will improve the recycling rate of CDW, contributing to a safe approach toward the sustainable development of city clusters.
N_PolyU553/23
A New Paradigm for Designing and Manufacturing of 4D Printed Reconfigurable Lattice Structures for Tunable Broadband Vibration Suppression
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Li Cheng (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Han Meng (Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics)
Lattice structures are exceptionally strong and lightweight structures that offer many advantages over conventionally engineered structures, including higher specific strength, geometric flexibility, structural integrity, and energy absorption. However, as the density of these structures decreases, vibration and noise issues become apparent. This has become one of the most important issues limiting the use of lattice materials/structures in aerospace applications. In addition, complex loading conditions require engineered structures to provide broadband performance and even tunable frequency characteristics, which are lacking in existing lattice designs. To overcome these limitations, the development of reconfigurable and adaptive lattice structures without sacrificing mechanical properties or incurring additional weight has become a much-needed research topic. This project proposes a new paradigm for the design and fabrication of reconfigurable lattice structures with the aim of achieving broadband, tunable vibration control and efficient fabrication using 4D printing technology.
N_PolyU573/23
Novel SNARE Complexes for Autophagosome-lysosome Fusion: Mechanistic Study and Strategy for Modulation
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Yanxiang Zhao (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Rong Liu (China Agricultural University)
Autophagy is intimately involved in multiple human diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration and diabetes. The autophagosome-lysosome fusion event is the final step of the autophagy process and relies critically on SNARE complexes for proper execution. Studies have identified two autophagic SNARE complexes including STX17-SNAP29-VAMP8 and YKT6-SNAP29-SXT7. We have obtained preliminary data that suggests possible synergy between these two SNARE complexes.
In this proposal, we plan to leverage the expertise of both the mainland and Hong Kong teams and carry out biochemical structural and functional studies to delineate the core assembly strategy for these SNARE complexes and to develop SNARE-targeting autophagy modulators. Our findings will provide novel insight on autophagy regulation and validate SNARE complexes as potential drug targets for autophagy-related diseases.
N_PolyU584/23
Mastering the Synergy Between High-voltage Cathode and Electrolyte to Build Robust Interfaces for Advanced Potassium-ion Battery
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Biao Zhang (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Dr Dengyun Zhai (Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University)
Tremendous attention has been paid to the complements of Li-ion batteries in recent years, among which Na- and K- ion batteries (PIBs) have received great interest due to the potential advantages in the cost and sustainability. The similar intercalation chemistry among the alkali metal ions greatly facilitates the electrode and electrolyte design, accounting for the rapid development of Na-ion batteries in the past ten years. Compared to Na-ion batteries, the PIBs have a great superiority in anode since the commercial graphite in Li-ion batteries could be largely inherited. The development of cathodes lags behind the anode counterpart due partly to the large radius of K ions, making it challenging to design high-capacity cathodes. Pursuing high-voltage cathodes is an attractive approach for increasing the energy density of PIBs. Several candidates have been reported, such as Prussian blue analogs and fluorophosphate-based compounds, whose cobalt-free nature makes the upcoming PIBs cost-effective and environment-friendly. Nevertheless, the application of high-voltage cathodes is hampered by several issues. Firstly, while the utilization of Mn- and V- based compounds bring about cost benefits, their solubility in electrolytes leads to surface deterioration. More critically, realizing the theoretical capacity of these cathodes requires a charging voltage of up to 5 V, potentially triggering severe parasite reactions at the interfaces. Therefore, this project will be devoted to building robust cathode/electrolyte interfaces through surface/composition modification of high-voltage cathodes and the design of functional electrolytes. We will first focus on the Prussian blue cathode and then extent to fluorophosphates. The major strategies include i) Probe the chemical and mechanical stability of the interfaces to suppress the transition metal dissolution and parasite reactions at high voltages. ii) Tune the defects, morphology and surface functionality of the cathode to achieve high capacity and long-term stability. iii) Develop electrolytes with high oxidation stability through the molecular design of solvents and solvation structure modulation. iv) Fabricate pouch-type full cells by coupling the cathodes with typical anodes to explore the thermal and chemical events at the interfaces under critical conditions such as lean electrolyte and high-mass loading. The building and understanding of the cathode/electrolyte interfaces in this project constitute a vital step in promoting PIBs for large-scale energy storage.
N_HKUST605/23
Automated Detection and Mitigation of Software Side Channel Vulnerabilities for Trusted Execution Environments
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Shuai Wang (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Yinqian Zhang (Southern University of Science and Technology)
This project aims to tackle the fundamental research challenges in detecting and mitigating side-channel vulnerabilities in cryptographic software for trusted execution environment (TEE). Side channel is a severe security threat to information systems, in which the adversaries exfiltrate secrets from the system by observing the “side information” during the execution of the system. TEE is an emerging hardware-based technology that is commonly available in modern CPUs. It enables a new computing paradigm called confidential computing, which aims to protect data-in-use for outsourced computation. Side-channel attacks against TEEs are the main obstacles towards large-scale adoption of TEEs in real-world systems. Compared to traditional settings, TEEs face multi-dimensional side-channel threats, including cache-based side channels, page-fault side channels, ciphertext side channels, etc. These multi-dimensional side-channel threats have made the traditional constant-time implementation of cryptographic code insecure in TEEs.
This project will first establish a theoretical foundation of side-channel security for software running in TEEs. We will establish a new formal model for multi-dimensional side channels faced by TEEs, replacing the existing constant-time model and providing a formal foundation for building automated vulnerability detection tools and repairing tools. We will establish a novel differential symbolic testing technique, which combines differential analysis, symbolic execution, and constraint solving to address the issues of false positives and false negatives in traditional side-channel vulnerability detectors. We will also propose new techniques that leverage quantitative information leakage analysis and reinforcement learning to optimize vulnerability mitigation, lowering the performance overhead imposed on the target software due to redundant side-channel patches.
N_HKUST607/23
Mathematical Tiling and Classification in 2D & 3D New Material Science
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Min Yan (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Erxiao Wang (Zhejiang Normal University)
Tiling is an essential part of human civilisation. Besides its apparent artistic appeal, it is a basic mathematical structure that appears frequently in many scientific and engineering fields such as honeycomb, crystal, molecular structures, and nanomaterials. Tiling is also a very important mathematical subject, which recently has an explosion of beautiful discoveries such as the classification of convex pentagons that can tile the plane (2017), the classification of rational tetrahedra that can potentially tile the 3D Euclidean space (2020), the counterexample to the periodic tiling conjecture (2022), the discovery of "einstein" that can tile the plane only in a nonperiodic way (2023). The mathematical research also has applications to the various science and engineering fields.
To date, the systematic study of tiling has mainly concentrated on the Euclidean spaces and those with strong symmetrical properties. However, many tiling structures in science and engineering fields are on the surface instead of the plane. The only major findings on spherical tiling (without symmetry assumptions) are the complete classification of spherical tilings by regular polygons, and our complete classification of monohedral edge-to-edge spherical tilings. The goal of this project is to further study other tilings on surfaces, such as non-edge-to-edge tilings, tilings with curvilinear edges, multihedral tilings, multilayer tilings, etc. The research will generate useful and systematic mathematical tools, including computer implementation of these tools. We are interested in applying our mathematical discovery and tools and programs to tiling structures in other science and engineering fields, especially to new materials. A long-term goal is to combine programs and artificial intelligence algorithm to build a tiling expert system, which represents a challenging problem in "AI for Science". This would make it easier for researchers in the other fields to use the mathematical tool for tiling structure.
N_HKUST611/23
Exploring high-performance cold-sintering ceramics and their 3D heterogeneous chip integration
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Jian-nong Wang (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Hong Wang (Southern University of Science and Technology)
Integrated circuits (IC) are an essential part of the modern information society and are the core component of the electronic equipment indispensable to modern life. Heterogeneous packaging or three-dimensional (3D) heterogeneous integration is the current trend in developing small multifunctional electronic products with low energy consumption. In this project, we aim to develop heat conducting materials for 3D heterogeneous integration. We propose to study experimentally the fabrication of novel cold sintering ceramics with high thermal conductivity and electrical insulation and investigate the interconnection and integration of these ceramics in chiplets for 3D IC applications. The outcomes of our project will not only offer new approaches for novel ceramics design and sintering, but also shed light on the practical application of cold sintering ceramics in conventional IC technologies, as well as on the understanding of the complex interactions at heterogeneous interfaces.
N_HKUST616/23
A Model-based Study on Atmosphere–Wave–Ocean Coupling and its Modulation in Extreme Rainfall Events over the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area under Climate Change
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Jimmy Chi-hung Fung (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Shaoqing Zhang (Ocean University of China)
High-frequency extreme weather events have been worsening in the past few decades, especially with intensifying climate warming, posing great challenges to human lives. Accurate forecasting of the genesis, intensity, and formation mechanism of extreme events using high-resolution downscaled coupled Atmosphere–Wave–Ocean (AWO) model and assimilation techniques has become increasingly crucial, particularly for coastal mega-city clusters like the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (GBA). With an excellent geographic situation and multi-decades of economic growth, as well as being the hub of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, the GBA is booming and developing into a world-class, centrally important global supply chain for regional trading and economic development. However, under a complex climate background, the GBA has experienced human casualties and suffered huge economic losses from frequent natural disasters such as severe weather and extreme rainfall. This project will first develop a scientific, experimental weather forecasting system for the GBA by combining a regional high-resolution AWO coupled model with local fine atmospheric and oceanic observations using multi-level nesting and dynamically downscaling coupled data assimilation techniques. The assimilation of multi-source observations will substantially improve the initial and boundary conditions of the coupled system to a large degree. Intensive model validation, parameterization refinement, and machine learning techniques will be employed to mitigate systematic model biases. While the developed high-resolution coupled forecast system serves as an excellent platform for understanding the physical mechanisms of extreme weather events such as strong typhoons and extreme rainfall under the effects of AWO interactions, it will also serve as a testbed to improve the forecasting of typhoon track, landfall location, and extreme rainfall intensity, including more accurate forecasts of diurnal variations, spatial distributions, and underlying elements. Meanwhile, the platform can also be used to analyze and understand the AWO modulation effect of future climate change on extreme weather in the GBA. The findings shed light on the accuracy and effectiveness of weather forecasts to improve the capacity to give early warning of extreme weather and prevent disaster in worldwide places similar to the coastal GBA region.
N_HKUST627/23
Investigation of emergent patterns and elastic waves in active soft solids
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Rui Zhang (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Bo Li (Tsinghua University)
Active matter represents a wide range of biological and synthetic systems in which their constituents can consume energy and perform mechanical work (e.g., self-propel) locally. Examples of active matter include animal herds, biofilms, tissues, cell extracts, and active colloids. In all these examples, energy is injected at the individual unit level, which drives the system out of equilibrium, breaking constraints that equilibrium systems must comply to. Active matter in the form of active fluids can give rise to intriguing collective dynamics not seen in equilibrium systems, such as collective motion of its units, spontaneous flows, activity-induced phase separations, and self-propelled topological defects. These phenomena have been the focus of research for the past decades. However, active matter in the form of solids can lead to a different set of dynamical phenomena, which are much less studied. For instance, during cell growth or atrophy, a tissue can develop surface instability patterns that are ubiquitous in nature. In another example, bacterial biofilms can even engender persistent mechanical oscillations, which are distinct from those of elastic waves in passive solids. These interesting features of active soft solids raise interesting scientific questions such as their origins and consequences, and offer new opportunities for engineering surface patterns, morphologies, morphodynamics, and elastic waves in soft materials.
Motivated by the above-mentioned research gaps in active matter, in the proposed research we will combine theory, simulation, and experiments to examine how different active processes (e.g., self-propulsion or active rotation of the constituents) can mediate and even trigger surface instability patterns in a soft solid. Moreover, we will investigate how surface curvature and the presence of topological defects in a thin-film soft solid dictate the formation of its surface patterns. Finally, we will study morphodynamics and active wave propagation in a three-dimensional active soft solid. The Hong Kong group will be responsible for the development of simulation models; the mainland group will be responsible for the theoretical analysis and for conducting experiments. The joint team has been collaborating on active liquid crystals for a long time. Their complementary strengths will ensure the success of the proposed research.
As such, this joint effort is expected to yield a more comprehensive understanding of active soft solids, will enrich our knowledge of the mechanics of living biological materials, and facilitate applications in areas such as prosthetics, biomimetics, and soft robotics.
N_HKUST638/23
Research on millimeter scale continuum robot and probe for endoscopic laser surgery
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Ya-jing Shen (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Wanfeng Shang (Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Current endoscopic laser microsurgery techniques, while effective, face challenges such as large end-effector size, limited flexibility, and lack of automation. This project aims at developing a millimeter-scale continuum robot with a smaller end-effector, utilizing 3D printing and optical fibers. The specific tasks are: (i) designing and fabricating the soft continuum robot and probe using 3D printing and optical fibers to reduce the end-effector's size to the millimeter scale; (ii) developing a piezoelectric-based micro-actuator to precisely control the diameter and contour of the laser beam spot for ablation; (iii) proposing a hybrid tendon drive and magnetic actuation approach along with a corresponding closed-loop control strategy to achieve both large-range and high-accuracy manipulation simultaneously; and (iv) investigating a lesion feature-based trajectory tracking approach to enhance the level of automation and intelligence. Successful implementation of this project will promise a more efficient and precise endoscopic laser microsurgery system, reducing patient discomfort, improving outcomes, and advancing early-stage diagnosis and treatment of natural orifice diseases.
N_HKU702/23
Discovery of novel molecular glue molecules by using DNA-encoded chemical libraries (DELs)
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Xiaoyu Li (The University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Yizhou Li (Chongqing University)
Molecular glues are a class of small molecules capable of inducing interactions between two proteins that do not interact under normal conditions. Molecular glues have great potential to become a therapeutic solution to the traditional ‘undruggable’ targets. However, most molecular glues known today are discovered by serendipity. This project will use the DNA-encoded chemical library (DEL) technology to realize ultra-high throughput screening of molecular glues, aiming to identify novel molecular glue molecules that can be further developed as drug candidates.
N_HKU718/23
Practical quantum dynamics simulation — theory and application
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Qi Zhao (The University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Dr Xiao Yuan (Peking University)
Quantum computers have the potential to solve classically intractable problems, revolutionizing fields like physics, chemistry, materials science, and data science. One particularly promising application of quantum computing is quantum simulation, which involves simulating the dynamics of quantum systems — a daunting task even for classical supercomputers. Quantum computers leverage inherent quantum properties to efficiently simulate quantum dynamics, providing a foundation for studying dynamical properties of complex quantum many-body systems. Despite significant progress in the development of efficient quantum simulation algorithms and their applications over the past a few decades, current quantum simulation research often relies on simplified theoretical models, faces challenges in experimental implementations, and lacks considerations of practical applications to realistic problems. To bridge this gap, our project aims to focus on advancing the theory and application of quantum dynamics simulation, with the overarching goal of enhancing the practicality of quantum computing.
From a theoretical standpoint, our project will study the development of new Hamiltonian simulation algorithms and introduce systematic theoretical tools for analyzing variational quantum simulations. From an application perspective, our project will investigate the potential uses of quantum simulation in studying the time evolution of quantum many-body systems, examining the static properties of quantum systems, and solving important classical problems in information technology. This project aims to deepen our understanding of the fundamental theory of quantum computing, establish the groundwork for applying quantum computing in various fields, and ultimately propel the practicality of quantum computing for solving realistic problems. The project will bridge the gap between theory and application and pave the way toward unlocking the transformative potential of quantum computing.
N_HKU721/23
The investigation of biodegradable zinc-lithium-magnesium alloy as a novel implant to promote osteogenesis through the stimulation of the bone-brain axis
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Wei Qiao (The University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Yufeng Zheng (Peking University)
Every year, millions of patients suffer from complex bone fractures or deformities that necessitate surgical interventions involving the placement of internal or external fixation implants. In recent years, various biodegradable implants have been developed to replace the traditionally used non-degradable implants. However, the therapeutic outcomes of these implants, particularly in load-bearing areas, have proven unsatisfactory due to inadequate mechanical properties or limited osteogenic potential. Based on our prior studies on magnesium and zinc-based alloys and their effects on bone regeneration through the bone-brain axis, we aim to develop a novel ternary Zn-Li-Mg alloy system to be used as an internal fixation for bone healing in the load-bearing area. We believe that the successful implementation of this project will contribute to a revolutionary biodegradable implant system, offering a more effective and patient-friendly solution for complex bone fractures or deformities.
N_HKU722/23
Advancing pollen-induced health risk assessment with geospatial big data
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Bin Chen (The University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Xuecao Li (China Agricultural University)
The global concern over allergenic pollen is rapidly growing as it is a vital contributing factor to allergic diseases such as asthma, affecting millions of people worldwide. As climate change and urbanization proceed at an accelerated rate, alterations to urban green spaces and plant species increase the complexity and concentration of pollen, thereby escalating pollen-related allergic diseases, which have now emerged as a substantial issue for both public health and the built environment. This research proposes a novel integration of satellite-based observations, ground-based measurements, numerical simulations, and environmental exposure models to develop a holistic “monitoring-modeling-assessment” framework of pollen-induced health risk. The focus of this study is on the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei metropolitan region (JJJ) and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) regions, which serve as a North-South cohort of two city clusters with contrasting geographies, climates, and urban developments. First, we generate spatially, temporally, and spectrally consistent seamless data cubes (SDCs) by fusing Landsat and Sentinel imagery and develop high-resolution tree species mapping. Second, we integrate these SDCs, tree species maps, and in-situ pollen observations to examine the relationship between vegetation phenology and pollen dynamics. This will allow us to establish baseline mappings of pollen concentrations. Third, supported by the weather forecast model, we simulate pollens’ spatiotemporal diffusions by considering meteorological conditions and realize near real-time pollen concentration forecasts. Fourth, using the IPCC "Hazard-Exposure-Vulnerability" framework, we assess urban pollen risk by accounting for both population and pollen dynamics. Finally, we associate medical allergy incidence data to study the correlation between pollen risk and health outcomes, and devise optimization strategies to guide interventions for reducing pollen risk.
N_HKU723/23
Theoretical and experimental study of the performance of suction bucket foundation for offshore wind turbines under complex geological and multi-hazard conditions
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Prof Jun Yang (The University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Xiaoqiang Gu (Tongji University)
China is rapidly expanding its offshore wind power sector to achieve its carbon neutrality target by 2060. This growth necessitates the development of more economical and rational design methods for offshore wind turbine (OWT) foundations. One of the promising foundation types is the suction bucket foundation, which offers several attractive advantages in terms of construction efficiency and cost effectiveness. The primary objective of this joint project is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the performance of suction bucket foundations in soft clay and silty sand under normal and extreme loading conditions pertinent to the offshore environment of southeast China. By taking advantage of the complementary strengths of the Hong Kong team and the Mainland team, the project integrates advanced laboratory element tests, centrifuge shaking table tests, constitutive modeling, and numerical simulations. The proposed research will provide first-hand physical data and insights crucial to the evaluation of the performance of suction bucket foundations installed in marine clay and silty sand, and it will also provide a solid basis for improving existing methods and assumptions. From a long-term viewpoint, the findings from this project will lead to safer and more economical designs of suction bucket foundations for OWT and will eventually contribute to the clean energy development – one of the grand challenges facing the world today.
N_HKU750/23
Development of Quantum-Enhanced Diamond Molecular Tension Microscopy: Towards Precise and Label-free Imaging of Cellular Forces
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Zhiqin Chu (The University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Qiang Wei (Sichuan University)
The constant interplay and information exchange between cells and their micro-environment are essential to their survival and ability to execute biological functions. In particular, cellular forces in the pN to nN range can be generated by cytoskeleton and transmitted to outside through cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix junctions, which are known to heavily influence processes such as tissue development and disease progression. However, accurately quantifying these cellular forces remains challenging. For example, the widely used conventional traction force microscopy (TFM) mainly senses the shear forces (parallel to the cell surface) while the so-called molecular tension fluorescence microscopy might suffer from photo-bleaching of fluorophores. Thus, developing new methods for precise measurement of cell forces, in a label-free manner, will be critical for the future development of mechanobiology and biomaterials.
Diamonds are known to be ever-lasting jewels with apparent colors intimately related to their internal impurities called color centers. For instance, the nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers bring a pink color to diamond and, more interestingly, emits different spin-state dependent photoluminescence under microwave irradiation. Here, by combining next-generation quantum measurement platforms, with innovative biointerface engineering technologies and advanced computational tools, we propose an innovative approach, termed quantum-enhanced diamond molecular tension microscopy (QDMTM), for the accurate measurement of cellular forces. Specifically, we will conjugate the magnetic nanotags labeled, force-responsive polymer to the surface of diamond membrane containing NV centers, and the coupled mechanical information can be quantified through optical readout of spin relaxation of NV centers modulated by those magnetic nanotags. The established QDMTM will be utilized to investigate downstream bio-events, e.g., measuring the force transmitted by integrin-based cell-substrate adhesion as well as the cadherin-mediated cell-cell junction. Furthermore, the proposed platform will be further upgraded into a standardized toolkit allowing a wider accessibility.
The unprecedented sensitivity and precision of the proposed QDMTM will be inherently guaranteed by the quantum nature of using NV centers’ spin degrees of freedom. In fact, this fluorescent label-free approach can in principle mitigate exisiting difficulties, like photo-bleaching, limited sensitivity, and ambiguities in data interpretation. If successful, the project, leveraging quantum physics, nanofabrication, material science and cell biology, can lead to a powerful tool that fundamentally impacts the way of how we study important issues like cell-cell or cell-material interactions and mechnotransduction.
N_HKU778/23
Photoresponsive mRNA Delivery System for Esophageal Carcinoma Treatment
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Weiping Wang (The University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Changyou Zhan (Fudan University)
Esophageal cancer is one of malignant tumors with a high incidence in China. Because it's difficult to treat and has a poor outlook, new treatments are urgently needed. The mutation of the PTEN gene is closely related to the occurrence of esophageal cancer. Increasing PTEN expression levels in tumors represents a promising treatment strategy. This project aims to create a new type of PEGylated lipids and photoresponsive ionizable lipids, and fabricate photoresponsive lipid nanoparticles to deliver PTEN mRNA for safe and efficient esophageal cancer treatment. By using an optical fiber to shine light on the cancer cells, we can make the nanoparticles release the mRNA inside the cells, boosting PTEN levels and, hopefully, treating the cancer. This project will advance the development of photoresponsive lipid nanoparticles to deliver mRNA therapeutics. The light delivered by optical fibers can significantly promote mRNA release and PTEN protein expression levels in tumors, which provides new strategies for safe and efficient esophageal cancer treatment.
N_HKU782/23
Investigating the Properties and Impacts of the Wind Launched From Black Hole Super-Eddington Accretion Flow
Hong Kong Project Coordinator: Dr Lixin Dai (The University of Hong Kong)
Mainland Project Coordinator: Prof Feng Yuan (Shanghai Astronomical Observatory)
Black hole accretion can produce not only luminous radiation and relativistic jets but also strong winds. The study of black hole winds is a hot topic in astronomy and astrophysics, especially because wind is an important channel for active galactic nuclei feedback, which affects the co-evolution of massive black holes and their host galaxies. The Dai group (at the University of Hong Kong) and the Yuan group (at Shanghai Astronomical Observatory) propose to jointly study the properties of winds produced in black hole super-Eddington accretion and its applications in AGN feedback. They will first conduct general relativistic simulations of black hole super-Eddington accretion flows, analyze these accretion flows with advanced methods, and then apply the results to study galaxy evolution under the impact of super-Eddington accretion.