Xiaohu Gao
Associate Professor, Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington

Abstract:
Metal and semiconductor nanoparticles in the 1-10 nm size range are of considerable current interest, not only because of their unique size-dependent properties but also their dimensional similarities with biological macromolecules (e.g., nucleic acids and proteins). These similarities could allow an integration of nanotechnology and biology, leading to major advances in medical diagnostics, prognostics, and targeted therapeutics. In this talk, I present recent development of multifunctional nanostructures for ultrasensitive detection and molecular profiling of tumor cells.

Biography:
Prof. Xiaohu Gao received his Ph.D. degree in bioanalytical chemistry from Indiana University, Bloomington in 2004, and his postdoctoral training from the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University. He became a faculty member in the Department of Bioengineering and the Center for Nanotechnology at the University of Washington, Seattle in 2005. His research program is focused on biomedical nanotechnology, biomolecular engineering, molecular imaging, and targeted drug delivery. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, and has been a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) since 2003. He is also an elected fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIBME).