Core Faculty Members

Prof. MAO Chuanbin (毛傳斌)

Professor (Global STEM Scholar), Department of Biomedical Engineering, CUHK
Director, Jockey Club STEM Lab of Nature-Inspired Precision Medical Engineering

Area of Expertise: Phage-based biomaterials, biosensors, nanomedicine, nanobiotechnology and regenerative medicine

E-mail: cmao@cuhk.edu.hk
Tel: 39435189
Twitter: @MaoPhageGroup
Location: SHB 315

Positions Available
The Mao Group is seeking highly motivated individuals to join us as postdoctoral researchers, research associates, or graduate students. Interested candidates are encouraged to email Prof. Mao with their CV and a cover letter outlining their motivation and qualifications for the position.

Nature Conference Announcement
I am organizing a Nature Conference to be held in Hong Kong in late 2025. This Nature Conference will emphasize the importance of two-way communication between biomaterials scientists and clinicians who apply these materials in practice. Leading scientists from various countries, as well as multiple editors from Nature journals, will attend this conference. Please follow our WeChat account by scanning the QR code below to stay updated with the latest information.




Previously, I organized the 1st BMEMat-Advanced Materials Joint Symposium, which took place from August 13 to 16, 2024, in Hong Kong. The theme of this international symposium was "Frontiers in Biomedical Engineering Materials: Innovations for Healthcare." For more details, please visit https://sepsg.org/HongKong24/.

Chuanbin Mao is currently a Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering of CUHK and the director of Jockey Club STEM Lab of Nature-Inspired Precision Medical Engineering.

His group has genetically engineered phages for successfully assembling nanoparticles (Advanced Materials 2009, Angewandte Chemie 2013), seeking cell-/tissue-targeting peptides (Advanced Materials 2020), detecting biomarkers for cancer diagnosis (Nature Materials 2015, Nature Communications 2024), inducing stem cell differentiation (Advanced Materials 2019), promoting drug/gene delivery (Angewandte Chemie 2013, Nature Nanotechnology 2024) and tissue regeneration (Advanced Materials 2014 and 2022), and developing nano-theranostic agents (Angewandte Chemie 2022, Advanced Materials 2024). He has published 1 book, 11 book chapters, and >300 journal articles. More than 1/3 of his publications are published in highly ranked journals such as Chemical Reviews (IF=51.4), Science (IF=44.7), Nature Materials (IF=37.2), Nature Nanotechnology (IF=38.1), Nature Biomedical Engineering (IF=26.8), Nature Communications (IF=14.7), Progress in Materials Science (IF=33.6), Materials Science & Engineering R (IF=31.6), Advanced Materials (IF=27.4), Progress in Polymer Science (IF=26.0), Journal of Hepatology (IF=26.8), Accounts of Chemical Research (IF=16.4), Advanced Functional Materials (IF=18.5), Matter (IF=17.3), Aggregate (IF=13.9), Nano Today (IF=13.2), ACS Nano (IF=15.8), Angewandte Chemie International Edition (IF=16.1), Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews (IF=15.2), Advanced Science (IF=14.3), Journal of American Chemical Society (IF=14.4), Biomaterials (IF=12.8), Small (IF=13.0), Materials Horizons (IF=12.2), Biosensors & Bioelectronics (IF=10.7), PNAS (IF=9.4), and Nano Letters (IF=9.6). Some of his publications are highlighted in renowned news media (New York Times, Chemistry World, New Scientists, Science Daily, Advanced Science News, and Chemical & Engineering News). He is ranked as one of the world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University. He has been elected as a fellow of 9 prestigious professional societies (AAAS, AAM, ACS, AIMBE, BMES, HKIE, IAMBE, PMSE, RSC). He has won multiple awards, such as Global STEM Scholar from Hong Kong SAR, US National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award, Oklahoma New Scientist Award, and All-China Most Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Prize.

He is serving as a member/chair of ACS National Award Selection Committee. He has also reviewed grant and award proposals for funding agencies in North America, South America, Europe and Asia, including (1) North America: National Institute of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Energy (DOE), Air Force Office for Scientific Research (AFOSR), U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), Florida Department of Health, Research Foundation of City University of New York (CUNY), Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT, Canada); (2) South America: São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil); (3) Europe: German Research Foundation (DFG, Germany), Foundation for Polish Science (FNP, Poland), National University Research Council (NURC, Romania), French National Research Agency (ANR, France), Danish Agency for Science, Technology and Innovation (DASTI, Denmark), Czech Science Foundation (GACR, Czech Republic), Dutch Research Council (NWO, Netherland); (4) Asia: Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong.

He is on editorial boards for multiple journals such as Frontiers of Materials Science and Nanotheranostics. He has guest-edited a themed issue (“Biomaterials based on phages and other viruses”) in Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews (2019). He is currently serving as an associate editor for BMEMat. He also guest-edited a special issue of Advanced Materials titled “CUHK 60th Anniversary,” published on January 15, 2025.

Postdoc, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Protein Engineering, Nanobiotechnology, The University of Texas at Austin, USA (2000-2005)
Postdoc, Biomaterials & Biomimetics, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (1997-1999)
PhD, Materials Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China (1992-1997)
Bachelor, Physical Chemistry, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China (1988-1992)

The Mao group is dedicated to the development of phages and other biomaterials into biosensors for detecting disease biomarkers, vaccines for preventing infectious diseases, weapons for fighting antimicrobial resistant bacteria, scaffolds for regenerating tissues, and therapeutics for treating cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and other diseases.

BMEG5530 Tissue Engineering
BMEG5710 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering
BMEG2001/ESTR2201 Introduction to Biomedical Engineering

Selected Honors & Awards:

Fellow, The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), 2024

Fellow, International Academy of Medical & Biological Engineering (IAMBE), 2023 (Citation: For seminal contributions to nanobiotechnology by developing phages and other biopolymers into biomaterials, nanomedicines, and regenerative medicine)

Fellow, ACS Division of Polymeric Materials: Science & Engineering (PMSE), 2023 (Citation: For seminal contributions to developing phages and other biopolymers into biomaterials, nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, and regenerative medicine)

Fellow, Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES), USA, 2022 (Citation: For achievements in the engineering of phages and other biopolymers to advance biomaterials, nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine and regenerative medicine)

Fellow, American Chemical Society (ACS), 2021 (Citation: Recognized for seminal research and discoveries in phage-based biomaterials, which have established him as a worldwide leader in this field and have significantly advanced biomaterials, nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, and regenerative medicine)

Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (AAM), 2020 (Citation: In recognition of outstanding contribution to the science and profession of microbiology)

Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 2019 (Citation: For the development of strategies for the synthesis of bio-inspired materials that can be used for targeted drug delivery and cancer therapy)

Fellow, American Institute for Medical & Biological Engineering (AIMBE), 2019 (Citation: For outstanding contribution to the use of phages to develop biomaterials, nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine and regenerative medicine)

Fellow, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), 2017

Distinguished Junior Faculty Award, Chinese American Chemistry & Chemical Biology Professors Association (CAPA), 2010

National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER Award, 2009 (to honor the early-career faculty who serve as academic role models in research and education in the USA)

One of 100 All-China Most Outstanding Doctoral Dissertations prize ( 首屆全國百篇優秀博士學位論文獎), 1999

For a full list of publications, please click here.

Chen, H.; Song, F.; Wang, B.; Huang, H.; Luo, Y.; Han, X.; He, H.; Lin, S.; Wan, L.; Huang, Z.; Fu, Z.; Ledesma-Amaro, R.; Yin, D.; Mao, H.; He, L.; Yang, T.; Chen, Z.; Ma, Y.; Xue, E. Y.; Wan, Y.*; Mao, C. B.* “Ultrasensitive detection of clinical pathogens through a target-amplification-free collateral-cleavage-enhancing CRISPR-CasΦ tool.” Nature Communications, 2025, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59219-x. (IF=14.7)

Mao, C. B.* “Advanced Materials Research at CUHK: From Biomedicine to Electronics and Beyond.” Advanced Materials, 2025, 37, 2418618. (IF=27.4)

Fan, Y.; Zhai, J.; Wang, Z.; Yin, Z.; Chen, H.; Ran, M.; Zhu, Z.; Ma, Y.; Ning, C.*; Yu, P.*; Mao, C. B.* “Piezoelectric heterojunctions as bacteria-killing bone-regenerative implants.” Advanced Materials, 2025, 37, 2413171. (IF=27.4)

Yang, T.; Zhang, Q.; Miao, Y.; Lyu, Y.; Xu, Y.; Yang, M.; Mao, C. B.* “Tumor-homing phage nanofibers for nanozyme-enhanced targeted breast cancer therapy.” Advanced Materials, 2025, 37, 2403756. (IF=27.4)

Yue, H.; Li, Y.; Yang, T.; Wang, Y.; Bao, Q.; Xu, Y.; Liu, X.; Miao, Y.; Yang, M.; Mao, C. B.* “Filamentous phages as tumour-targeting immunotherapeutic bionanofibres.” Nature Nanotechnology, 2024, 20, 167–176. (IF=38.1)

Li, H.; Chen, Y.; Li, Y.; Wei, X.; Wang, S.; Cao, Y.; Wang, R.; Wang, C.; Li, J.; Li, J.*; Ding, H.;* Yang, T.*; Wang, J.; Mao, C. B.* “Harnessing virus flexibility to selectively capture and profile rare circulating target cells for precise cancer subtyping.” Nature Communications, 2024, 15, 5849. (IF=14.7)

Chen, Y.; Chai, M.; Xuan, C.; Lin, J.; Yang, H.; Li, C.; Xie, M.; Ostrovidov, S.; Shi, X.*; Mao, C. B.* “Tuning the properties of surgical polymeric materials for improved soft-tissue wound closure and healing.” Progress in Materials Science, 2024, 143, 101249. (IF=33.6)

Yang, T.; Chen, Y.; Xu, Y.; Liu, X.; Yang, M.*; Mao, C. B.* “Viruses as biomaterials”. Materials Science & Engineering R: Reports, 2023, 153, 100715. (IF=31.6)

Zeng, Y.; Yue, H.; Cao, B.; Li, Y.; Yang, M.*; Mao, C. B.* “Target‐triggered formation of artificial enzymes on filamentous phage for ultrasensitive direct detection of circulating miRNA biomarkers in clinical samples.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2022, 61(45), e202210121. (IF=16.1)

Liu, X.; Yang, M.; Lei, F.; Wang, Y.; Yang, M.*; Mao, C. B.* “Highly effective stroke therapy enabled by genetically engineered viral nanofibers.” Advanced Materials, 2022, 34, 2201210. (Highlighted as a dedicated story “Rebuilding the Brain After a Stroke” by Advanced Science News, 04/27/22) (IF=27.4)

Wan, Y.; Zong, C.; Li, X.; Wang, A.; Li, Y.; Yang, T.; Bao, Q.; Dubow, M.; Yang, M.*; Rodrigo, L-A.*; Mao, C. B.* “New insights for biosensing: lessons from microbial defense systems.” Chemical Reviews, 2022, 122, 8126-8180. (IF=51.4)

Yue, H.; Li, Y.; Yang, M.*; Mao, C. B.* “T7 phage as an emerging nanobiomaterial with genetically tunable target specificity.” Advanced Science, 2022, 9, 2103645. (IF= 14.3)

Fang, Z.; Chen, J.; Zhu, Y.; Hu, G.; Xin, H.; Guo, K.; Li, Q.; Shi, X.*; Wang, L.*; Wang, Y.*; Mao, C. B.* “High-throughput screening and rational design of biofunctionalized surfaces with optimized biocompatibility and antimicrobial activity.” Nature Communications, 2021, 12, 3757. (IF=14.7)

Li, Y.; Qu, X.; Cao, B.; Yang, T.; Bao, Q.; Yue, H.; Zhang, L.; Zhang, G.; Wang, L.; Qiu, P.; Zhou, N.; Yang, M.*; Mao, C. B.* “Selectively suppressing tumor angiogenesis for targeted breast cancer therapy by genetically engineered phage.” Advanced Materials, 2020, 32, 2001260. (Selected as a Front Cover) (IF=27.4)

An, G.; Guo, F.; Liu, X.; Wang, Z.; Zhu, Y.; Fan, Y.; Xuan, C.; Li, Y.; Wu, H.; Shi, X.*; Mao, C. B.* “Functional reconstruction of injured corpus cavernosa using 3D-printed hydrogel scaffolds seeded with HIF-1α-expressing stem cells.” Nature Communications, 2020, 11, 2687. (IF=14.7)

Zhou, N.; Li, Y.; Loveland, C. H.; Wilson, M. J.; Cao, B.; Qiu, P.; Yang, M.*; Mao. C. B.* “Hierarchical ordered assembly of genetically modifiable viruses into nanoridge-in- microridge structures”. Advanced Materials, 2019, 31, 1905577. (IF=27.4)

Yang, M.; Mao, C. B.* “Biomaterials based on phages and other viruses.” Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2019, 145, 1-3. (IF=15.2)

Yang, M.; Yang, T.; Mao, C. B.* “Enhancement of photodynamic cancer therapy by physical and chemical factors.” Angewandte Chemie International Editions, 2019, 58, 14066-14080. (IF=16.1)

Chen, J.; Ning, C.*; Zhou, Z.; Yu, P.; Zhu, Y.; Tan, G.*; Mao, C. B.* “Nanomaterials as photothermal therapeutic agents.” Progress in Materials Science, 2019, 99, 1-26. (IF=33.6)

Cao, B.; Li, Y.; Yang, T.; Bao, Q.; Yang, M.*; Mao, C. B.* “Bacteriophage-based biomaterials for tissue regeneration”. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2019, 145, 73-95. (IF=15.2)

Ning, C.*; Zhou, Z.; Tan, G.; Zhu, Y.; Mao, C. B.* “Electroactive polymers for tissue regeneration: Developments and perspectives.” Progress in Polymer Science, 2018, 81, 144– 162. (IF=26.0)

Yang, M.; Sunderland, K.; Mao, C. B.* “Virus-derived peptides for clinical applications.” Chemical Reviews, 2017, 117, 10377-10402. (IF=51.4)

Sunderland, K.; Yang, M.*; Mao, C. B.* “Phage-enabled nanomedicine: from probes to therapeutics in precision medicine.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2017, 56, 1964-1992. (IF=16.1)

Cao, B.; Yang, M.*; Mao, C. B.* “Phage as a genetically modifiable supramacromolecule in chemistry, materials and medicine.” Accounts of Chemical Research, 2016, 49,1111-1120. (IF=16.4)

Zhou, X.; Cao, P.; Zhu, Y.; Lu, W.; Gu, N.*; Mao, C. B.* “Phage-mediated counting by the naked eye of miRNA molecules with attomolar concentration in a Petri dish.” Nature Materials, 2015, 14, 1058–1064. (Highlighted as a story “Cancer biomarker counted up with the naked eye” in Chemistry World). (IF=37.2)

Cao, B.; Yang, M.; Zhu, Y.; Qu, X.; Mao, C. B.* “Stem cells loaded with nanoparticles as a drug carrier for in vivo breast cancer therapy.” Advanced Materials, 2014, 26,4627-4631. (IF=27.4)

Wang, J.; Yang, M.*; Zhu, Y.; Wang, L.; Tomsia, A. P.; Mao, C. B.* “Phage nanofibers induce vascularized osteogenesis in 3D printed bone scaffolds.” Advanced Materials, 2014, 26, 4961- 4966. (IF=27.4)

Cao, B.; Zhu, Y.; Wang, L.; Mao, C. B.* “Controlled alignment of filamentous supramolecluar assemblies of biomolecules into centimeter-scale highly-ordered patterns through nature- inspired magnetic guidance,” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2013, 52, 11750- 11754. (IF=16.1)

Gandra, N.; Wang, D.; Zhu, Y.; Mao, C. B.* “Virus-mimetic cytoplasma cleavable nanoclusters for enhanced gene delivery to mesenchymal stem cells.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2013, 52, 11278-11281. (IF=16.1)

Qiu, P.; Qu, X.; Brackett, D. J.; Lerner, M. R.; Li, D.; Mao, C. B.* “Silica-based branched hollow microfibers as a biomimetic extracellular matrix for promoting tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo,” Advanced Materials, 2013, 25, 2492-2496. (IF=27.4)

Ma, K.; Wang, D-D.; Lin, Y.; Wang, J.; Petrenko, V.; Mao, C. B.* “Synergetic targeted delivery of sleeping-beauty transposon system to mesenchymal stem cells using LPD nanoparticles modified with phage-displayed targeting peptide.” Advanced Functional Materials, 2013, 23, 1172- 1181. (IF=18.5)

Mao, C. B.*; Wang, F.; Cao, B. “Controlling nanostructures of mesoporous silica fibers by supramolecular assembly of genetically modifiable bacteriophage.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2012, 51, 6411-6415. (IF=16.1)

Qiu, P.; Mao, C. B.* "Viscosity gradient as a novel mechanism for the centrifugation-based separation of nanoparticles." Advanced Materials, 2011, 23, 4880-4885. (IF=27.4)

Cao, B.; Xu, H.; Mao, C. B.* "Controlled self-assembly of rod-like bacterial pili particles into ordered lattices." Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2011, 50, 6264-6268. (Selected as inside cover story) (IF=16.1)

Qiu, P.; Jensen, C.; Charity, N.; Towner, R.; Mao, C. B.* "Oil phase evaporation induces self- assembly of hydrophobic nanoparticles into spherical clusters with controlled surface chemistry in an oil-in-water dispersion and comparison of behaviors of individual and clustered iron oxide nanoparticles." Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2010, 132, 17724- 17732. (IF=14.4)

Mao, C. B.*; Liu, A.; Cao, B. “Virus-based chemical and biological sensing.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2009, 48, 6790-6810. (IF=16.1)

Liu, A.; Abbineni, G.; Mao, C. B.* “Nanocomposite films assembled from genetically engineered filamentous viruses and gold nanoparticles: nanoarchitecture- and humidity- tunable surface plasmon resonance spectra.” Advanced Materials, 2009, 21,1001–1005. (IF=27.4)

Mao, C. B.; Solis, D. J.; Reiss, B. D.; Kottmann, S. T., Sweeney, R. Y.; Hayhurst, A.; Georgiou, G.; Iverson, B.; Belcher, A. M.* “Virus-based toolkit for the directed synthesis of magnetic and semiconducting nanowires.” Science, 2004, 303, 213-217. (IF=44.7)