Hongjun Liang, Ph.D.

Professor of Cell Physiology & Molecular Biophysics
Adjunct faculty of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Texas Tech University

liang

Department of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
3601 4th Street, STOP 6551
Lubbock, Texas 79430
Office Phone: (806) 743-1463
Office room: 5A169
FAX: (806) 743-1512
E-mail: H.Liang@ttuhsc.edu

Research Interest:

Our research interest is in membrane biophysics and bioengineering, with a particular focus on understanding and controlling the recognition and transport across nanoscale membrane boundaries. Our long-term goal is to bridge biology with synthetic systems via materials discovery. We design synthetic materials to partake in live processes, and adapt biological functions to be used under a broad range of harsher, non-biological conditions. Examples of our current research projects include membrane protein functions in synthetic proteomembranes; membrane-active antimicrobials and biofilm mitigation; and nanoparticle-based, membrane-targeting theranostic platforms. Aided by a large array of structural and functional characterization tools including synchrotron small angle x-ray scattering, we develop new biological, chemical, and engineering approaches to understand membrane biophysics and exploit membrane-based bionanotechnology.

Selected Publications:

	E. Kamilar, J. Bariwal, W. Zheng, H.R. Ma, and H.J. Liang, 鈥淪MALPs are not simply nanodiscs: The polymer-to-lipid ratios of fractionated SMALPs underline their heterogeneous nature鈥�, Biomacromolecules, 24 (4), 1819-1838 (2023)
	J. Bariwal, H.R. Ma, G.A. Altenberg, H.J. Liang, "Nanodiscs: a versatile nanocarrier platform for cancer diagnosis and treatment", Chem. Soc. Rev., 51, 1702-1728 (2022)
	Y.J. Jiang, W. Zheng, K. Tran, E. Kamilar, J. Bariwal, H.R. Ma, H.J. Liang, "Hydrophilic nanoparticles that kill bacteria while sparing mammalian cells reveal the antibiotic role of nanostructures", Nat. Commun., 13, 197 (2022) Also reported by , , , , Science Magazine, and other new channels.
	A. Chen, E.J. Majdinasab, M.C. Fiori, H.J. Liang, and G.A. Altenberg, "Polymer-encased nanodisc and polymer nanodiscs: New platforms for membrane protein research and applications", Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol., 8 (1329), 598450 (2020)
	M.C. Fiori, W. Zheng, E. Kamilar, G. Simiyu, G.A. Altenberg, and H.J. Liang, "Extraction and reconstitution of membrane proteins into lipid nanodiscs encased by zwitterionic styrene-maleic amide copolymers", Sci. Rep., 10, 9940 (2020)
	W. Zheng, M. Anzaldua, A. Arora, Y.J. Jiang, K. McIntyre, M. Doerfert, T. Winter, A. Mishra, H.R. Ma, and H.J. Liang, "Environmentally benign nanoantibiotics with a built-in deactivation switch responsive to natural habitats", Biomacromolecules 21 (6), 2187-2198 (2020) Also selected as the and on Biomacromolecules; Research Highlight on Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), , 98(15), 9, 2020; Research Highlight on the Chinese Polymer Network, Environmentally degradable antibiotics, 04/16/2020.
	L.J. Kuang, J. Goins, W. Zheng, P. Eduafo, H.R. Ma, M. Posewitz, D.T. Wu, and H.J. Liang, "Spontaneous microalgae dewatering directed by retrievable, recyclable, and reusable nanoparticle-pinched polymer brushes", Chem. Mater. 31, 4657-4672 (2019) Also selected as Research Highlight on the Chinese Polymer Network, Microalgae biofuel and directed phase separation of planktonic cell cultures, 06/27/2019.
	M.C. Fiori, Y.J. Jiang, W. Zheng, M. Anzaldua, M.J. Borgnia, G.A. Altenberg, and H.J. Liang, "Polymer nanodiscs: Discoidal amphiphilic block copolymer membranes as a new platform for membrane proteins", Sci. Rep., 7, 15227 (2017)
	Y.J. Jiang, W. Zheng, L.J. Kuang, H.R. Ma, and H.J. Liang, "Hydrophilic phage-mimicking membrane active antimicrobials reveal nanostructure-dependent activity and selectivity", ACS Infect. Dis., 3, 676-687 (2017) Also selected as the and on ACS Infec. Dis.; Research Highlight on Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), , 95(35), 9 (2017); Research Spotlight on , 30(10), 1731-1732 (2017).
	M.C. Fiori, Y.J. Jiang, G.A. Altenberg, and H.J. Liang, "Polymer-encased nanodiscs with improved buffer compatibility", Sci. Rep., 7, 7432 (2017)
	S.L. Wang, C. Ing, S. Emami, Y.J. Jiang, H.J. Liang, R. Pom猫s, L. Brown, and V. Ladizhansky, 鈥淪tructure and dynamics of extracellular loops in human Aquaporin-1 from solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics鈥�, J. Phys. Chem. B 120(37), 9887-9902 (2016).
	U. Chawla, Y.J. Jiang, W. Zheng, L.J. Kuang, S. M. D. C. Perera, M. F. Brown, and H.J. Liang, 鈥淎 usual G-protein-coupled receptor in unusual membranes鈥�, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 55(2), 588-592 (2016).
	M. Ward, S.L. Wang, I. Hung, P.L. Gor鈥檏ov, Y.J. Jiang, H.J. Liang, L. Brown, and V. Ladizhansky, 鈥淚n situ structural studies of Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin in the E. coli Inner Membrane鈥�, Biophys. J., 108, 1683-1696 (2015). Also featured in New and Notable, , Biophys. J., 108, 1585-1586 (2015).
	L.J. Kuang, T.L. Olson, S. Lin, M. Flores, Y.J. Jiang, W. Zheng, J.C. Williams, J.P. Allen, and H.J. Liang, 鈥淚nterface for light鈥揹riven electron transfer by photosynthetic complexes across block copolymer membranes鈥�, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 5, 787-791 (2014).
	L.J. Kuang, D.A. Fernandes, M. O鈥橦alloran, W. Zheng, Y.J. Jiang, V. Ladizhansky, L.S. Brown, and H.J. Liang, 鈥溾€淔rozen鈥� block copolymer nanomembranes with light-driven proton pumping performance鈥�, ACS Nano, 8(1), 537-545 (2014).
	A.A. Onasoga-Jarvis, T.J. Puls, S.K. O'Brien, L.J. Kuang, H.J. Liang, and K.B. Neeves, 鈥淭hrombin generation and fibrin formation under flow on biomimetic tissue factor rich surfaces鈥�, J. Thromb. Haemost., 12 (3), 373-382 (2014).
	J. Cao; X. Pan, W. Huang, Y. Wang, D. Hua, X. Zhu, and H.J. Liang, "Synthesis of cationic poly(4-vinylpyridine)-functionalized colloidal particles by emulsion polymerization with reactive block copolymer for protein adsorption", J. Coll. Inter. Sci., 381, 137-142 (2012).
	X. Pan, J. Cao, Y. Wang, W. Huang, D. Hua, X. Zhu, and H.J. Liang, "Synthesis of surface-functionalized polystyrene sub-micron spheres using novel amphiphilic comonomer", Polymer, 53, 3508-3513 (2012).
	D.B. Hua, L.J. Kuang, and H.J. Liang, 鈥淪elf-directed reconstitution of proteorhodopsin with amphiphilic block copolymers induces the formation of hierarchically ordered proteopolymer membrane arrays鈥�, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 133, 2354-2357 (2011).
	D.B. Hua, J.L. Jiang, L.J. Kuang, J. Jiang, W. Zheng, and H.J. Liang, 鈥淪mart chitosan-based stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for the controlled delivery of hydrophobic pharmaceuticals鈥�, Macromolecules, 44, 1298-1302 (2011).
	Q. H. Shi, H.J. Liang, D. Feng, J. F. Wang, and G. D. Stucky, 鈥淧orous carbon and carbon/metal oxide microfibers with well-controlled pore structure and interface鈥�, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130, 5034-5035 (2008). Also highlighted on Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), . 86(14), 50-51 (2008).
	H.J. Liang, G. Whited, C. Nguyen, A. Okerlund, and G. D. Stucky, 鈥淚nherently tunable electrostatic assembly of membrane proteins鈥�, Nano Lett., 8, 333-339 (2008).
	H.J. Liang, G. Whited, C. Nguyen, and G. D. Stucky, 鈥淭he directed cooperative assembly of proteorhodopsin into 2D and 3D polarized arrays鈥�, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 104, 8212-8217 (2007).

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