Dr Zhi Ping (Gordon) Xu
Senior Research Fellow
ARC Centre of Excellence for Functional Nanomaterials
Level 5
AIBN Building No. 75
Corner College and Cooper Roads,
The University of Queensland
St Lucia Qld 4072
p: 61 7 3346 3809
f
: 61 7 3346 3973
e: gordonxu@uq.edu.au
Research focus
The research in our group focuses on the controlled preparation of layered double hydroxide (LDH) materials and their various applications, including: (1) Controlled preparation of LDH (nano)particles with the desirable size and size distribution, and shape. In some cases, these particles need to be homogeneously dispersed in aqueous solution; (2) Cellular delivery vehicles of anionic drugs, such as some pharmaceutical drugs, oligonucleotides, DNA/RNA segment, heparin etc for the treatment of cancer diseases, neuronal diseases and cardiovascular diseases; (3) Wastewater treatment via adsorption and degradation using modified LDH materials under sunlight.
Brief bio
Dr Zhi Ping (Gordon) Xu is an expert in synthesis, characterisation and applications of anionic clays, i.e. layered double hydroxides (LDH) and related materials. In particular, Dr Xu has developed a reliable method to control LDH nanoparticles in 40-200 nm with a narrow particle size distribution and homogeneously disperse these nanoparticles in a stable suspension, and has also led a team to investigate the cellular drug(gene) delivery using LDH nanoparticles. He has published about 40 papers regarding LDH materials in the last ten years.
Since the time of his PhD at the National University of Singapore in 1996, he has carried out extensive research on the oxidation synthesis of co-containing LDH materials and their applications in environmental remediation. Later at the University of North Texas as a postdoctoral research scientist, he conducted comprehensive studies on the growth behaviour of organo-LDH hybrid materials and their applications in water purification. As an Australian post-doctoral fellow/research fellow at the University of Queensland since 2003, he has developed an effective and patented method to tailor LDH nanoparticle size and control the particle size distribution in a narrow range, and investigated LDH nanovehicles for effective drug/gene delivery, which demonstrates a high potential for an efficient drug/gene delivery vector based on LDH nanomaterials. During this period, he has established a solid platform for the delivery of inorganic nanoparticles into various mammalian cells in terms of the research experience and methodologies.
Since 1997 he has published two book chapters and over 50 papers in international refereed journals, including J. Am. Chem. Soc., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Chem. Mater., J. Phys Chem. B & C, and J. Mater. Chem. and established his international reputation in this field. He has been invited as a referee by ten international journals and invited to contribute two chapters to the Handbook of Layered Materials and Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, respectively. His papers have been cited over 500 times in the past 7-8 years.
Current projects
Preparation of LDH-siRNA hybrids and delivery to mammalian cells (Katharina Porazik, PhD Student)
Preparation of LDH-siRNA hybrids, their toxicity and delivery to neuronal cells (Yunyi Wong, PhD Student)
Preparation of LDH-heparin hybrids and their interaction with muscle cells (Sophia Gu, PhD Student)
Adsorption of arsenate using activated LDH materials (Yoosup Park)
Preparation and characterisation of LDH-QDs nanocomposites (Helen Dedegikas)
Preparation and characterisation of ZnO-LDH and TiO2-LDH composites (Sally Yukiko)
Dispersivity and stability of organo-LDH compounds (Gloria Liu);
Coating of LDH with TiO2 as photocatalysts (Yoosup Park)
Collaborations
Application of activated LDH as catalyst for transesterification (Eugina, Victor’s)
Nanotoxicology of LDH materials to animals (Anthony, Darren’s)
LDH-biomolecule MD simulation (Dr Hong Zhang, Sean’s)
Delivery of LDH-DNA to insert cells (Dr Yingmei Qi, Steve’s)
Coating of LDH with SiO2 for drug controlled release (DY Zhao’s)
Abatement of CO2, NOx, and SOx using activated LDH materials (Joe’s; ZP Hao’s, CAS, China)
Modification of LDH-Gd(DTPA) as MRI contrast agents (Nyoman, Perry’s)
Modification of LDH materials as phosphate adsorbents (Qian’s, SU, China).
Selected publications
Li, LD; Shen, Q; Yu, JJ; Hao, ZP; Xu, ZP; Lu, GQM: “Fe-USY zeolite catalyst for effective decomposition of nitrous oxide”. Environ. Sci. Tech., 41, 7901-7906, 2007.
Yu, JJ; Wang, XP; Tao, YX; Hao, ZP; Xu, ZP*; Lu, GQ. “Novel multi-functional mixed oxide catalysts for effective NOx capture, decomposition and reduction”. Advanced Functional Materials. 17, 3598-3606, 2007.
Liu, S; Liu, L; Xu, ZP; Yu, A; Lu, GQ; da Costa, JCD: “Bioceramic macrocapsules for cell immunoisolation”. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 3062-3065, 2007.
Xu, ZP; Walker, TL; Liu, K-L; Cooper, HM; Lu, G.Q. Max; Bartlett, PF: “Layered double hydroxide nanoparticles as cellular delivery vectors of supercoiled plasmid DNA”. Inter. J. Nanomed. 2, 163-174, 2007.
Xu, ZP; Braterman, PS: “Competitive adsorption of sulfonates into Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH): the key role of hydrophobic interactions”. J. Phys. Chem. C 111, 4021-4026, 2007.
Xu, ZP; Kurniawan, ND; Bartlett, PF; Lu, GQ Max: “Enhancement of relaxivities of Gd-DTPA complex via intercalation into layered double hydroxide nanoparticles”. Chem. Eur. J. 13, 2824-2830, 2007.
Xu, ZP: Stevenson, G: Lu, CQ: Lu, GQ. Dispersion and size control of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles in aqueous solutions. J. Phys. Chem. B 110, 16923-16929, 2006.
Xu, ZP; Stevenson, G; Lu, CQ; Lu, GQ Max; Bartlett, PF; Gray, PP: “Stable suspension of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles in aqueous solution”. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128, 36-37, 2006.
Xu, ZP; Lu, GQ (Max): “Hydrothermal synthesis of Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) from mixed MgO and Al2O3: LDH formation mechanism”. Chem. Mater. 17, 1055-1062, 2005.
Xu, ZP; Zeng, QH; Lu, GQ (Max); Yu, AB: “Inorganic nanoparticles as carriers for efficient cellular delivery”. Chem. Eng. Sci. 61, 1027-1040, 2006.
Braterman, PS; Xu, ZP; Yarberry, F: “Layered Double Hydroxides”, in Handbook of Layered Materials. Auerbach, SM; KA Carrado; PK Dutta (Ed.). Marcel Dekker, Inc.:NY, Mar 23, 2004. p 373-474. (Invited for a Book Chapter)
Xu, ZP; Braterman, PS: “High affinity of dodecylbenzene sulfonate for layered double hydroxides (LDH) and the resulting morphologies”. J. Mater. Chem., 13, 268-273, 2003.
Xu, ZP; Zeng, HC: “Decomposition pathways of hydrotalcite-like compounds Mg1-xAlx(OH)2(NO3)x× nH2O as a continuous function of nitrate anions”. Chem. Mater. 13, 4564-4572, 2001.
Xu, ZP; Zeng, HC: “Abrupt structural transformation in hydrotalcite-like compounds Mg1-xAlx(OH)2(NO3)x×nH2O as a continuous function of nitrate anions”. J. Phys. Chem. B, 105, 1743-1749, 2001.
Xu, ZP; Xu, R; Zeng, HC: “Sulfate-functionized carbon/metal-oxide nanocomposites from hydrotalcite-like compounds”. Nano Letters, 1, 703-706, 2001.
Currents students
PhD students:
Ms Yunyi Wong; Ms Zi (Sophia) Gu; Mr Anthony Musumec, Mr Ryan Harrison, Mr Peng Li
Visiting PhD student:
Mr Jishi Zhou
Research assistant
Mr Yoosup Park
Student projects available
Preparation of LDH-hydrogel-drug complex and sustained drug release
Cosmetic application of LDH-drug hybrid materials
Preparation of LDH materials with varied composition for water treatment
Modification of LDH particles for the sustained drug release