Hongjun Liang, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell Physiology & Molecular Biophysics
Adjunct faculty of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry at Texas Tech University
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:
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Y.J. Jiang, W. Zheng, K. Tran, H.R. Ma, and H.J. Liang, “Transformation from Hydrophilic Yet Membrane-Inactive Linear Chain Polymers to Membrane-Active Nanoantibiotics”, Biomacromolecules, 26 (7), 4690-4701 (2025) Read article |
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E. Kamilar, J. Bariwal, W. Zheng, H.R. Ma, and H.J. Liang, “SMALPs are not simply nanodiscs: The polymer-to-lipid ratios of fractionated SMALPs underline their heterogeneous nature”, Biomacromolecules, 24 (4), 1819-1838 (2023) Read article |
| 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) Read article |
| 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) Read article Also reported by The Medical News, Science Daily, Science Times, Mirage News, 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) Read article |
| 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) Read article |
| 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) Read article Also selected as the ACS Editor's Choice Article and Cover Story on Biomacromolecules; Research Highlight on Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), "Bottle-brush antibiotic busts bacterial membranes", 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. Read article |
| 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) Read article |
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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) Read article
Also selected as the ACS Editor's Choice Article and Cover Story on ACS Infec. Dis.; Research Highlight on Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), "Nanomedicine: Polymer nanoparticles mimic bacteriophages", 95(35), 9 (2017); Research Spotlight on Chemical Research on Toxicology, 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) Read article |
| S.L. Wang, C. Ing, S. Emami, Y.J. Jiang, H.J. Liang, R. Pomès, L. Brown, and V. Ladizhansky, “Structure and dynamics of extracellular loops in human Aquaporin-1 from solid-state NMR and molecular dynamics”, J. Phys. Chem. B 120(37), 9887-9902 (2016). Read article |
| U. Chawla, Y.J. Jiang, W. Zheng, L.J. Kuang, S. M. D. C. Perera, M. F. Brown, and H.J. Liang, “A usual G-protein-coupled receptor in unusual membranes”, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 55(2), 588-592 (2016). Read article |
| M. Ward, S.L. Wang, I. Hung, P.L. Gor’kov, Y.J. Jiang, H.J. Liang, L. Brown, and V. Ladizhansky, “In situ structural studies of Anabaena Sensory Rhodopsin in the E. coli Inner Membrane”, Biophys. J., 108, 1683-1696 (2015). Read article Also featured in New and Notable, "A Solid View of Membrane Proteins In Situ", 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, “Interface for light–driven electron transfer by photosynthetic complexes across block copolymer membranes”, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 5, 787-791 (2014). Read article |
| L.J. Kuang, D.A. Fernandes, M. O’Halloran, W. Zheng, Y.J. Jiang, V. Ladizhansky, L.S. Brown, and H.J. Liang, ““Frozen” block copolymer nanomembranes with light-driven proton pumping performance”, ACS Nano, 8(1), 537-545 (2014). Read article |
| A.A. Onasoga-Jarvis, T.J. Puls, S.K. O'Brien, L.J. Kuang, H.J. Liang, and K.B. Neeves, “Thrombin generation and fibrin formation under flow on biomimetic tissue factor rich surfaces”, J. Thromb. Haemost., 12 (3), 373-382 (2014). Read article |
| 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). Read article |
| 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). Read article |
| D.B. Hua, L.J. Kuang, and H.J. Liang, “Self-directed reconstitution of proteorhodopsin with amphiphilic block copolymers induces the formation of hierarchically ordered proteopolymer membrane arrays”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 133, 2354-2357 (2011). Read article |
| D.B. Hua, J.L. Jiang, L.J. Kuang, J. Jiang, W. Zheng, and H.J. Liang, “Smart chitosan-based stimuli-responsive nanocarriers for the controlled delivery of hydrophobic pharmaceuticals”, Macromolecules, 44, 1298-1302 (2011). Read article |
| Q. H. Shi, H.J. Liang, D. Feng, J. F. Wang, and G. D. Stucky, “Porous carbon and carbon/metal oxide microfibers with well-controlled pore structure and interface”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 130, 5034-5035 (2008). Read article Also highlighted on Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), “Silica and Ice Template Creates Holey Microfibers”. 86(14), 50-51 (2008). |
| H.J. Liang, G. Whited, C. Nguyen, A. Okerlund, and G. D. Stucky, “Inherently tunable electrostatic assembly of membrane proteins”, Nano Lett., 8, 333-339 (2008). Read article |
| H.J. Liang, G. Whited, C. Nguyen, and G. D. Stucky, “The directed cooperative assembly of proteorhodopsin into 2D and 3D polarized arrays”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 104, 8212-8217 (2007). Read article |
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