CBM Seminar Series – DNA Supramolecular Hydrogels

The College of Biomedicine was pleased to host Professor Dongsheng LIU, Chair Professor of Polymer Science and Chemical Biology at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, as a distinguished speaker for the CBM Seminar Series on 7 September 2026. Professor Liu is internationally recognized for his pioneering research in DNA/RNA assemblies and their applications in materials, biology, and medicine.

In his lecture entitled "DNA Supramolecular Hydrogels", Professor Liu introduced the design and preparation of pure DNA supramolecular hydrogels, which feature an "all rigid" molecular network. He highlighted their extraordinary permeability to macromolecules such as proteins, as well as their unique self-healing and fast-responding thixotropic properties that make them injectable and writable.

Professor Liu further demonstrated the potential of these hydrogels as extracellular matrix (ECM) mimics, presenting their application in severe spinal cord injury repair, where implanted stem cells respond to in situ signals generated by injured animals. He also discussed how DNA sequence design enables univariant mechanical strength in hydrogel platforms, and shared his team's groundbreaking finding that "univariate mechanical strength does not influence neural progenitor cell fate in 3D matrix".

The seminar fostered lively engagement among faculty, researchers, and students across disciplines. Professor Liu's lecture highlighted the pioneering role of DNA supramolecular hydrogels in driving advances in regenerative medicine and biomaterials research.