Associate Professor
| Office: | YEUNG-P5109 |
|---|---|
| Phone: | +852 3442-7840 |
| Fax: | +852 3442-0522 |
| Email: | peggylo@cityu.edu.hk |
| Web: | Personal Homepage |
| ORCID ID: | 0000-0001-5255-1718 |
| Scopus Author ID: | 12238771400 |
- Chemical Biology
- DNA Chemistry
- Synthetic Chemistry
- Biomimetics
- Biomolecular Sensing
- Bioimaging
Prof. Peggy Lo is currently an Associate Professor and MSc Programme Leader in the Department of Chemistry at City University of Hong Kong. She obtained her BSc degree (First Class) and MPhil degree from Hong Kong Baptist University, respectively. She then pursued her PhD degree in the Department of Chemistry at McGill University in Canada. Following her doctoral studies, she conducted postdoctoral research at Harvard University in the United States until her return to Hong Kong. Prof. Lo has published over 82 peer-reviewed research articles in the leading international journals in the past years including Nature, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Chemistry, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., JACS, Advanced Science, Small, Nanoscale, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Chem. Commun., Adv. Healthcare Materials, etc. Peggy Lo has received several prestigious awards, including the Dream Chemistry Awards Top 5 in the Institute of Physical Chemistry Polish Academy of Science in Poland in 2013, The President's Awards in 2016, and the Excellent Teaching Award in 2024. She has also won the Gold Medals at “The 48th International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva” and “The 11st International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada (iCAN 2026)” for her innovative invention projects. Prof. Lo has served as the editorial board member in the journals of Scientific Reports, Smart Molecules and Biosensors. She is the current Executive Board Member of the Hong Kong Institution of Science. Her research area is highly interdisciplinary encompassing chemistry, biology, nanotechnology and materials science. She focuses on developing multifunctional nano-sized materials and applying them for biomedical and technological applications.
- W. Zheng, T. J. H. Chang, X. Li, Z. Zhou, C. Tin, K. Vong, P. Karam, P. K. Lo.* “Membrane Fusion-Mediated Cytosolic Delivery of Threose Nucleic Acids via Homotypic Nanoparticles Overcomes Drug Resistance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer” Advanced Science 2026, e76100.
- Z. Luo, X. Bian, B. Peng, J. Chen, P. K. Lo,* L. Zhou,* Y. Wen.* “Engineered Bionanomaterials For Precision Delivery of Nucleic Acid Drugs” Small, 2025, 21, e02667.
- Z. Zhuo,+ H. Y. Chan,+ P. K. Lo*. “Precision Control of Light-Responsive Nucleic Acids Modified With Photoremovable Protecting Groups for Functionalization” JACS Au, 2025, 5, 7, 2953-2976.
- C. O. K. Law,+ H. M. Leung,+ M. Wang,+ Q. Nie, Q. H. Pham, K. C. Han, T. S. Wong, K. T. Chow,* P. K. Lo,* T. C. K. Lau.* "Harnessing Intracellular Bacteria in Bladder By Intravesical Delivery of Antibiotics-Loaded Nanodiamonds to Reduce the Recurrence of Urinary Tract Infection" Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025, 23, 367.
- S. Y. Lam,+ P. Li,+ L. Jin, H. Y. Chan, Y. Ruan, C. K. Kwok,* P. K. Lo.*, “Enhanced Detection of Enrofloxacin in Seawater Using a Newly Selected Aptamer on a Graphite Oxide-Based Biosensor” Analytical Chemistry, 2025 , 97, 12, 6735-6744.
- D. Y. Tam, + P. Li, + L. S. Liu, F. Wang, H. M. Leung, P. K. Lo.* “Versatility of Threose Nucleic Acids: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications in Chemical Biology and Biomedical Advancements” Chem. Commun. 2024, 60, 11864 - 11889.
- P. Li, S. Zheng, H. M. Leung, L. S. Liu, T. J. H. Chang, A. Maryam, F. Wang *, Y. R. Chin,* P. K. Lo.* "TNA-Mediated Antisense Strategy To Knockdown Akt Genes For Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy" Small Methods 2024, 2400291.
- P. Li, C. Zhu, L. S. Liu, T. J. H. Chang, H. C. Chu, Z. Li, Z. Mao, F. Wang, P. K. Lo.* “Ultra-Stable Threose Nucleic Acid-Based Biosensors For Rapid And Sensitive Nucleic Acid Detection And In Vivo Imaging” Acta Biomaterialia, 2024, 177, 15, 472-485.
- L. S. Liu, H. M. Leung, Y. Cai, P. K. Lo.* "Recent Progress in Stimuli-Responsive DNA-Based Logic Gates: Design, Working Principles And Biological Applications", Smart Molecules 2024, 2, 1, e20230023.
- Z. Zhu, H. Lu, L. Jin, Y. Gao, Z. Qian, W. Tong,* P. K. Lo,* Z. Mao,* H.Shi.* “C-176 Loaded Ce DNase Nanoparticles Synergistically Inhibit The cGAS-STING Pathway for Ischemic Stroke Treatment” Bioactive Materials 2023, 18, 29, 230-240.
- L. S. Liu, H. M. Leung, C. Morville; H. C. Chu, J. Y. Tee, A. Specht*, F. Bolze*, P. K. Lo.* “Wavelength-Dependent, Orthogonal Photoregulation of DNA Liberation for Logic Operations” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2023, 15, 1, 1944-1957.
- F. Wang, L. S. Liu, P. Li, C. H. Lau, H. M. Leung, Y R. Chin, C. Tin, P. K. Lo.* “Cellular Uptake, Tissue Penetration, Biodistribution, and Biosafety of Threose Nucleic Acids: Assessing In Vitro and In Vivo Delivery” Materials Today Bio 2022, 18, 15, 100299.
- F. Wang, L. S. Liu, P. Li, H. M. Leung, D. Y. Tam, P. K. Lo.* “Biologically Stable Threose Nucleic Acid-Based Probes for Real-Time microRNA Detection and Imaging in Living Cells” Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids 2022, 3, 27, 787-796.
- L. S. Liu, F. Wang, Y. Ge, P. K. Lo.* " Recent Developments in Aptasensors for Diagnostic Applications" ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021, 13, 8, 9329-9358.
- D. Y. Tam, J. W.-T Ho, M. S. Chan, C. H. Lau, T. J. H. Chang, H. M. Leung, L. S. Liu, F. Wang, L. L. H. Chan, C. Tin, P. K. Lo.* "Penetrating the Blood-Brain Barrier by Self-Assembled 3D DNA Nanocages as Drug Delivery Vehicles for Brain Cancer Therapy" ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12, 26, 28928−28940.
- M. S. Chan, R. Landig, J. Choi, H. Zhou, X. Liao, M. D. Lukin, H. Park, P. K. Lo.* “Stepwise Ligand-Induced Self-Assembly for Facile Fabrication of Nanodiamond-Gold Nanoparticle Dimers via Non-Covalent Biotin-Streptavidin Interactions” Nano Lett. 2019 19, 3, 2020-2026.
- D. Y. Tam, X. Zhuang, S. W. Wong, P. K. Lo.* “Photo-Responsive Self-Assembled DNA Nanomaterials: Design, Working Principles and Applications” Small 2019, 15, 26, 1805481.
- L. S. Liu, H. M. Leung, D. Y. Tam, T. W. Lo, S. W. Wong, P. K. Lo.* “α-L-Threose Nucleic Acids as Biocompatible Antisense Oligonucleotides for Suppressing Gene Expression in Living Cells” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2018, 10, 11, 9736-9743.
- G. Wu, Z. Dai, X. Tang, Z. Lin, P. K. Lo,* M. Meryyappan,* K. W. C. Lai.* “Graphene Field-Effect Transistors for the Sensitive and Selective Detection of Escherichia Coli Using Pyrene-Tagged DNA Aptamer” Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2017, 6, 19, 1700736.
- M. S. Chan, H. M. Leung, L. S. Liu, P. K. Lo.* “Cancer-Cell-Specific Mitochondria-Targeted Drug Delivery by Dual-Ligand-Functionalized Nanodiamonds Circumvents Drug Resistance” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2017, 9, 7, 11780-11789.
- Z. Dai, H. M. Leung, P. K. Lo.* “Stimuli-Responsive Self-Assembled DNA Nanomaterials for Biomedical Applications” Small 2017, 13, 7, 1602881.
- M. S. Chan, D. Y. Tam, Z. Dai, L. S. Liu, J. W. Ho, M. L. Chan, D. Xu, M. S. Wong, C. Tin,* P. K. Lo.* “Mitochondrial Delivery of Therapeutic Agents By Amphiphilic DNA Nanocarriers” Small 2016, 12, 6, 770-781.
- D. Y. Tam, Z. Dai, M. S. Chan, L. S. Liu, M. C. Cheung, F. Bolze, C. Tin, P. K. Lo.* “A Reversible DNA Logic Gate Platform Operated by One- and Two-Photon Excitations” Angew. Chem.-Int. Edit. 2016, 55, 1, 164-168.
- Z. Dai, D. Y. Tam, H. Xu, M. S. Chan, L. S. Liu, F, Bolze,* X. H. Sun, P. K. Lo.* “Conformational Change of Self-Assembled DNA Nanotubes Induced by Two-Photon Excitation” Small 2015, 11, 33, 4090-4096.
- G. Kucsko, P. C. Maurer, N. Y. Yao, M. Kubo, H. J. Noh, P. K. Lo, H. Park,* and M. D. Lukin.* “Nanometer- Scale Thermometry in a Living Cell” Nature 2013, 500, 7460, 54-59.
- P. K. Lo, P. Karam, F. A. Aldaye, C. K. McLaughlin, G. Hamblin, G. Cosa, H. F. Sleiman.* “Loading and Selective Release of Cargo in DNA Nanotubes with Longitudinal Variation” Nat. Chem. 2010, 2, 4, 319-328.
- P. K. Lo, K. Metera, H. F. Sleiman.* “Self-Assembly of Three-Dimensional DNA Nanostructures and Potential Biological Applications” Current Opinion in Chemical Biology 2010, 14, 5, 597-607.
- P. K. Lo, F. Altvater, H. F. Sleiman.* “Templated Synthesis of DNA Nanotubes with Controlled, Predetermined Lengths” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 30, 10212-10214.
- P. K. Lo, H. F. Sleiman.* “Nucleobase-Templated Polymerization: Copying the Chain Length and Polydispersity of Living Polymers into Conjugated Polymers” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 12, 4182-4183.
Research assistant and PhD positions are available immediately. Interested applicants should preferably have a Master's or PhD's degree with strong research background and publication record in one of the following areas: synthesis of organic or inorganic nanomaterials; self-assembly of nanostructures, bioimaging, cell biology and bionanotechnology ; or other areas related to Dr. Lo's research. Applicants should have the ability to work in a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative environment, and a high level of English, both in oral and writing.
For interested candidates, please send your CV to Dr. Peggy Lo at peggylo@cityu.edu.hk.
Peggy’s current research topics include
- Design and self-assembly of DNA nanoobjects for biological functions and applications
- Development of multifunctional nanoparticles for biomedical applications
- Design and synthesis of biomimetic materials for gene silencing
- Two-photon studies on synthetic small molecules for medical and bioanalytical research and applications