2023-11-30T16:26:24+08:002019-12-03|
Contact Information
Research Team
Name Position Office Phone Email
Ziang GUOPhD Student (Lab Representative)E12-3017yc07621@um.edu.mo
Jiaqi WANGPhD Student (Lab Representative)E12-3017yc07602@um.edu.mo
Yeneng DAIUM Macao Post-doctoral FellowE12-3017+853 8822 4232yenengdai@um.edu.mo
Lipeng ZHUPost-doctoral FellowE12-3017+853 8822 4232lipengzhu@um.edu.mo
Yu LIUPhD Student
Guanyu ZHOUPhD StudentE12-3017
Yingjun PENGPhD StudentE12-3017
Shengyu FUPhD StudentE12-3017
Fengjuan ZHANGPhD StudentE12-3017
Ziyi YANGPhD StudentE12-3017
Yue WANGPhD Student
Shuxin GUOPhD Student
Guanda JIAOPhD StudentE12-3017
Yuheng GUPhD StudentE12-3017
Gen ZHANGPhD Student
Yixuan CHENPhD Student
Guangyu ZHOUPhD Student
Xue LIPhD Student
Weiqi LUPhD Student
Yang LIUPhD StudentE12-3017+853 8822 4232
Ze CHENPhD Student
Jialin LIPhD Student
Zhizhuo WANGPhD Student
Xing FANPhD Student
Education
PhD Department of Biochemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
MSc College of Life Sciences, Jilin University
BSc College of Life Sciences, Jilin University
Position
2021 – Present Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau
2016 – 2021 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau
2013 – 2016 Principle Investigator, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
2011 – 2013 Research Associate, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
2008 – 2011 Postdoctoral Fellow, National Cancer Institute, NIH
Research Interests
Our group is interested in the development of antibody-based therapeutics for cancer. The research focuses on engineering of monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, or chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), the delivery of drugs via the nanoparticles. We are identifying novel human monoclonal antibodies from antibody phage libraries. Monoclonal antibodies are designed to destroy tumor cells by utilizing mechanisms of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or antibody-drug conjugation (ADC). By using these antibodies as vehicles, bispecific antibodies directed at tumor antigens and human CD3 can engage T cells to lyse tumors. Additionally, all of these antibodies can be reshaped to build CAR to redirect T cells. Meanwhile, based on various antibody and immune cell formats, nanoparticle drug delivery systems are built for the targeted delivery and controlled release of therapeutic agents.

Areas of Expertise:

(1) Antibody-based therapeutics; (2) Immune cell therapy; (3) Antibody display systems; (4) Nanomedicine

Representative Publications
  1. Huang S, Xing F, Dai Y, Zhang Z, Zhou G, Yang S, Liu YC, Yuan Z, Luo KQ, Ying T, Chu D*, Liu TM*, Deng CX*, Zhao Q*. (2023) Navigating chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells as drug carriers via three-dimensional mapping of the tumor microenvironment. Journal of Controlled Release, 362:524-535.
  2. Leng D, Yang Z, Sun H, Song C, Huang C, Ip KU, Chen G, Deng CX*, Zhang XD*, Zhao Q*. (2023) Comprehensive analysis of tumor microenvironment reveals prognostic ceRNA network related to immune infiltration in sarcoma. Clinical Cancer Research, CCR-22-3396. Epub ahead of print.
  3. Bai G, Sun C, Guo Z, Wang Y, Zeng X, Su Y, Zhao Q*, Ma B*. (2023) Accelerating antibody discovery and design with artificial intelligence: Recent advances and prospects. Seminars in Cancer Biology, 95:13-24.
  4. Dai Y, Li X, Xue Y, Chen K, Jiao G, Zhu L, Li M, Fan Q, Dai Y, Zhao Q*, Shen Q*. (2023) Self-delivery of metal-coordinated NIR-II nanoadjuvants for multimodal imaging-guided photothermal-chemodynamic amplified immunotherapy. Acta Biomaterialia, 166:496-511.
  5. Dai Y, Zhang F, Chen K, Sun Z, Wang Z, Xue Y, Li M, Fan Q, Shen Q*, Zhao Q*. (2023) An Activatable phototheranostic nanoplatform for tumor specific NIR-II fluorescence imaging and synergistic NIR-II photothermal-chemodynamic t Small, 19(22):e2206053.
  6. Huang S, Yang J, Shen N, Xu Q, Zhao Q*. (2023) Artificial intelligence in lung cancer diagnosis and prognosis: Current application and future perspective. Seminars in Cancer Biology, 89:30-37.
  7. Cao, B., Liu, M., Wang, L. Zhu, K., Cai, M., Chen, X., Feng, Y., Yang, S., Fu, S., Zhi, C., Ye, X., Zhang, J., Zhang, Z., Yang, X., Zhao, M., Wu, Q., Xu, L., Yang, L., Lian, H., Zhao, Q.*, Zhang*, Z.(2022) Remodelling of tumour microenvironment by microwave ablation potentiates immunotherapy of AXL-specific CAR T cells against non-small cell lung cancer. Nature Communications 13, 6203.
  8. Liu, J., Zhang, F., Yu, J.*, Zhao, Q.*, (2022). Programmed death-ligand 1 expression on CD22-specific chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells weakens antitumor potential. MedComm3(2):
  9. Zhu L, Li J, Guo Z, Kwok HF, Zhao Q*. (2022) Synergistic combination of targeted nano-nuclear-reactors and anti-PD-L1 nanobodies evokes persistent T cell immune activation for cancer immunotherapy. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 20(1):521.
  10. Liu, M., Huang, W., Guo, Y., Zhou, Y., Zhi, C., Chen, J., Li, J. He J, Lian H, Zhou J, Ye X, Hu Y, Hu H, Liu Z, Huang J, Lin L, Cai M, Wang X, Huang J, Zhang Z*, Zhu K*, Zhao Q*, Cao, B.* (2022) CAR NK‐92 cells targeting DLL3 kill effectively small cell lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Leukocyte Biology 112(4):901-911
  11. Ma G, Tan C, Shan Y, Shao N, Wang F, Dimitrov DS, Wang L*, Zhao Q*. (2022). An insulin growth factor-I/II-neutralizing monoclonal antibody in combination with epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors potently inhibits tumor cell growth. Journal of Cancer. 13(6):1830.
  12. Zhu, L., Liu, J., Zhou, G., Liu, T.M., Dai, Y., Nie, G., Zhao, Q.*, (2021) Remodeling of tumor microenvironment by tumor-targeting nanozymes enhances immune activation of CAR T cells for combination therapy. Small 17(43): e2102624.
  13. Liu, J., Yang, S., Cao, B., Zhou, G., Zhang, F., Wang, Y., Wang, R., Zhu, L., Meng, Y., Hu, C., Liang, H., Lin, X., Zhu, K., Chen, G., Luo, Q.K., Di, L., Zhao, Q.*, (2021) Targeting B7-H3 via chimeric antigen receptor T cells and bispecific killer cell engagers augments antitumor response of cytotoxic lymphocytes. Journal of Hematology & Oncology 14: 21
  14. Cao B*, Liu M*, Huang J, Zhou J, Li J, Lian H, Huang W, Guo Y, Yang S, Lin L, Cai M, Zhi C, Wu J, Liang L, Hu Y, Hu H, He J, Liang B*, Zhao Q*, Zhu K.* (2021). Development of mesothelin-specific CAR NK-92 cells for the treatment of gastric cancer. International Journal of Biology Sciences. 17(14):3850-3861.
  15. Zhu, L., Dai, Y., Gao, L., Zhao, Q.*, (2021) Tumor microenvironment-modulated nanozymes for NIR-II-triggered hyperthermia-enhanced photo-nanocatalytic therapy via disrupting ROS homeostasis. International Journal of Nanomedcicine 16: 4559-4577
  16. Yang, S., Cao, B. H., Zhou, G. Y., Zhu, L. P., Wang, L., Zhang, L., Kwok, H. F., Zhang, Z. F.*, Zhao, Q.* (2020) Targeting B7-H3 immune checkpoint with chimeric antigen receptor-engineered natural killer cells exhibits potent cytotoxicity against non-small cell lung cancer. Fronters in Pharmacology 11, 1089
  17. Yang, S., Wei, W.*, Zhao, Q.* (2020) B7-H3, a checkpoint molecule, as a target for cancer immunotherapy. International Journal of Biology Sciences 16 (11), 1767-1773
  18. Huang, S. G., Yang, J., Fong, S.*, Zhao, Q.* (2019) Artificial intelligence in cancer diagnosis and prognosis: opportunities and challenges. Cancer Letters 471, 61-71
  19. Zhu, L. P., Liu, J., Zhou, G. Y., Ng, H. M., Ang, I. L., Ma, G. F., Liu, Y. B., Yang, S., Zhang, F. J., Miao, K., Poon, T. C. W., Zhang, X. J., Yuan, Z., Deng, C. X., Zhao, Q.* (2019) Targeting immune checkpoint B7-H3 antibody-chlorin E6 bioconjugates for spectroscopic photoacoustic imaging and photodynamic therapy. Chemical Communications 55 (95), 14255-14258
  20. Zhu, L. P., Li, P., Gao, D. Y., Liu, J., Liu, Y. B., Sun, C., Xu, M. Z., Chen, X., Sheng, Z. H., Wang, R. B., Yuan, Z., Cai, L.*, Ma, Y.*, Zhao, Q.* (2019) pH-sensitive loaded retinal/indocyanine green micelles as an “all-in-one” theranostic agent for multi-modal imaging in vivo guided cellular senescence-photothermal synergistic therapy. Chemical Communications 55 (44), 6209-6212
  21. Wang, Y., Shan, Y. M., Gao, X. Y., Gong, R., Zheng, J., Zhang, X. H. D., Zhao, Q.* (2018) Screening and expressing HIV-1 specific antibody fragments in saccharomyces cerevisiae. Molecular Immunology 103, 279-285
  22. Wu, Y. Y., Chen, Z. Z., Zhang, P. F., Zhou, L. H., Jiang, T., Chen, H. J., Gong, P., Dimitrov, D., Cai, L. T.*, Zhao, Q.* (2018) Recombinant-fully-Human-Antibody decorated highly-stable far-red AIEdots for in vivo HER-2 receptor-targeted imaging. Chemical Communications 54 (53), 7314-7317
  23. Li, D.-Z., Han, B. N., Wei, R., Yao, G. Y., Chen, Z. Z., Liu, J., Poon, T., Su, W., Zhu, Z. Y., Dimitrov, D., Zhao, Q.* (2018) N-terminal alpha-amino group modification of antibodies using a site-selective click chemistry Method. MAbs 10 (5), 712–719
  24. Chen, Z. Z., Liu, J., Chu, D. F., Shan, Y. M., Ma, G. X., Zhang, H. M., Zhang, X. H. D., Wang, P., Chen, Q., Deng, C. X., Chen, W. Z., Dimitrov, D., Zhao, Q.* (2018) A dual-specific IGF-I/II human engineered antibody domain inhibits IGF signaling in breast cancer cells. International Journal of Nanomedcicine  14 (7), 799-806
  25. Li, D. Z., Gong, R., Zheng, J., Chen, X. H., Dimitrov, D., Zhao, Q.* (2017) Engineered antibody CH2 domains binding to nucleolin: isolation, characterization and improvement of aggregation. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 485 (2), 446-453
  26. Zhao, Q., Ahmed, M., Guo, H. F., Cheung, I. Y., and Cheung, N. K. (2015) Alteration of electrostatic surface potential enhances affinity and tumor killing properties of anti-ganglioside GD2 monoclonal antibody hu3F8. Journal of Biological Chemistry 290 (21), 13017-13027
  27. Zhao, Q., Ahmed, M., Tassev, D. V., Hasan, A., Kuo, T. Y., Guo, H. F., O’Reilly, R. J., and Cheung, N. K. (2015) Affinity maturation of T-cell receptor-like antibodies for Wilms tumor 1 peptide greatly enhances therapeutic potential. Leukemia 29 (11), 2238-2247
  28. Zhao, Q., Tran, H., Dimitrov, D. S., and Cheung, N. K. (2015) A dual-specific anti-IGF-1/IGF-2 human monoclonal antibody alone and in combination with temsirolimus for therapy of neuroblastoma. International Journal of Cancer 137 (9), 2243-2252
  29. Feng, Y.*, Zhao, Q.*, Chen, W., Wang, Y., Crowder, K., and Dimitrov, D. S. (2014) A new bispecific antibody targeting non-overlapping epitopes on IGF2: design, in vitro characterization and pharmacokinetics in macaques. Experimental and Molecular Pathology 97 (3), 359-367
  30. Zhao, Q., Feng, Y., Zhu, Z., and Dimitrov, D. S. (2011) Human monoclonal antibody fragments binding to insulin-like growth factors I and II with picomolar affinity. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 10 (9), 1677-1685
Full Publications List

Full Publications List on Google Scholar

Research Grants
2020 – 2024 National Key R&D Program of China (2019YFA0904400): Directed evolution and function characterization of synthetic immune molecules with high throughput
2020 – 2021 Multi-Year Research Grant – University of Macau (MYRG2019-00069-FHS): Targeting B7-H3 with awakened natural killer cells for therapy of non-small-cell lung cancer
2018 – 2021 The international cooperation project of Guangzhou Government (201807010004), Development of targeting PD-1 enhanced WT1-specific T cell therapies in leukemias
2018 – 2021 The Science and Technology Development Fund of Macau (FDCT/0015/2018/A1), Development of potent TCR-minic CAR T cells with multiplex genome editing
2017 – 2020 The Science and Technology Development Fund of Macau (FDCT/131/2016/A3), Multi-targeting therapy of T-cell receptor-mimic antibodies recognizing tumor-specific class I MHC-peptide epitopes
2016 – 2018 International Cooperation Project of Guangdong Province: Studies of insulin-like growth factors as new targets in cancer therapy
2015 – 2018 Natural Science Fund of Guangdong: Novel anti-IGF bispecific antibodies for therapy of breast cancer
2015 National Science Fund of China (31440041), In vitro directed evolution of germline T-cell receptor mimic antibodies for T cell therapy
2014 – 2015 Novo Nordisk- CAS jointed research fund (NNCAS-2013-9), Novel bispecific antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases
Patents
  1. Generation, expression vector and application of lymphocytes expressing anti-CD22 CARs and anti-PD-L1 analogs, Application No: 202010891848.3
  2. Capped Hollow Copper Sulfide Nanoparticles and use thereof. Application No: 201911181237.3
  3. CD22-targeted high-lethality chimeric antigen receptor T-cell and use thereof in preparation of drugs for treating tumors. CN105968210A
  4. IgG hybrid bispecific antibody against TNFα and IL-17a, PCT/CN2015/099847
  5. Expression cassette for antibody expression, expression vector, host cell containing the expression vector, preparation method and applications of the host cell. CN104711253A
  6. High affinity anti-GD2 antibodies. PCT/US2014/029308
  7. Antigen-Binding Proteins Specific for HLA-A2-Restricted Wilms Tumor 1 Peptide, U.S. Patent Application No: 61/944,478
  8. Human monoclonal antibodies that bind insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I and II, PCT/US2012/033128
  9. An engineering recombinant anti-CEA/CD3/CD28 single-chain tri-specific antibody, PCT/US 2009/0117108
Awards
2011 Federal Technology Transfer Award, NIH, USA

Others
Conference Presentations

  • 1st Symposium of Chinese NIH Young Scholars, Beijing, China 2016
  • 3rd Macau Symposium on Biomedical Sciences, Macau, 2016
  • 2nd Sino-German Symposium, HSCT and Cellular Therapy for Hematological Malignancies, Heidelberg, German, 2015
  • 9th Biennial meeting of  Chinese Society for  Immunology,  Jinan,  China,2014
  • Protein Engineering Summit (PEGS), Shanghai, China, 2014
  • BIT’s 11th Annual Congress of International Drug Discovery Science & Technology, Haikou, China, 2013
  • Annual Congress of Guangdong Society for Immunology, Guangzhou, China, 2013

Teaching of undergraduate students

  1. Immunology and infectious diseases (HSCI3002).
  2. Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine (HSCI4002)