Zhanhong Du  Ph.D. Supervisor
Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Email: zh.du@siat.ac.cn
Mailing Address: 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, University Town of Shenzhen, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China


Research Areas

Dr. Zhanhong Du is the Principal Investigator of the Bio-Electronic Interface Engineering Lab (BEIE Lab, WeChat Official Account: BEIELab).

His research focuses on developing technologies such as neural electrodes, electrochemistry, and nanomaterials for the diagnosis, treatment, and mechanism analysis of neurological disorders. He investigates circuit mechanisms in epilepsy and other paroxysmal neurological diseases and explores novel strategies for precise interventions.

Current research projects include:

  1. Conductive polymers and carbon nanomaterials for neural electrode modification and flexible neural electrodes.
  2. Novel drug-controlled release materials and in vivo neurotransmitter detection sensors.
  3. High-throughput algorithms for action potential sorting, time-frequency field potential analysis, equivalent circuit modeling, and image analysis in neural electrophysiology, electrochemistry, and behavioral data.
  4. Circuit mechanisms underlying innate and learned behavior changes in neurological diseases such as epilepsy.
  5. Development and improvement of flexible neural electrode materials for EEG recording and neuromodulation techniques such as tDCS.


Research Directions

Direction 1: Controlled drug release using conductive polymers. Dual-layer drug-loaded films, such as PEDOT/CNT and PPy/CNT/DNQX, were used for precise in vivo release of DNQX to regulate sensory input in the rat barrel cortex. This approach holds potential for modulating epileptic discharges or pain intervention. Results were published in Advanced Functional Materials.


Direction 2: Flexible implantable neural electrodes made entirely of polymer materials were developed, demonstrating minimal peripheral nerve tissue damage after 8 weeks of chronic implantation. These electrodes were validated for neural recording and brain stimulation devices. The findings were published in Acta Biomaterialia.

A novel neural interface assembly method was developed, enabling direct neural connections within tissues without requiring surgery or polymer carriers. This method effectively connected nerve endings in deep fascia and periosteum and, for the first time, achieved local and systemic immune response regulation through in-tissue electrode assembly after non-surgical liquid injection. The study was published in PNAS.

Direction 3: Neural electrodes were modified with materials such as PEDOT/CNT and PEDOT/IL to reduce impedance, enhance signal-to-noise ratio, and increase charge injection limits. Additionally, various automated algorithms, including equivalent circuit modeling and action potential sorting, were developed. Multiple papers were published in Journal of Materials Chemistry C and IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering.


Direction 4: Electrodes modified with nucleic acid aptamers were used to detect in vivo cocaine concentrations, providing insights into the mechanisms of addictive drugs in different brain regions. The study was published in Journal of Materials Chemistry B.


Education

  • August 2009 – December 2015: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh
  • September 2005 – July 2009: Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China


Publications

   
Papers

Ø1.Sha, B., S. Zhao, M. Gu, D. Khodagholy, L. Wang, G. Q. Bi, and Z. Du.*(唯一通讯作者) "Doping-Induced Assembly Interface for Noninvasive in Vivo Local and Systemic Immunomodulation." Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 120, no. 49 (Dec 5 2023): e2306777120.

Ø 2.Li, J, Cheng, Y., Gu, M., Yang, Z., Zhan, L., and Du, Z.*(唯一通讯作者) "Sensing and Stimulation Applications of Carbon Nanomaterials in Implantable Brain-Computer Interface." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24, no. 6 (2023).

Ø 3.Qi, X.#, Du, Z. J.#(共同第一作者), Zhu, L.#, Liu, X., Xu, H., Zhou, Z., Zhong, C., Li, S., Wang, L.*, & Zhang, Z.* (2019). The Glutamatergic Postrhinal CortexVentrolateral Orbitofrontal Cortex Pathway Regulates Spatial Memory Retrieval. Neuroscience Bulletin, 35(3), 447-460.

Ø 4.Zhu, L.#, Wang, Z.#, Du, Z.#(共同第一作者), Qi, X., Shu, H., Liu, D., Su, F., Ye, Q., Liu, X., Zhou, Z., Tang, Y., Song, R., Wang, X., Lin, L., Li, S., Han, Y.*, Wang, L.*, & Zhang, Z.* (2020). Impaired Parahippocampal Gyrus-Orbitofrontal Cortex Circuit Associated with Visuospatial Memory Deficit as a Potential Biomarker and Interventional Approach for Alzheimer Disease. Neurosci Bull, 36(8), 831-844.

Ø 5.都展宏*(第一作者兼共同通讯作者), 鲁艺, 蔚鹏飞, 邓春山, & 李骁健*. (2020). 植入式神经电极阵列器件与材料的研究进展. 物理化学学报, 1-13.

Ø Du, Zhanhong Jeff#, Guo-Qiang Bi, and Xinyan Tracy Cui*. "Electrically Controlled Neurochemical Release from Dual-Layer Conducting Polymer Films for Precise Modulation of Neural Network Activity in Rat Barrel Cortex." Advanced Functional Materials 28, no. 12 (2017): 1703988唯一第一作者)

Ø Du, Zhanhong Jeff#, Christi L  Kolarcik#, Takashi D Y  Kozai, Silvia D  Luebben, Shawn A  Sapp, Xin Sally  Zheng, James A  Nabity, and X Tracy  Cui*. "Ultrasoft Microwire Neural Electrodes Improve Chronic Tissue Integration." Acta Biomater 53 (Feb 06 2017): 46-58共同第一作者

Ø Du, Zhanhong Jeff#, Xiliang Luo, Cassandra L. Weaver, and Xinyan Tracy Cui*. "Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene)-Ionic Liquid Coating Improves Neural Recording and Stimulation Functionality of Meas." Journal of Materials Chemistry C 3, no. 25 (2015): 6515-24唯一第一作者

Ø Kozai Takashi D. Y.#)(*, Catt Kasey, Du Zhanhong, Na Kyounghwan, Srivannavit Onnop, Haque Razi-ul M., Seymour John, Wise Kensall D., Yoon Euisik, Cui X. Tracy*. Chronic in vivo evaluation of PEDOT/CNT for stable neural recordings. IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering, 2016, 63(1): 111-119共同作者

Ø Zhan-Hong Du#)(*, Yi Lu , and Li-Ping Wang. "Neurotransmitter Sensing in Diagnosis and Researchof Neurological Diseases." Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 47, no. 10 (2019): 1651-63.唯一第一作者、唯一通讯作者)

Ø Kozai, Takashi D.Y.#)(*, Zhanhong Du, Zhannetta V. Gugel, Matthew A. Smith, Steven M. Chase, Lance M. Bodily, Ellen M. Caparosa, Robert M. Friedlander, and X. Tracy Cui. "Comprehensive Chronic Laminar Single-Unit, Multi-Unit, and Local Field Potential Recording Performance with Planar Single Shank Electrode Arrays." J Neurosci Methods 242C (Dec 24 2014): 15-40共同作者

Ø Taylor, Ian#, Zhanhong Jeff Du, Emma Bigelow, James Eles, Anthony R. Horner, Kasey A. Catt, Stephen Weber, Brian Jamieson, and Xinyan Tracy Cui. "Aptamer-Functionalized Neural Recording Electrodes for the Direct Measurement of Cocaine in Vivo." Journal of Materials Chemistry B 5, no. 13 (2017): 2445-58.共同作者

Ø Alba Nicolas#, Du Zhanhong, Catt Kasey, Kozai Takashi, Cui Xinyan. In Vivo Electrochemical Analysis of a PEDOT/MWCNT Neural Electrode Coating. Biosensors, 2015, 5(4): 618.共同作者

Ø Ashwati, Krishnan, Forssell Mats, Du Zhanhong, X. Tracy Cui, K. Fedder Gary, and K. Kelly Shawn. "Residual Voltage as an Ad-Hoc Indicator of Electrode Damage in Biphasic Electrical Stimulation." Journal of Neural Engineering  (2021).共同作者

Ø Kolarcik, Christi L#, Kasey  Catt, Erika  Rost, Ingrid N  Albrecht, Dennis  Bourbeau, Zhanhong Du, Takashi D Y  Kozai, et al. "Evaluation of Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene)/Carbon Nanotube Neural Electrode Coatings for Stimulation in the Dorsal Root Ganglion." J Neural Eng 12, no. 1 (Feb 2015): 016008.共同作者


Patents

Zhanhong Du, Yuhang Cheng, Jinning Li, and Guoqiang Bi. An electrophoretic structure and a biological sample labeling device. Chinese Invention Patent, 2023.

Zhanhong Du, Baoning Sha, Shengzhuo Zhao, Guoqiang Bi, and Liping Wang. A flexible contact modified by electropolymerization, and a semi-dry electrode and EEG cap containing the flexible contact. Chinese Invention Patent, 2021.

Zhanhong Du, Baoning Sha, Shengzhuo Zhao, Yuhang Cheng, Minling Gu, Guoqiang Bi, and Liping Wang. Highly stable self-assembled MXene nanosheets, their preparation method, and applications. Chinese Invention Patent, 2021. (Granted)

Zhanhong Du, Baoning Sha, Shengzhuo Zhao, Yuhang Cheng, Guannan Zhao, Guoqiang Bi, and Liping Wang. Minimally invasive neural interface fabricated by jet in situ generation, its preparation method, and applications. CN202111116073.3, Chinese Invention Patent, 2021. (Granted)

Zhanhong Du, Baoning Sha, Shengzhuo Zhao, Minling Gu, Guoqiang Bi, and Liping Wang. An electrochemical modification device for flexible electrodes and its modification method. Chinese Invention Patent, 2021. (Granted)

Zhanhong Du, Baoning Sha, Shengzhuo Zhao, Guannan Zhao, Guoqiang Bi, and Liping Wang. A flexible contact with gradient porosity and the semi-dry electrode and EEG cap containing the flexible contact. Chinese Invention Patent, 2021.

Yi Lu, Cheng Zhong, Lulu Wang, Zhanhong Du, Jie Tu, Fan Yang, and Liping Wang. A method for preparing a surface-attached electrode array. 201610779653.3, Chinese Invention Patent, 2016. (Granted)

Shengzhuo Zhao, Zhanhong Du, Baoning Sha, Guannan Zhao, Guoqiang Bi, and Liping Wang. A green and rapid preparation method for metal-organic framework compound thin film coatings. Chinese Invention Patent, 2022. (Granted)


Students

现指导学生

郭丰  硕士研究生  086000-生物与医药  

何祥焕  硕士研究生  085400-电子信息