Zhao Research Group
for Drug Delivery, Cellular Engineering, and Immunoengineering
College of Pharmacy
University of Illinois at Chicago
Journal Articles
(* equal contribution; # corresponding author)
From UIC
67. Chao C., Zhang E., Zhao Z.#, Trinh D., Udofa E., He S., Zheng J., Bao Q., Phan P., Elegndy S., Shi X., Burdette J., Lee S., Gao Y., Zhao Z.# Manuscript submitted.
66. Li J., Gong G., Zhang Y., Zheng Y., He Y., Chen M., He X., Zheng X., Gong X., Liu L., Zhou K. Zhao Z., Shields W., Hua Y.#, Li Y.#, Guo J.# Under review.
65. Gunasekara H., Perera T., Chao C., Saed B., Anderson J., Zhao Z., Hu Y.# Under review.
64. Clegg J.#, Adebowale K., Zhao Z.#, Mitragotri S.# Hydrogels in the clinic: an update. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2024, in press.
63. Udofa E.*, Sankholkar D.*, Mitragotri S.#, Zhao Z.#, Antibody drug conjugates in the clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2024, in press.
62. Joshi M., Zhao Z.#, Mitragotri S.# Hemostats in the clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2024, in press.
61. He S., Zhao Z.#. Genetically engineered cell-derived nanovesicles for cancer immunotherapy. Nanoscale 2024, in press. (Nanoscale 2024 Emerging Investigators).
60. Goetz M., Thotathil N., Zhao Z.#, Mitragotri S.# Vaccine adjuvants for infectious diseases in the clinic, Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2024, in press.
59. Udofa E., Zhao Z..# In situ cellular hitchhiking of nanoparticles for drug delivery. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2023, in press.
58. Gao Y.*, Josh M.*, Zhao Z.#, Mitragotri S.# PEGylated therapeutics in the clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2023, in press.
57. Janes M. E., Gottlieb A. P., Park K. S., Zhao Z., Mitragotri S.# Cancer vaccines in the clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2023, in press.
56. Lenders V.*, Koutsoumpou X.*, Phan P.*, Soenen S., Allegaert K., de Vleeschouwer S., Toelen J., Zhao Z., Manshian B. Modulation of engineered nanomaterial interactions with organ barriers for enhanced drug transport. Chemical Society Reviews 2023, in press.
55. Chao C.*, Zhang E.*, Zhao Z.# Engineering cells for precision drug delivery: New advances, clinical translation, and emerging strategies. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2023, in press. (Special issue "Emerging Voices in Drug Delivery")
54. Phan P., Mitragotri S.#, Zhao Z.# Digital therapeutics in the clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2023, e10536.
53. Liao X., Gong G., Dai M., Xiang Z., Pan J., Shang J., Blocki A.M., Zhao Z., Shields C.W., Guo J. Systemic Tumor Suppression via Macrophage-Driven Automated Homing of Metal-Phenolic-Gated Nanosponges for Metastatic Melanoma. Advanced Science 2023, in press.
52. Li B., Teng C., Yu H., Jiang X., Xing X., Jiang Q., Lin C., Zhao Z., Zhang R., He W. Alleviating experimental pulmonary hypertension via co-delivering FoxO1 stimulus and apoptosis activator to hyperproliferating pulmonary arteries. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022. In press
51. Lenders V., Escudero R., Koutsoumpou X., Alvarez L. A., Rozenski J., Soenen S. J., Zhao Z., Mitragotri S., Baatsen P., Allegaert K., Toelen J., Manshian B. B. Modularity of RBC hitchhiking with polymeric nanoparticles: testing the limits of non-covalent adsorption. Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2022, 333.
50. Zhang E., Phan P., Zhao Z.#. Cellular nanovesicles for therapeutic immunomodulation: A perspective on engineering strategies and new advances. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B 2022. In press.
49. Zhang E., Phan P., Algarni H.A., Zhao Z.#. Red blood cell inspired strategies for drug delivery: Emerging concepts and new advances. Pharmaceutical Research (Special issue "Emerging Leaders in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences"). In press.
48. Curreri A., Sankholkar D., Mitragotri S.#, Zhao Z.#. RNA therapeutics in the Clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2022, e10374. (Selected as "Cover Article")
47. Chopade P., Chopade N., Zhao Z., Mitragotri S., Liao R., Suja V.C. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease Therapies in the Clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2022, in press.
46. Ikeda-Imafuku M., Wang L., Rodrigues D., Shaha S., Zhao Z.#, Mitragotri S#. Strategies to Improve the EPR Effect: A Mechanistic Perspective and Clinical Translation. Journal of Controlled Release 2022, 345: 512-536.
45. Glassman P., Hood E., Ferguson L., Zhao Z., Siegel D., Mitragotri S., Brenner J., Muzykantov V. Red blood cells: The metamorphosis of a neglected carrier into the natural mothership for artificial nanocarriers. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2021, 178, 113992.
44. Zhao Z.#, Anselmo A.#, Mitragotri S.# Viral vector-based gene therapies in the clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2021, e10258.
From previous institutions
43. Gao Y., Ikeda-Imafuku M., Zhao Z., Joshi M., Mitragotri S. A polymer-based systemic hemostat for managing uncontrolled bleeding. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2023, in press.
42. Zhao Z.*, Kim J.*, Suja V.C., Kapate N., Gao Y., Guo J., Muzykantov V., Mitragotri S. Red Blood Cell Anchoring Enables Targeted Transduction and Re-Administration of AAV-Mediated Gene Therapy. Advanced Science 2022, 2201293.
41. Kim J., Gao Y., Zhao Z., Rodrigues D., Tanner E.E.L., Ibsen K., Sasmal P.K., Jaladi R., Alikunju S., Mitragotri S. A deep eutectic-based, self-emulsifying subcutaneous depot system for apomorphine therapy in Parkinson's diseases. PNAS 2022, 119 (9) e2110450119.
40. Singh B., Maharjan S., Pan D., Zhao Z., Gao Y., Zhang Y.S., Mitragotri S. Imiquimod-gemcitabine nanoparticles harness immune cells to suppress breast cancer. Biomaterials 2022, 280, 121302.
39. Gao Y., Vogus D., Zhao Z., He W., Krishnan V., Kim J., Shi Y., Sarode A., Ukidve A., Mitragotri S. Hyaluronic acid hydrogels with drug nanocrystals for long-term treatment of inflammatory arthritis. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2021, e10245.
38. Wang X., Mohammad I.S., Fan L., Zhao Z., Nurunnabi M., Sallam M.A., Wu J., Chen Z., Yin L., He W. Delivery strategies of amphotericin B for invasive fungal infections. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinia B 2021, 11 (8): 2585-2604.
37. Krishnan V., Peng K., Sarode A., Prakash S., Zhao Z., Filippov S.K., Todorova K., Sell B.R., Lujano O., Bakre S., Pusuluri A., Vogus D., Tsai K.Y., Mandinova A., Mitragotri S. Hyaluronic acid conjugates for topical treatment of skin cancer lesions. Science Advances 2021, 7 (24): abe6627.
36. Hu Y., Zhao Z., Ehrich M., Zhang C. Formulation of Nanovaccines toward an Extended Immunity against Nicotine. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2021, 13 (24): 27972–27982.
35. Zhao Z., Tanner E. L. E., Kim J., Gao Y., Mitragotri S. Ionic Liquid-Enabled Topical Delivery of Immunomodulators. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering 2021, 7 (6): 2783–2790.
34. Wang L., Janes M., Kumbhojkar N., Kapate N., Clegg J., Prakash S., Heavey M., Zhao Z., Anselmo A., Mitragotri S. Cell therapies in the clinic. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2021, 6 (2): e10214.
33. Hu Y., Smith D., Frazier E., Zhao Z., Zhang C. Toll-like receptor 9 agonists as adjuvants for nanoparticle-based nicotine vaccine. Molecular Pharmaceutics 2021, 18 (3): 1293–1304.
32. Wu D., Vogus D., Krishnan V., Broto, M., Pusuluri A., Zhao Z., Kapate N., Mitragotri S. Optimized 5-Fluorouridine Prodrug for Co-Loading with Doxorubicin in Clinically Relevant Liposomes. Pharmaceutics 2021, 13 (1): 107.
31. Zhao Z.*, Ukidve A.*, Krishnan V., Fehnel A., Pan D., Gao Y., Kim J., Evans M., Mandal A., Guo J., Muzykantov V., Mitragotri S. Systemic tumor suppression via the preferential accumulation of erythrocyte-anchored chemokine-encapsulating nanoparticles in lung metastases. Nature Biomedical Engineering 2020.
Press features: Harvard Gazette, EurekAlert, Tech Explorist, Medgadget, New Atlas, Technology Networks, Medicalxpress, Wyss News, Freethink et al.
30. Zhao Z.*, Ukidve A.*, Kim J., Mitragotri S. Targeting strategies for tissue-specific drug delivery. Cell (Cell Press) 2020, 181 (1):151-167.
29. Ukidve A.*, Zhao Z.*, Fehnel A., Krishnan V., Pan D., Gao Y., Mandal A., Muzykantov V., Mitragotri S. Erythrocyte-driven immunization via biomimicry of their natural antigen presenting function. PNAS 2020, 117 (30): 17727-17736.
Press features: Wyss News, Harvard Gazette, Medical Xpress, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News, Tech Explorist, Ebiotrade, LongevityTechnology, British Society for Haematology et al.
28. Zhao Z.*, Pan D.*, Kim J., Qi Q., Kim J., Kapate N., Shields C.W., Kwon C., He W., Guo J., Mitragotri S. Engineering of living cells with polyphenol-functionalized biologically active nanocomplexes. Advanced Materials 2020, 2003492.
27. Sun T.*, Dasgupta A.*, Zhao Z.*, Nurunnabi M.*, Mitragotri S. Physical triggering strategies for drug delivery. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2020, in press.
26. Shi Y., Zhao Z., Peng K., Gao Y., Wu D., Kim J., Mitragotri S. Enhancement of anticancer efficacy and tumor penetration of sorafenib by ionic liquids. Advanced Healthcare Materials 2020, in press.
25. Wu D., Zhao Z., Kim J., Razmi A., Wang L., Kapate N., Gao Y., Peng K., Ukidve A., Mitragotri S. Gemcitabine and doxorubicin in immunostimulatory monophosphoryl lipid A liposome for treating breast cancer. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine 2020, e10188.
24. Gao Y., Sarode A., Kokoroskos N., Saillant N., Ukidve A., Zhao Z., Guo S., Gupta A., Flaumenhaft R., Mitragotri S. A polymer-based systemic hemostatic agent. Science Advances 2020, 6, eaba0588.
Press features: Wyss News, Harvard Gazette, News Landed, New Atlas et al.
23. Glassman P.M., Villa C.H., Ukidve A., Zhao Z., Smith P., Mitragotri S., Russell A.J., Brenner J.S., Muzykantov V.R. Vascular drug delivery using carrier red blood cells: focus on RBC surface loading and pharmacokinetics. Pharmaceutics 2020, 12 (5): 440.
22. Shields IV, C.W., Evans M.A., Wang L.L., Baugh N., Iyer S., Wu D., Zhao Z., Ukidve A., Pusuluri A., Mitragotri S. Cellular backpacks for macrophage immunotherapy. Science Advances 2020, 6: eaaz6579.
Press features: Medical Press, Fierce Biotech, Genengnews, Technologynetworks, ecancer, MBS News, Wyss Institute et al.
21. Shi Y., Zhao Z., Gao Y., Pan D.C., Salinas A.K., Tanner E.E., Guo J., Mitragotri S. Oral Delivery of sorafenib through spontaneous formation of ionic liquid nanocomplexes. Journal of Controlled Release 2020, 322: 602-609.
20. Xing H., Wang X., Xiao G., Zhao Z., Zou S., Li M., Richardson J., Tardy B., Xie L., Komasa S., Okazaki J., Jiang Q., Yang G., Guo J. Hierarchical assembly of nanostructured coating for siRNA-based dual therapy of bone regeneration and revascularization. Biomaterials 2020, 235: 119784.
Press features: Nanoer, Polymer, Eastday et al.
19. Zhao Z.*, Ukidve A.*, Gao Y., Kim J., Mitragotri S. Erythrocyte leveraged chemotherapy (ELeCt): Nanoparticle assembly on erythrocyte surface to combat lung metastasis. Science Advances 2019, 5, eaax9250.
Press features: Science Daily, Harvard Gazette, Medgadget, Wyss News, Phys.org, Nanowerk, EurekAlert!, Technology Networks, Nanoer, Onco’Zine, Wissenschaft, ecancer, OncologyNews, Science Rehashed et al.
18. Zhao Z.*, Ukidve A.*, Krishnan V.*, Mitragotri S. Effect of physicochemical and surface properties on in vivo fate of drug nanocarriers. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2019, 143: 3-21.
17. Zhao Z., Hu Y., Harmon T., Pentel P., Ehrich M., Zhang C. Effect of adjuvant release rate on the immunogenicity of nanoparticle-based vaccines: A case study with a nanoparticle-based nicotine vaccine. Molecular Pharmaceutics 2019, 16 (6): 2766-2775.
16. Evans M., Shields W., Krishnan V., Wang L., Zhao Z., Ukidve A., Lewandowski M., Gao Y., Mitragotri S. Macrophage-mediated delivery of hypoxia-activated prodrug nanoparticles. Advanced Therapeutics 2019, 1900162.
15. Shi Y., Peng D., Wang D., Zhao Z., Chen B., He B., Zhang H., Dai W., Wang X., Zhu Y., Wang K., Tian J., Zhang Q. Biodistribution survey of oxidized single-wall carbon nanohorns following different administration routes by using label-free multispectral optoacoustic tomography. International Journal of Nanomedicine 2019, 14: 9809-9821.
14. Hu Y., Smith D., Zhao Z., Harmon T., Pentel P., Ehrich M., Zhang C. Alum as an adjuvant for nanoparticle based vaccines: A case study with a hybrid nanoparticle-based nicotine vaccine. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2019, 20: 102023.
13. Zhao Z., Ukidve A., Dasgupta A., Mitragotri S. Transdermal immunomodulation: Principles, advances and perspectives. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2018, 127: 3-19.
12. Zhao Z., Harris B., Hu Y., Harmon T., Pentel P., Ehrich M., Zhang C. Rational incorporation of molecular adjuvants into a hybrid nanoparticle-based nicotine vaccine for immunotherapy against nicotine addiction. Biomaterials 2018, 155: 165-175.
11. Zhao Z., Hu Y., Harmon T., Pentel P., Ehrich M., Zhang C. Hybrid nanoparticle-based nicotine nanovaccines: Boosting the immunological efficacy by conjugation of potent carrier proteins. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2018, 14 (5): 1655-1665.
10. Hu Y., Zhao Z., Harmon T., Pentel P., Ehrich M., Zhang C. Paradox of PEGylation in fabricating hybrid nanoparticle-based nicotine vaccines. Biomaterials 2018, 182: 72-81.
9. Lou S., Zhao Z., Dezort M., Lohneis T., Zhang C. Multifunctional nanosystem for targeted and controlled delivery of multiple chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of drug-resistant breast cancer. ACS Omega 2018, 3 (8): 9210-9219.
8. Zhao Z., Hu Y., Harmon T., Pentel P., Ehrich M., Zhang C. Rationalization of a nanoparticle-based nicotine nanovaccine as an effective next-generation nicotine vaccine: A focus on hapten localization. Biomaterials 2017, 138: 46-56.
7. Zhao Z., Powers K., Hu Y., Raleigh M., Pentel P., Zhang C. Engineering of a hybrid nanoparticle-based nicotine nanovaccine as a next-generation immunotherapeutic strategy against nicotine addiction: A focus on hapten density. Biomaterials 2017, 123: 107-117.
6. Zhao Z., Lou S., Hu Y., Zhu J., Zhang C. A nano-in-nano polymer-dendrimer nanoparticle-based nanosystem for controlled multidrug delivery. Molecular Pharmaceutics 2017, 14 (8): 2697-2710.
5. Zhao Z.*, Hu Y.*, Hoerle R., Devine M., Raleigh M, Pentel P., Zhang C. A nanoparticle-based nicotine vaccine and the influence of particle size on its immunogenicity and efficacy. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine 2017, 13 (2): 443-454.
4. Zhu J., Rodriguez-Corrales J., Prussin R., Zhao Z., Dominijanni A., Hopkins S., Winkel B., Robertson J., Brewer K. Exploring the activity of a polyazine bridged Ru (ii)-Pt (ii) supramolecule in F98 rat malignant glioma cells. Chemical Communications 2016, 53 (1): 145-148.
3. Zhu J., Dominijanni A., Rodriguez-Corrales J., Prussin R., Zhao Z., Li T., Robertson J., Brewer K. Visible light-induced cytotoxicity of Ru, Os-polyazine complexes towards rat malignant glioma. Inorganica Chimica Acta 2017, 454: 155-161.
2. Babahosseini H., Srinivasaraghavan V.*, Zhao Z.*, Gillam F., Childress E., Strobl J., Santos W., Zhang C., Agah M. The impact of sphingosine kinase inhibitor-loaded nanoparticles on bioelectrical and mechanical properties of cancer cells. Lab on a Chip 2016, 16 (1): 188-198.
1. Hu Y., Zhao Z., Ehrich M., Fuhrman K., Zhang C. In vitro controlled release of antigen in dendritic cells using pH-sensitive liposome-polymeric hybrid nanoparticles. Polymer 2015, 80: 171-179.
Book Chapters
(* equal contribution; # corresponding author)
Hu Y.*, Zhao Z.*, Saylor K.*, Zhang C. Nicotine Vaccines: The past, the present, and the future. In Neuroscience of Nicotine (pp. 475-482) 2019. Academic Press.