Reported by: Academy of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Sciences
Translated by: MIAO Siwei
Edited by: Patti Broderick
Updated: 2012-3-26
March 16th, Harbin Institute of Technology’s (HIT’s) Micro/Nano Technology Research Center’s paper, Complex polymer brush gradients based on nanolithography and surface-initiated polymerization, was published in Chemical Society Reviews (DOI: 10.1039/c2cs15316e), an international journal (2011 SCI Impact factor 26.583). To date, this paper ranks as HIT’s highest impact chemical science paper. It is the first HIT paper ever to be published in this world-class journal.
In recent years, researchers led by Professor HE Qiang, in cooperation with Heidelberg University, designed a two-dimensional polymer brush based on nanolithography. This brush’s array structure can be used to model an extracellular matrix, cell adhesion and spread (Langmuir 23 (2007) 3981). On the basis of this two-dimensional design, they devised a complex three-dimensional polymer brush gradient applying nanolithography and surface-initiated polymerization, for the first time ever realizing its controllable preparation and avoiding other manufacturing methods’ multi-step printing process.
Gradients play an important role in a living system. The study of gradient surfaces not only leads to a better understanding of life processes by cell micro-environment modeling, but it also creates a high-throughput analysis platform that contributes to greater research efficiency.
The Micro/Nano Technology Research Center was founded in 2003, integrating researchers in materials processing, mechanical engineering, physics, chemistry, microelectronics, and metrology and instrumentation. I currently has 45 research scientists and engineers, including 3 Changjiang Scholars, 6 recipients of National Science Funds for Distinguished Chinese Young Scholars, 7 recipients of Provincial Science Funds for Distinguished Heilongjiang Young Scholars, and 9 recipients of New Century Excellent Talents funding.
Professor HE, of HIT’s Academy of Fundamental and Interdisciplinary Sciences (AFIS) primarily researches active bionic system design, assembling and application. He and his research team are supported by China’s National Natural Science Foundation, the 100-Talents Plan and the Ministry of Education’s 2011 New Century Excellent Talents funding of RMB 500,000 over three years. Professor HE has published 61 papers in international academic journals, 47 of which have an impact factor above 4.0. His papers have received 1,200 citations and earned him an h-index rating of 22.
Chemical Society Reviews is a bimonthly peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry with a 2010 impact factor of 26.58, ranking it as the journal with the second highest impact factor in general chemistry. It publishes articles on topics of current interest in the chemical sciences and a number of themed issues each year on topical and cutting edge areas of chemical research.
