Speaker:

Prof. Rongjun Chen, Imperial College London.

Tittle: Nature-inspired strategies for biomacromolecule delivery and stability

Time: 9:30 July 10th, 2026 (Friday)

Venue: Conference Room No.6, Building No.5

Host: Prof. Hao Wang

Abstract:

Rongjun Chen obtained a PhD degree and undertook postdoctoral research in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge. He is currently Professor of Biomaterials Engineering and Head of the Biomaterials and Nanomedicine Laboratory in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London.

His research focuses on the design, synthesis, and manufacturing of polymers, lipids, and bio-inspired nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of active pharmaceutical agents, with particular emphasis on biomacromolecules including nucleic acids, peptides, and proteins. He has established a translational research programme in targeted nanomedicine, room-temperature-stable RNA vaccine formulations, and cell and gene therapies for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and infectious diseases.

He is the Formulation Lead of the EPSRC Future Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub and has served as an invited member of the UK Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) and Intracellular Delivery (ICD) Taskforce, as well as Chairman of the Chinese Life Scientist Society in the UK. His work has been published in leading journals, including Nature, Nature Chemistry, Science Advances, Advanced Materials, Biomaterials, and Journal of Controlled Release. His research achievements have been recognised through several awards, including the IChemE Global Team Award (2021), the Imperial College President's Award for Outstanding Research Team (2021), and a Highly Commended distinction for the IChemE Global Biotechnology Award (2018). He serves as an Editor for Chemical Engineering Journal and as a member of the Editorial Board of Discover Molecules and Nano Trends.

Info.:

Biomacromolecules are emerging as a powerful new class of vaccines and therapeutics, with the potential to address a wide range of diseases that remain difficult to treat. However, their clinical impact is often limited by challenges in targeted delivery and favourable stability.

In this seminar, we will explore how insights from natural biological systems can inform the design of advanced delivery platforms. By understanding how nature transports and stabilises biomolecules, we can develop new strategies to enhance the performance of macromolecular drugs.

The talk will present our latest work on the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation (in vitro and in vivo) of nature-inspired delivery systems. These platforms aim to improve both the delivery efficiency and stability of biomacromolecules, offering promising routes towards next-generation vaccines and therapeutics.