Directory profile for Dr. Yuping Bao

Dr. Yuping Bao’s group focuses on designing novel multifunctional nanoparticles for biomedical applications, such as targeted drug delivery, bio‐imaging, and drug discovery.

Magnetic nanoparticles have significantly advanced cancer treatments through targeted drug delivery and localized therapy. Magnetic nanoparticles further make simultaneous therapy and diagnosis possible as MRI contrast agents.

One of the unique aspects of Bao’s research is the creation of a suite of iron oxide nanoparticles of different shapes as MRI contrast agents and for other biotechnology related applications. These shapes include spheres, cubes, nanowires, plates, flowers, etc.

Much of Bao’s works are directly related to the engineering of material interfaces. Her group developed a facile method to attach various molecules onto nanoparticle surfaces for water solubility and desirable functionality, such as tumor targeting.

In collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the biological science department at UA, Bao’s group also designs nanostructures for delivery of modulators drugs to the brain and nanostructures for drug screening from complex matrices.