Yan Liu received her B.S. (1993) from Shandong University Department of Applied Chemistry, specialized in colloidal chemistry. Her Ph.D. (2000) work in Columbia University was focused on using second harmonic generation to study the surface properties of colloidal particles. She did postdoctoral research in Rockefeller University and Duke University studying photobiology and photochemistry of proteins and pigments. She joined the faculty of Arizona State University at Biodesign Institute in 2004. She is currently a professor in the School of Molecular Science and the Biodesign Institute at ASU. Her current research interests focus on understanding the physical chemistry aspects of DNA based self-assembly and developing applications of DNA-directed assembly in nanophotonics and nanomedicine.
Our research is focused on the following three themes:
1. Chemical synthesis and photophysics of quantum materials: Quantum-size semiconductor building blocks, such as quantum dots, quantum wires, and quantum sheets and the corresponding hetero-structures have broad applications ranging from light emitting diodes, nanolasers, nanoelectronics, solar cell devices to biological fluorescent labels. Constructing highly tunable building blocks and the corresponding hetero-structures with control over the size, shape, composition, crystalinity, and their hierarchical structures is vitally important to fully exploit these materials. We aim to develop state of the art colloidal chemistry strategy to synthesize and characterize a series of novel quantum materials with unique optical and electronic properties and investigate their applications in functional nanodevices.
2. Physical chemistry of DNA nanotechnology: DNA nanotechnology allows the design and construction of nanoscale objects that have finely-tuned dimensions, orientation, and structure with remarkable ease and convenience. With the increasing complexity of the DNA nanostructural system these days, much fundamental studies are needed to further understand the underlying physical chemistry. First, we aim to systematically investigate the thermodynamics and kinetics of DNA nanostructure formation. These thermodynamics and kinetics studies will shed light on the stability of the DNA nanostructures, push the limit on their application conditions, and improve their performance. Second, we aim to engineer synthetic DNA nanostructures to model or mimic a variety of other molecules and systems. For example, synthetic DNA nanostructures can be designed to serve as models to study the binding behavior of multi-valent molecules and gain insight into how small changes to the ligand/receptor scaffolds, such as conformational flexibility or relative distance or orientation of the multiple ligands, will affect their association equilibrium with the target molecules. This is important in understanding many multi-valent interactions in nature, like pathogen invasion, immunology recognition, cell-cell interaction.
3. DNA directed deterministic positioning of nanophotonic elements: Systematical study of photonic elements interactions with deterministic positioning at nanometer scale is very important for: a) fundamental understanding of the underlying distance dependent interactions and energy transfer between various photonic elements; b) providing useful models to understand photonic antenna systems existing in nature; c) providing crucial information for constructing artificial biophotonic systems for applications ranging from light harvesting to biosensing. Along this line, we aim to use DNA directed self-assembly to: a) study distance dependent effects between metallic nanoparticles and organic fluorophores; b) construct molecular antenna systems for efficient light harvesting; c) construct and understand geometry dependent energy transfers between fluorophores. We are also collaborating with theory group to fully understand these nanostructured photonic systems. Experiments are designed to test theoretical hypothesis and modeling. New models will be developed by taking into account of many experimental parameters resulting from the deterministic positioning of photonic elements.
Summer 2022 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BDE 792 | Research |
Spring 2022 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BCH 367 | Elementary Biochemistry Lab |
BDE 792 | Research |
BDE 795 | Continuing Registration |
BDE 799 | Dissertation |
Summer 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BDE 792 | Research |
Spring 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BCH 564 | Bionanotechnology |
BDE 792 | Research |
BDE 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BCH 467 | Analytical Biochemistry Lab |
Summer 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BDE 792 | Research |
Spring 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BCH 361 | Principles of Biochemistry |
BCH 564 | Bionanotechnology |
BDE 792 | Research |
BDE 799 | Dissertation |
Spring 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BCH 463 | Biophysical Chemistry |
BDE 792 | Research |
BDE 799 | Dissertation |
Fall 2018 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BCH 361 | Principles of Biochemistry |
Spring 2018 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BCH 467 | Analytical Biochemistry Lab |
Fall 2017 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BCH 361 | Principles of Biochemistry |
25. “DNA origami and Applications” Ten years of DNA origami Symposium, California Institute of Technology, March, 2016.
24. “Thermodynamics and Kinetics of DNA Based Self-assembly” Department of Physics, ASU, Tempe, December, 2015.
23. “Designer DNA Architectures for Programmable Self-Assembly ” National Center for NanoScience and Technology, Beijing, China. September, 2015.
22. “Designer DNA Architectures for Programmable Self-Assembly ” Department of Chemistry, Xuetang lecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. September, 2015.
21. “DNA Based Artificial Light-Harvesting Antenna”. ChinaNano 2015. Beijing, China. September, 2015.
20. “DNA Scaffolded Artificial Light Harvesting Antenna” Research Training Group Nano- and Biotechnologies for Packaging of Electronic Systems, Technische Universitat at Dresden, Germany. June, 2015.
19. “DNA Nanostructures for Nanophotonics” Colloquium of the Kurt-Schwabe Institute Meinsberg, Germany. June, 2015.
18. “DNA tile based self-assembly and their thermodynamics and kinetics”, Colloquium of Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. March 2015.
17. “Assembly of Nanophotonic Elements by DNA Nanostructures” Gordon Conference, Electron Donor-Acceptor Interactions, Newport, RI. August, 2014.
16. “Assembly of Nanophotonic Elements by DNA Nanostructures” (Keynote lecture) Foundation of Nanosciences (FNANO14), Snowbird, UT, April, 2014.
15. “Thermodynamics and Kinetics of DNA based self-assembly” 18th conversation. Albany Stereodynamics Symposium, Albany, New York, June, 2013.
14. “Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of self-assembly of DNA nanostructures” J. Nangreave, Y. Liu, ACS National Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, August, 2012.
13. “DNA nano-architectures for photonic applications” Foundation of Nanosciences (FNANO12), Snowbird, UT, April, 2012.
12. “DNA nano-architectures for photonic applications” Material Research Society Meeting, San Francisco, April, 2012.
11. “DNA nano-architectures” International Conference on RNA Nanotechnology & Therapeutics, Cleveland, Ohio, October 2010.
10. “DNA based self-assembly” Veeco Instruments, Santa Barbara, CA, August, 2010.
9. “DNA based multi-valency”, Foundation of Nanosciences (FNANO10), Snowbird, UT, April, 2010.
8. “DNA Directed Self-Assembly of Proteins, Cells and Nanoparticles” BNI Neuroscience Conference, Barrow Neurology Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ. March, 2010.
7. “DNA Directed Self-Assembly for Nanophotonics” ONR grant kickoff seminars, Columbia University, New York, NY. December, 2009.
6. “DNA directed self-assembly of nanoparticles and proteins” DNA Based Nanotechnology, International Workshop, Dresden, Germany. May, 2009.
5. “DNA-tile based biodetection” NanoKAP, 2008, Utilizing Nano Technology for Detection Toxins and Pathogens, Phoenix, AZ. November, 2008.
4. “DNA-based self-assembly of nanostructures”, H. Yan, The 9th Sanken International Symposium on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan, September, 2006.
3. “Analysis of Melanosomes Isolated from Bovine Eyes: Comparison Between Ages and Tissues”, 12th Pan-American Society of Pigment Cell Research. LA, CA, June, 2004.
2. “Comparison of Melanosomes Isolated From RPE, Iris And Choroids Of Newborn And Mature Bovine Eyes”, Pigment Development Workshop, Bethesda, MD, April, 2004.
1. “The Structural and Reactivity of Natural Melanins” 10th Congress of the European Society for Photobiology, Vienna, Austria, September, 2003.