Professor Guangzhao Mao currently serves as the Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, where she leads pioneering research in nanotechnology. Her work is centred on two key areas: the mechanisms of nucleation and crystal growth at the nanoscale, and the intersection of nanotechnology and neuroscience, which promises breakthroughs in drug delivery systems. In her first research stream, Professor Mao investigates the fundamental processes of nucleation and crystal growth on the nanoscale, focusing on their application in the development of nanosensors.
Her research aims to enhance sensor sensitivity and scalability, with potential applications across medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and industrial process control. Her expertise in nanoscale materials has led to advancements in integrating these sensors into larger systems, pushing the boundaries of how these sensors can be used in real-world applications. Her second research stream takes a transformative approach, combining nanomaterials with neuroscience to create novel methods for drug delivery to the central nervous system.
Professor Mao’s team has developed protein-drug nanoconjugates capable of bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a critical barrier that traditionally impedes treatment for central nervous system disorders. This targeted delivery system enables precise treatment with significantly lower drug dosages, which has shown to enhance respiratory function in spinal cord injury models, offering promising prospects for neurodegenerative medicine. Her latest publication in this field introduces a microfluidic cell-based assay designed to screen BBB-bypassing nanoconjugates, streamlining the process for testing potential therapeutics and accelerating preclinical evaluations. Prior to her role at the University of Edinburgh, Professor Mao was Head of the School of Chemical Engineering at UNSW Sydney, where she is now an Adjunct Professor. Her international experience includes a Fulbright Senior Scholarship-supported Visiting Professorship at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, and she holds a prestigious fellowship with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE).
Recognised early in her career with a Faculty Career Award from the U.S. National Science Foundation, Professor Mao continues to be a prominent figure in the field, advancing the potential of nanotechnology in both engineering and medicine.
Link: https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/professor-guangzhao-mao