Date:                    February 26, 2025 (Wed)

Time:                    9:30am

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Meeting ID:        934 5414 7528
Password:            620245

Abstract:

Neuromodulation technologies, such as optogenetics and chemogenetics, have revolutionized the ability to modulate cellular processes in the deep brain. However, their reliance on invasive procedures often leads to permanent tissue damage and chronic gliosis, limiting their clinical translation. Developing precise, non-invasive molecular manipulation techniques with dynamic control of cellular events in deep tissues represents a promising avenue for therapeutic applications. My research focuses on leveraging focused ultrasound nanotechnologies to overcome these challenges. First, I will present the development of mechanoluminescent nanotransducers that enable non-invasive light delivery to the deep brain under focused ultrasound stimulation, facilitating neural modulation and potential neurodegenerative disease treatments. Next, I will introduce the concept of using ultrasound to achieve programmable, spatiotemporal control of mechanochemical bond scission. This approach allows for precise manipulation of cellular events and opens new possibilities for molecular-level therapeutics. I will also discuss bioinspired polymers and lipids designed as efficient systems for drug and gene delivery in treating neurological diseases. Finally, I will outline my ongoing and future research integrating ultrasound engineering and nanotechnology to advance neural engineering and therapeutic strategies for neurological disorders.

Biography:

Wenliang Wang received his B.S. degree from Sichuan University in 2014 and his Ph.D. from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2019. From 2019 to 2021, he worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University. In 2021, he joined the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where he continues his postdoctoral research. Dr. Wang’s research focuses on developing ultrasound devices and responsive materials to enable precise manipulation of cellular events for non-invasive neuromodulation and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. During his Ph.D., he pioneered using choline phosphate (CP) lipids with an inverted orientation compared to conventional phosphatidylcholine (PC) lipids for drug and gene delivery. From 2019 to 2021, he developed a highly sensitive and specific protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) technique to detect pathological α-synuclein aggregates in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Parkinson’s disease patients. He also designed and evaluated small-molecule inhibitors for treating Parkinson’s disease. Since 2021, Dr. Wang has advanced ultrasound-based molecular manipulation technologies, including sono-optogenetics and sono-chemogenetics, for deep brain stimulation. He has extended these technologies for precise molecular therapies targeting neurological disorders.

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