Research Overview
Our group is interested in developing stimuli-responsive smart materials and providing chemistry solutions to global challenges in materials innovation and health. We harness molecular design and synthetic organic chemistry to construct advanced materials for sensing and drug delivery applications. Of particular interest are materials whose properties can dynamically adapt in response to external stimuli such as mechanical force and ultrasound. Through our interdisciplinary research projects, students will be trained in synthetic & physical organic chemistry, materials science, biomaterials, and chemical biology.
Research Areas
Area 1: Stimuli-Responsive Chemistry: We develop adaptable materials that respond to physical stimuli such as mechanical force, ultrasound, or light. A key area is the development of highly mechano-sensitive materials through a mechanism we call "atropisomer mechanochemistry." These systems show visible signs (e.g., color) when mechanically deformed, allowing materials to self-report damage, reveal nanoscale force transduction in complex materials (e.g., synthetic plastics & biological systems), and offer new ways to manipulate material properties using mechanical stimuli like ultrasound mechanical waves.
Keywords: Mechanochemistry, ultrasound-mediated chemistry, photoswitches.
Selected Publications (Area 1):
(3) Zhang, et al., Hu* Journal of the American Chemical Society 2025, 147, 2502.
(2) Fu, Zhu, Hu* Journal of the American Chemical Society 2023, 145, 15668.
(1) Hu, et al., Robb* Journal of the American Chemical Society 2018, 140, 14073.
Area 2: Prodrug Chemistry and Controlled-Release Systems: We develop new chemistry strategies to control bond cleavage and drug release. These materials are promising next-generation drug delivery systems that selectively release cytotoxic drugs under spatially localized triggering conditions, such as ultrasound stimulation or tumor-specific microenvironments. Such a controlled-release approach aims to minimize off-target drug exposure and enhance therapeutic precision.
Keywords: Biomedical sonochemistry, photo-/sono-dyanamic therapy (PDT/SDT), bioorthogonal cleavage.
Selected Publications (Area 2):
(5) Fu, et al., Hu* "A Noncovalent Click-to-Release Strategy to Control Bond Cleavage and Prodrug Activation" Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2026 In Press.
(4) Fu, et al., Hu* Ultrasound-Triggered Prodrug Activation via Sonochemically Induced Cleavage of a 3,5-Dihydroxybenzyl Carbamate Scaffold. Chemical Science 2025, 16, 21000.
(3) Fu, Hu* Ultrasound-Controlled Prodrug Activation: Emerging Strategies in Polymer Mechanochemistry and Sonodynamic Therapy. ACS Applied Bio Materials 2024, 7, 8040. (Invited Review)
(2) Hu, et al., Robb* Journal of the American Chemical Society 2019, 141, 15018.
(1) Hu, et al., Thomas* Advanced Materials 2016, 28, 715.
We appreciate the generous support from our funding agencies:
