Dr. Jin Zhang, Associate Professor, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario (Western), Canada

Biography: Jin Zhang is an Associate Professor with tenure in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering in the University of Western Ontario (Western), Canada. She is also cross-appointed to the Department of Ophthalmology, the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, and the Medical Biophysics Graduate Program at Western.
Her research activities are related to the development of new biocompatible nanocomposites with enhanced chemical and physical properties. In particular, her interests lie in the interface between nanostructures and biological systems. Currently, three research directions in the Zhang group include (1) multifunctional nanocomposites-processing & properties, (2) targeted drug delivery, and (3) biosensors. Dr. Zhang has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers, including Biosensor & Bioelectronics, J. Eur. Cells & Mater. J. Mat. Chem. B, Langmuir, RSC Advances, Appl. Phys. Lett., J. Phys. Chem. B, J. Colloid interface Sci., etc,; her group has given over 90 presentations at national and international conferences; she has 3 filed patents. In 2014, Dr. Zhang was rewarded the Early Research Award of Ontario. She was recently recognized as the Grand Challenges Canada-Canadian Rising Stars in Global Health for her research work on "Non-invasive Diagnostic Tool for Diabetes". Her research work was reported by the worldwide media, including the Discovery Channel, CTV, the Institute of Nanotechnology (IoN), and Nanotechnology Now, etc.
In addition, Jin Zhang is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Nano and Biomaterials. She has/had served as a guest editor for different journals, e.g. Journal of Nanomaterials

Speech Title: Nanocomposited coatings produced by laser-assisted process to prevent silicone hydogels from protein fouling and bacterial contamination
Abstract: Extended exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation including UVA (400-320 nm), UVB (320-290 nm), and UVC (290-200 nm) may increase the risk of macular degeneration and the development of cataracts. According to the American Optometric Association, the majority of sunglasses cannot block sun radiation reaching eyes from the side or around the glasses. To prevent contact lens from biofouling and to minimize UV exposure to human eyes, a nanocomposite-based coating made of silver (Ag) nanoparticles and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) is deposited on synthetic silicone hydrogels through a matrix assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) with a pulsed Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm. The average diameter of Ag NPs undergone MAPLE process for 60 min is 11.61±3.58 nm. The thickness of Ag-PVP nanocomposite coating with deposition time of 60 min is around 930±15 nm. Our results demonstrate the oxygen permeability of silicone hydrogel with nanocomposite coating is similar to that of commercialized contact lenses; over 60% of UV light in the range of 300-450 nm can be blocked; moreover, the silicone hydrogel with the nanocomposite coating can reduce over 65.4 ± 1.6% protein (human lysozyme) absorption as compared to silicone hydrogel-based contact lens, and kill all cultured bacteria in 8 hours. This research work demonstrates a new way to deposit biocompatible nanocomposite coatings on silicone hydrogel used as contact lens to efficiently minimize UV exposure and biofouling.