Winner: 2019 Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal
Zhen Gu
University of California Los Angeles
For pioneering “programmed medications” that apply physiological signals-responsive materials/systems for precisely delivering therapeutics, especially for diabetes and cancer treatment.
Zhen Gu (left) with Vice Chancellor Zhou (middle) and Professor Gao (right). The screen shows some of the on-line participants from the RSC Biotechnology Group, the University of Nottingham and members of the Franks family. Picture: Xu Xiao, Zhejiang University
On 15 January 2021 Zhen Gu received the award of the RSC Felix Franks Biotechnology Medal from the Vice Chancellor of Zhejiang University, Professor Tianhua Zhou, on behalf of the RSC Biotechnology Group. This was the inaugural (2019) award, delayed due to the Covid pandemic. The award was set up by the RSC鈥檚 Biotechnology Group to recognise outstanding achievement in the field of Chemical Biotechnology by Early Career Scientists, and in commemoration of Professor Felix Franks (1926-2016), distinguished former Chair of the Biotechnology Group.
The award ceremony was broadcast live on Microsoft Teams and included an introduction by Prof Stephen Harding, Chair of the Award Committee, a short presentation by Prof Gu, and was concluded by Prof Harding, Prof Suzanne Franks and Professor Jianqing Gao, Vice Dean of the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Zhen Gu鈥檚 key contribution is that he pioneered 鈥減rogrammed medications鈥� that apply physiological signals-responsive materials/systems for precisely delivering therapeutics, especially for diabetes and cancer treatment. Specifically, he has developed glucose-responsive synthetic formulations and devices for delivering insulin in a self-regulated manner, which mimics the function of pancreatic beta cells. Additionally, he has also leveraged physiological properties of cells to generate several innovative cell-mediated anticancer drug delivery systems that can either effectively target the primary tumour site or inhibit cancer recurrence/metastasis after surgery. Highlights of his pioneering studies include smart insulin patch and platelet-delivered immunotherapy.
Diabetes currently affects over 417 million people in the world. A glucose-responsive delivery system that 鈥渟ecretes鈥� insulin in response to blood-sugar level changes is highly desirable to improve health and quality of life for people with diabetes. Dr. Gu pioneered the concept and made the first prototype of 鈥渟mart insulin patch鈥� highlighted by his publications in PNAS, Science and Nature (PNAS, 2015; PNAS, 2019; Science Advances, 2019; Nature Biomedical Engineering, 2020).
This patch uses a painless microneedle-array loaded with glucose-responsive formulation/matrix, which can effectively regulate the blood glucose of diabetic mice and pigs (>25 kg) and reduce risk of hypoglycaemia. The combination of minimally invasive transdermal patch and glucose-responsive insulin delivery formulation is exceptionally innovative and translational.
Dr. Gu鈥檚 cofounded start-up company-Zenomics has received $5.8 million investment and joined FDA鈥檚 emerging technology program for clinical translation of smart insulin patch. He has further generated a platform technology of the bioresponsive closed-loop systems, integrating sensing component and delivery actuator together inside microneedle patches.
Featured inventions include insulin-responsive glucagon patch, thrombin-responsive heparin patch, reactive oxygen species-responsive anti-acne patch and tumour microenvironment-responsive patch for delivery of immune checkpoint blockade antibodies, forming the platform for his other start-up company ZenCapsule.
A recording of the lecture - the inaugural year of the award - is available on YouTube.