Updated on 2024/12/19

写真a

 
ZOU YAJUAN
 
Organization
Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science Special-Appointment Assistant Professor
Position
Special-Appointment Assistant Professor
External link

Degree

  • 博士（人間・環境学） （ 2021 京都大学 ）

Research Interests

  • nanoparticle; surface functionalization; nano-bio interaction; drug delivery; quantum sensing; nanothermometer; photonics

Research Areas

  • Nanotechnology/Materials / Nanobioscience

  • Nanotechnology/Materials / Nanometer-scale chemistry

Education

  • 京都大学 大学院人間・環境学研究科 相関環境学専攻    

    2018 - 2021

    　 More details

  • 上海交通大学 生命科学研究科 生物化学・分子生物学専攻    

    2004 - 2007

    　 More details

  • 天津大学 化学工学院 化学工学科    

    2000 - 2004

    　 More details

Research History

  • Okayama University

    2021

    　 More details

  • 上海交通大学   エンジニア

    2010 - 2017

    　 More details

  • 上海交通大学   アシスタントエンジニア

    2007 - 2010

    　 More details

Professional Memberships

 

Papers

  • Size, polyglycerol grafting, and net surface charge of iron oxide nanoparticles determine their interaction and toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. International journal

    Yajuan Zou, Yutaka Shikano, Yuta Nishina, Naoki Komatsu, Eriko Kage-Nakadai, Masazumi Fujiwara

    Chemosphere   142060 - 142060   2024.4

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

    The widespread application of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in environmental remediation has raised public concerns about their toxicity to aquatic organisms. Although appropriate surface modification can mitigate the ecotoxicity of NPs, the lack of polymer coating to inhibit toxicity completely and the insufficient knowledge about charge effect hinder the development of safe nanomaterials. Herein, we explored the potential of polyglycerol (PG) functionalization in alleviating the environmental risks of NPs. Iron oxide NPs (ION) of 20, 100, and 200 nm sizes (IONS, IONM and IONL, respectively) were grafted with PG to afford ION-PG. We examined the interaction of ION and ION-PG with Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and found that PG suppressed non-specific interaction of ION with C. elegans to reduce their accumulation and to inhibit their translocation. Particularly, IONS-PG was completely excluded from worms of all developmental stages. By covalently introducing sulfate, carboxyl and amino groups onto IONS-PG, we further demonstrated that positively charged IONS-PG-NH3+ induced high intestinal accumulation, cuticle adhesion and distal translocation, whereas the negatively charged IONS-PG-OSO3- and IONS-PG-COO- were excreted out. Consequently, no apparent deleterious effects on brood size and life span were observed in worms treated by IONS-PG and IONS-PG bearing negatively charged groups. This study presents new surface functionalization approaches for developing ecofriendly nanomaterials.

    DOI： 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142060

    PubMed

    researchmap

  • The use of covalent reactions to improve the biomedical applications of carbon nanomaterials Invited Reviewed

    Yajuan Zou, Yuta Nishina, Alberto Bianco

    Carbon Reports   2 ( 4 )   185 - 198   2023.12

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author,　Corresponding author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Carbon Society of Japan  

    DOI： 10.7209/carbon.020405

    researchmap

  • Polyglycerol Functionalized B-10 Enriched Boron Carbide Nanoparticle as an Effective Bimodal Anticancer Nanosensitizer for Boron Neutron Capture and Photothermal Therapies International journal

    Yuquan Wang, Giacomo Reina, Heon Gyu Kang, Xiaoxiao Chen, Yajuan Zou, Yoshie Ishikawa, Minoru Suzuki, Naoki Komatsu

    Small   18 ( 37 )   2204044 - 2204044   2022.8

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley  

    Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a non-invasive cancer treatment with little adverse effect utilizing nuclear fission of 10 B upon neutron irradiation. While neutron source has been developed from a nuclear reactor to a compact accelerator, only two kinds of drugs, boronophenylalanine and sodium borocaptate, have been clinically used for decades despite their low tumor specificity and/or retentivity. To overcome these challenges, various boron-containing nanomaterials, or "nanosensitizers", have been designed based on micelles, (bio)polymers and inorganic nanoparticles. Among them, inorganic nanoparticles such as boron carbide can include a much higher 10 B content, but successful in vivo applications are very limited. Additionally, recent reports on the photothermal effect of boron carbide are motivating for the addition of another modality of photothermal therapy. In this study, 10 B enriched boron carbide (10 B4 C) nanoparticle is functionalized with polyglycerol (PG), giving 10 B4 C-PG with enough dispersibility in a physiological environment. Pharmacokinetic experiments show that 10 B4 C-PG fulfills the following three requirements for BNCT; 1) low intrinsic toxicity, 2) 10 B in tumor/tumor tissue (wt/wt) ≥ 20 ppm, and 3) 10 B concentrations in tumor/blood ≥ 3. In vivo study reveals that neutron irradiation after intravenous administration of 10 B4 C-PG suppresses cancer growth significantly and eradicates cancer with the help of near-infrared light irradiation.

    DOI： 10.1002/smll.202204044

    PubMed

    researchmap

    Other Link： https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/smll.202204044

  • Organic chemistry for nanodiamond: Controlled functionalization, quantitative characterization and structure-property relationships Invited Reviewed

    Yajuan Zou, Masahiro Nishikawa, Naoki Komatsu

    Carbon Reports   1 ( 2 )   70 - 78   2022.6

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Carbon Society of Japan  

    DOI： 10.7209/carbon.010204

    researchmap

  • Probing the Role of Charged Functional Groups on Nanoparticles Grafted with Polyglycerol in Protein Adsorption and Cellular Uptake Reviewed

    Yajuan Zou, Shinji Ito, Masazumi Fujiwara, Naoki Komatsu

    Advanced Functional Materials   2111077 - 2111077   2022.1

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley  

    In biofluids, charged functional groups on the surface of nanoparticles (NPs) interact with cells through the protein corona. However, the cascade effects of charged groups on corona formation and cellular uptake remain unclear. Herein, carboxy, sulfate, and amino groups are quantitatively introduced at the periphery of polyglycerol (PG)-grafted nanodiamond and superparamagnetic iron oxide NP to probe their roles in corona formation and cellular uptake. The uptake efficiency and intracellular aggregation state of NPs are revealed to correlate with protein affinity of the charged groups; sulfate at lower density and carboxylate exhibit no affinity to proteins, inducing negligible or no cellular uptake. In contrast, sulfate at higher density and ammonium associate with fetal bovine serum proteins to alter the aggregation state of the internalized NPs. It is further demonstrated that the distinct protein corona profiles on NP-PG-OSO3- and NP-PG-NH3+ surfaces dictate their uptake mechanism. The protein corona of NP-PG-OSO3- suppresses cellular uptake via downregulation of macropinocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis, whereas that of NP-PG-NH3+ enhances uptake through upregulation of macropinocytosis and caveolae-mediated endocytosis. This study clarifies the elusive role of the charged groups in protein adsorption and cellular uptake, which sheds light on NP design for controlled cellular uptake and theranostics in nanomedicine.

    DOI： 10.1002/adfm.202111077

    Web of Science

    researchmap

    Other Link： https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/adfm.202111077

  • Glass-patternable notch-shaped microwave architecture for on-chip spin detection in biological samples

    Keisuke Oshimi, Yushi Nishimura, Tsutomu Matsubara, Masuaki Tanaka, Eiji Shikoh, Li Zhao, Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu, Yuta Ikado, Yuka Takezawa, Eriko Kage-Nakadai, Yumi Izutsu, Katsutoshi Yoshizato, Saho Morita, Masato Tokunaga, Hiroshi Yukawa, Yoshinobu Baba, Yoshio Teki, Masazumi Fujiwara

    Lab on a Chip   22 ( 13 )   2519 - 2530   2022

    　More details

    Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)  

    This on-chip device realizes large-area and predictable spin detection of fluorescent nanodiamonds, providing a scalable platform for quantum-sensor-based bioassay.

    DOI： 10.1039/d2lc00112h

    researchmap

  • Conjugation of Phenylboronic Acid Moiety through Multistep Organic Transformations on Nanodiamond Surface for an Anticancer Nanodrug for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Reviewed

    Masahiro Nishikawa, Heon Gyu Kang, Yajuan Zou, Hidekazu Takeuchi, Naoyoshi Matsuno, Minoru Suzuki, Naoki Komatsu

    Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan   94 ( 9 )   2302 - 2312   2021.9

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Chemical Society of Japan  

    DOI： 10.1246/bcsj.20210200

    researchmap

  • Effect of Protein Corona on Mitochondrial Targeting Ability and Cytotoxicity of Triphenylphosphonium Conjugated with Polyglycerol-Functionalized Nanodiamond Reviewed

    Yajuan Zou, Masahiro Nishikawa, Heon Gyu Kang, Guoqing Cheng, Wei Wang, Yuquan Wang, Naoki Komatsu

    Molecular Pharmaceutics   18 ( 7 )   2823 - 2832   2021.7

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：American Chemical Society (ACS)  

    DOI： 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00188

    researchmap

  • Hydrophobic Surface Coating of Nanodiamonds by Polyglycerol‐Based Polymers with Alkyl Chains for Dispersing in an Organic Solvent Reviewed

    Wei Wang, Yajuan Zou, Alejandro López‐Moreno, Yujing Jiang, Feng Wen, Hong‐Xing Wang, Naoki Komatsu

    ChemNanoMat   6 ( 9 )   1332 - 1336   2020.9

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley  

    DOI： 10.1002/cnma.202000271

    researchmap

    Other Link： https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/cnma.202000271

  • Quantitative investigation of the interaction between proteins and charged functional groups on the polyglycerol-grafted nanodiamond surface Reviewed

    Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu

    Carbon   163   395 - 401   2020.8

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

    DOI： 10.1016/j.carbon.2020.02.089

    researchmap

  • Polyglycerol Grafting Shields Nanoparticles from Protein Corona Formation to Avoid Macrophage Uptake Reviewed International journal

    Yajuan Zou, Shinji Ito, Fumi Yoshino, Yuta Suzuki, Li Zhao, Naoki Komatsu

    ACS Nano   14 ( 6 )   7216 - 7226   2020.6

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：American Chemical Society (ACS)  

    Upon contact with biofluids, proteins are quickly adsorbed onto the nanoparticle (NP) surface to form a protein corona, which initiates the opsonization and facilitates the rapid clearance of the NP by macrophage uptake. Although polyethylene glycol (PEG) functionalization has been the standard approach to evade macrophage uptake by reducing protein adsorption, it cannot fully eliminate nonspecific uptake. Herein, polyglycerol (PG) grafting is demonstrated as a better alternative to PEG. NPs of various size and material were grafted with PG and PEG at 30, 20, and 10 wt % contents by controlling the reaction conditions, and the resulting NP-PG and NP-PEG were characterized qualitatively by IR spectroscopy and quantitatively by thermogravimetric analysis. Their resistivity to adsorption of the proteins in fetal bovine serum and human plasma were compared by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, bicinchoninic acid assay, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, giving a consistent conclusion that PG shields protein adsorption more efficiently than does PEG. The macrophage uptake was assayed by transmission electron microscopy and by extinction spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, revealing that PG avoids macrophage uptake more efficiently than does PEG. In particular, a NP coated with PG at 30 wt % (NP-PG-h) prevents corona formation almost completely, regardless of NP size and core material, leading to the complete evasion of macrophage uptake. Our findings demonstrate that PG grafting is a promising strategy in nanomedicine to improve anti-biofouling property and stealth efficiency in nanoformulations.

    DOI： 10.1021/acsnano.0c02289

    PubMed

    researchmap

  • Preferential Tumor Accumulation of Polyglycerol Functionalized Nanodiamond Conjugated with Cyanine Dye Leading to Near‐Infrared Fluorescence In Vivo Tumor Imaging Reviewed

    Fumi Yoshino, Tsukuru Amano, Yajuan Zou, Jian Xu, Fuminori Kimura, Yoshio Furusho, Tokuhiro Chano, Takashi Murakami, Li Zhao, Naoki Komatsu

    Small   15 ( 48 )   1901930 - 1901930   2019.11

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley  

    Preferential accumulation of nanoparticles in a tumor is realized commonly by combined effects of active and passive targeting. However, passive targeting based on an enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect is not sufficient to observe clear tumor fluorescence images in most of the in vivo experiments using tumor-bearing mice. Herein, polyglycerol-functionalized nanodiamonds (ND-PG) conjugated with cyanine dye (Cy7) are synthesized and it is found that the resulting ND-PG-Cy7 is preferentially accumulated in the tumor, giving clear fluorescence in in vivo and ex vivo fluorescence images. One of the plausible reasons is the longer in vivo blood circulation time of ND-PG-Cy7 (half-life: 58 h determined by the pharmacokinetic analysis) than that of other nanoparticles (half-life: <20 h in most of the previous reports). In a typical example, the fluorescence intensity of tumors increases due to continuous tumor accumulation of ND-PG-Cy7, even more than one week postinjection. This may be owing to the stealth effect of PG that was reported previously, avoiding recognition and excretion by reticuloendothelial cells, which are abundant in liver and spleen. In fact, the fluorescence intensities from the liver and spleen is similar to those from other organs, while the tumor exhibits much stronger fluorescence in the ex vivo image.

    DOI： 10.1002/smll.201901930

    Scopus

    PubMed

    researchmap

    Other Link： https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/smll.201901930

  • Photosensitizer and anticancer drug-loaded 2D nanosheet: Preparation, stability and anticancer property Reviewed

    Gang Liu, Ping Zhao, Neng Liu, Fumi Yoshino, Hongmei Qin, Yajuan Zou, Shengwei Shi, Tsukuru Amano, Jose R Aguilar Cosme, Yasunobu Nagano, Hitoshi Tamiaki, Naoki Komatsu

    2D Materials   6 ( 4 )   045035 - 045035   2019.9

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP Publishing  

    Cancer phototherapy (PT) including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) has attracted extensive interest due to its non-invasive and region-specific nature. In order to enhance the efficacy, we have fabricated various nanocomposites consisting of a photosensitizer (chlorin e 6 (Ce6), pheophorbide a (Pa) or bacteriopheophorbide a (bPa)) for PDT and a two-dimensional nanosheet (graphene or MoS2) for PTT by a one-pot protocol through liquid phase exfoliation. In addition, an anticancer drug (doxorubicin (DOX) or irinotecan (Ir)) was loaded on the nanosheet in the same way for comparison. The nanocomposites demonstrated stability when dispersed in water except for MoS2-Ir. We observed that MoS2-Ce6 killed cancer cells over ten times more effectively than other Ce6-loaded nanocomposites.

    DOI： 10.1088/2053-1583/ab377b

    Scopus

    researchmap

    Other Link： https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2053-1583/ab377b/pdf

  • VCAM-1-mediated neutrophil infiltration exacerbates ambient fine particle-induced lung injury Reviewed

    Anfeng Cui, Meng Xiang, Ming Xu, Peng Lu, Shun Wang, Yajuan Zou, Ke Qiao, Chengyu Jin, Yijun Li, Meng Lu, Alex. F. Chen, Sifeng Chen

    Toxicology Letters   302   60 - 74   2019.3

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

    DOI： 10.1016/j.toxlet.2018.11.002

    researchmap

  • Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomic investigation reveals metabolic perturbations in PM2.5-treated A549 cells Reviewed

    Dacheng Huang, Yajuan Zou, Anees Abbas, Bona Dai

    Environmental Science and Pollution Research   25 ( 31 )   31656 - 31665   2018.11

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

    DOI： 10.1007/s11356-018-3111-y

    researchmap

    Other Link： http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11356-018-3111-y.pdf

  • The trimeric Hef-associated nuclease HAN is a 3′→5′ exonuclease and is probably involved in DNA repair Reviewed

    Lei Feng, Chen-Chen Chang, Dong Song, Chuang Jiang, Yang Song, Chao-Fan Wang, Wei Deng, Ya-Juan Zou, Hai-Feng Chen, Xiang Xiao, Feng-Ping Wang, Xi-Peng Liu

    Nucleic Acids Research   46 ( 17 )   9027 - 9043   2018.9

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Oxford University Press (OUP)  

    DOI： 10.1093/nar/gky707

    researchmap

  • Physicochemical properties, in vitro cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of PM1.0 and PM2.5 from Shanghai, China Reviewed

    Yajuan Zou, Yizhao Wu, Yali Wang, Yinsheng Li, Chengyu Jin

    Environmental Science and Pollution Research   24 ( 24 )   19508 - 19516   2017.8

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Springer Science and Business Media LLC  

    DOI： 10.1007/s11356-017-9626-9

    researchmap

    Other Link： http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11356-017-9626-9.pdf

  • Water soluble and insoluble components of urban PM2.5 and their cytotoxic effects on epithelial cells (A549) in vitro Reviewed

    Yajuan Zou, Chengyu Jin, Yue Su, Jiaru Li, Bangshang Zhu

    Environmental Pollution   212   627 - 635   2016.5

    　More details

    Authorship：Lead author   Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier BV  

    DOI： 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.03.022

    researchmap

  • Transfer of Quantum Dots from Pregnant Mice to Pups Across the Placental Barrier Reviewed

    Maoquan Chu, Qiang Wu, Hui Yang, Ruiqi Yuan, Shengke Hou, Yifeng Yang, Yajuan Zou, Shi Xu, Kaiyi Xu, Ailing Ji, Lingyi Sheng

    Small   6 ( 5 )   670 - 678   2010.3

    　More details

    Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley  

    DOI： 10.1002/smll.200902049

    CiNii Article

    researchmap

▼display all

Presentations

  • Polyglycerol Grafting Shields Nanoparticle from Protein Corona Formation to Avoid Macrophage Uptake Invited

    ZOU Yajuan

    ACSNano-Nanomedicine Journal Club  2022.3.12 

    　More details

  • Polyglycerol Grafting Shields Nanoparticle from Protein Corona Formation to Avoid Macrophage Uptake

    Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu

    2020.10.20 

    　More details

  • The affinity of the charged functional groups on polyglycerol-grafted nanoparticles to proteins dedicates their cellular uptake

    Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu

    2020.9.15 

    　More details

  • Evaluation of polymer content and net charge effects of nanodiamond toward protein affinity

    Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu

    International Workshop on Quantum Sensing and Biophotonics  2019.9.30 

    　More details

  • Quantitative evaluation of polymer density and net charge effects on nanodiamond surface toward protein affinity

    Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu

    European Material Research Society Meeting 2019 Spring Meeting, Symposium M (SGP4A)  2019.5.30 

    　More details

  • Polyglycerol grafted nanoparticles improve stealth effect by resisting protein corona formation: A comparison study to PEG

    Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu

    European Material Research Society 2019 Spring Meeting Symposium L(MXE7G)  2019.5.29 

    　More details

  • The influence of nanodiamond size and surface functionality on protein corona formation and subsequent macrophage uptake

    Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu

    2018.12.19 

    　More details

  • The influence of nanodiamond size and surface functionality on protein corona formation and macrophage uptake

    Yajuan Zou, Naoki Komatsu

    2018.9.28 

    　More details

  • Fabrication of fluorescent nanodiamond-iron oxide nanocomposites for dual-modal cellular imaging

    Yajuan Zou, Meiyun Xu, Li Zhao, Naoki Komatsu

    2018.5.14 

    　More details

▼display all

Industrial property rights

  • A new preparation method for modification of active carbon under normal pressure

    Yajuan Zou, Yijian Lai, Shi Xu

    　More details

    Applicant：Yajuan Zou;Yijian Lai;Shi Xu

    Application no：特願ZL 2013 1 0227595.X  Date applied：2015.8

    researchmap

  • A new method for detecting uracil DNA glycosidase activity by using molecular beacon as a substrate

    Yajuan Zou

    　More details

    Application no：特願CN101008030  Date applied：2007.8

    researchmap

Awards

  • Graduate Student Award, European Material Research Society 2019 Spring Meeting

    2019  

    Yajuan ZOU

    　More details

Research Projects

  • Development of polyglycerol-based polymeric nanomotor bearing a stimuli-responsive surface for precise theranostics at deep tumor tissue

    Grant number：23K17213  2023.04 - 2026.03

    日本学術振興会  科学研究費助成事業 若手研究  若手研究

    鄒 亜娟

    　 More details

    Grant amount：\4680000 （ Direct expense: \3600000 、 Indirect expense：\1080000 ）

    researchmap

  • Diversity Female Support Funding

    2021.12

    岡山大学 

    　 More details