Hongwei Zhang
Education and Training
B.S., Pharmaceutical Sciences Sichuan University School of Pharmacy Chengdu, China
Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences Sichuan University School of Pharmacy Chengdu, China
Postdoctoral Fellow University of Nebraska Medical Center Omaha, NE
Postdoctoral Fellow University of Massachusetts Medical Center Worcester, MA
Teaching Interests
Dr. Zhang’s teaching interests include pharmaceutics topics, dosage forms, drug delivery systems, and genetic medicine.
Scholarly Interests
Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on designing innovative drug delivery systems to address critical challenges in tissue- and cell-specific targeting for both small molecules and macromolecular therapeutics. By leveraging rational design, high-throughput screening, and novel biomaterials, his work advances nanoparticle technologies, including liposomes, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), ligand-conjugated polymeric nanoparticles, and recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs), to enable precise delivery of genetic medicines to challenging targets such as neurons, cancer cells, and immune cells.
Dr. Zhang has authored over 60 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference abstracts, and co-edited a liposome technology book Liposomes: Methods and Protocols (3rd edition). He is co-inventor of U.S. patents on viral and non-viral delivery technologies. His contributions to the field have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Innovation in Biotechnology Award from the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) and a Postdoctoral Fellowship Award from the American Heart Association (AHA).
Dr. Zhang’s research program is committed to translating scientific discoveries into transformative therapeutic strategies, with an emphasis on scalable and clinically viable delivery platforms to address unmet medical needs.
Selected Recent Publications
1. Zhong, Q & Zhang, H. (2023). Preparation of Small Unilamellar Vesicle Liposomes Using Detergent Dialysis Method. Methods in Molecular Biology, 2622:49-56. New York: Humana Press.
2. Behr, M., Zhou, J., Xu, B., & Zhang, H. (2021) In vivo delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 therapeutics: Progress and challenges. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. 11(8): 2150-2171.
3. Zhang, H. (2021) A bright future for lipid nanoparticles in gene therapy. Cell & Gene Therapy Insights. 2021; 7(6), 755–758.
4. Du, X., Hou, Y., Huang, J., Pang, Y., Ruan, C., Wu, W., Xu, C., Zhang, H., Yin, L., & He., W. (2021) Cytosolic delivery of the immunological adjuvant Poly I:C and cytotoxic drug crystals via a carrier-free strategy significantly amplifies immune response. Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B. 11(10): 3272-3285.
5. He, H., Lin, X., Wu, D., Wang, J., Guo, J., Green, D., Zhang, H., & Xu, B. (2020). Enzymatic noncovalent synthesis for mitochondrial genetic engineering of cancer cells. Cell Reports Physical Science. 1(12): 100270.
6. He, W., Turkeshi A., Li, X. & Zhang, H. (2020). Progress in systemic co-delivery of microRNAs and chemotherapeutics for cancer treatment by using lipid-based nanoparticles. Therapeutic Delivery. 11(9): 591-603.
7. He, L., Yu, A., Deng, L., & Zhang, H. (2020). Eradicating the Roots: Advanced Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 26(17): 1994-2008.
8. Zhang, H. Thin-film hydration followed by extrusion method for liposome preparation. (2017). Methods in Molecular Biology, 1522:17-22. New York: Humana Press.
Publication list via Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=0qV0zrAAAAAJ&hl=en
Selected Awards and Honors
2022 Faculty Scholarship Award, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
2017 Faculty Research Showcase Award, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
2010 Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, American Heart Association
2010 Innovation in Biotechnology Award, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
2009 Travel Fellowship Award, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
2008 Travel Fellowship Award, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists
2008 Postdoctoral Travel Fellowship Award, University of Nebraska Medical Center
