Prof. Dr. Zefeng Lai | Drug Delivery Systems | Excellence in Pharmaceutical Innovation Award

Guangxi Medical University | China

Prof. Dr. Zefeng Lai is a leading figure in the field of pharmaceutical science, recognized for his pioneering work in nanomedicine, drug delivery, and nanotoxicology. He serves as a Professor of Pharmaceutical Science at the School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China, where he has made outstanding contributions to biomedical research and academic development. Having earned his BSc and PhD from the State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, and completed postdoctoral research in Drug Delivery and Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials, Dr. Lai’s expertise integrates material chemistry with pharmacological innovation to enhance therapeutic outcomes.His research explores the mechanisms and biomedical applications of carbon-based nanodrug carriers, focusing on their transcytosis, biodistribution, and immunological effects. He has led multiple high-impact national and provincial projects, including investigations into mesona chinensis polysaccharides, fibrinolytic enzymes from marine sources, and liver-targeted nanocarriers. His work on the biotoxicity of carboxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes using zebrafish and mammalian models has been particularly influential, advancing the global understanding of nanomaterial safety in pharmaceutical formulations.Prof. Lai’s scholarly influence is reflected in his strong research metrics, with 293 citations across 279 documents, based on 19 published papers, and an impressive h-index of 10, demonstrating his consistent impact and the recognition of his contributions by the global scientific community.His groundbreaking publications demonstrate his multidisciplinary research vision. His paper Photothermal Therapeutic Gold Nanoparticles Loaded with PD-L1 siRNA Enhanced Killing of NSCLC Cells by Immune Cells presents a novel nanoplatform integrating photothermal therapy and immunomodulation for non-small cell lung cancer treatment. His work Immunogenic Nano-Phthalocyanine Enables Oxygen-Economic Photodynamic Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma introduces a new generation of oxygen-efficient nanotherapeutics for liver cancer. Other notable studies include Effect of Carboxylated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on the Development and Morphology of Zebrafish Embryos, High Throughput CircRNA Sequencing Analysis Reveals Novel Insights into the Mechanism of Nitidine Chloride against Hepatocellular Carcinoma, and Toxic Effect of Long-Term Intravenous Injection of Carboxylated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes on Kidney in Rats. His research on Nitidine Chloride Induced Colorectal Cancer HT29 Cells Apoptosis Through the Cytochrome c-Mediated Mitochondrial Pathways and Long-Term Intravenous Administration of Carboxylated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Induces Persistent Accumulation in the Lungs and Pulmonary Fibrosis via the NF-κB Pathway underscores his deep engagement with molecular pharmacology and nanotoxicology.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Lai, Z., Liu, Y., He, L., Wang, X., Zhang, H., & Zhao, J. (2023). Immunogenic nano-phthalocyanine enables oxygen-economic photodynamic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomaterials, 295, 121992.