Zhidong Zhou

Papers

Total Citations

413

H-Index

About

Dr. Zhidong Zhou is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of nanomedicine, bio-inspired robotics, and targeted drug delivery. His most celebrated work, the 2020 paper "Enzyme-powered Janus platelet cell robots for active and targeted drug delivery," has garnered over 413 citations, marking a transformative leap in the field. In this study, Zhou introduced a groundbreaking concept: engineering natural platelet cells into biocompatible, enzyme-powered micromotors that actively navigate the bloodstream. By coating one hemisphere of the platelet with an enzyme that catalyzes fuel from the surrounding biological fluid, his team created "Janus" cell robots capable of self-propulsion and precise drug release. This innovation overcomes a critical limitation of passive drug carriers—poor tissue penetration—and opens new avenues for treating thrombosis, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. Zhou’s work bridges synthetic microswimmer design with cellular biology, demonstrating that living cells can be repurposed as functional, autonomous therapeutic robots. His contributions have reshaped how researchers approach active drug delivery, earning him recognition as a leader in biohybrid microsystems. For students and scientists alike, Zhou’s research exemplifies how creative integration of materials science and biology can solve real-world medical challenges.