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Department of Biology and Biochemistry

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Faculty Profile

Bin LiuBin Liu

Assistant Professor
Department of Biology and Biochemistry
Research Division: Biochemistry (Primary)

Office: Science & Engineering Research Center (SERC), 3004
Contact: bliu39@central.uh.edu

Education: Ph.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst; B.S., Nankai University

Our lab integrates expertise in chemistry, polymer science, bioconjugation, protein engineering, and immunology to develop precision macromolecular therapeutics. We are committed to advancing immunotherapy and targeted drug delivery through engineered antibody formats and synthetic polymers. Our approach focuses on the precise control of molecular structures across different scales—from small molecules to polymers and nanoparticles—enabling the design of next-generation antibody-based conjugates for therapeutic applications. By leveraging a multidisciplinary strategy, we incorporate insights from diverse scientific fields to develop innovative solutions for treating cancer and other diseases. Ultimately, our goal is to translate advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy into effective treatments for cancer, infectious diseases, and genetic disorders. The fundamental insights gained from our work will also contribute valuable knowledge across multiple areas of biomedical science.

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Research Focus Areas

  1. Innovative Macromolecular Conjugates
    • Designing advanced polymer synthesis and bio-macromolecule conjugation strategies, including the development of site-specific antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).
  2. Precision Antibody-Targeted Therapeutics
    • Engineering antibody-based therapeutics at multiple length scales, integrating diverse payloads (small molecules, peptides, proteins, nucleic acids) to enable precision therapies.
  3. Next-Generation Immunotherapy
    • Advancing immune-based therapies through combination immunotherapy, bi-specific antibodies, mRNA vaccines, and virotherapy to develop more effective and personalized treatments.
  • Liu, B.; Nguyen, H.; Jiang, Y.; Wang, X.; Lensch, V.; Sun, Z.; Boyer, Z. H.; Raftopoulos, P. A.; Dai, Y.; MacNicol, P.; Wang, Y.; Jyotsana, N.; Wang, W.; Bhagchandani, S.; Hemdev, S.; Shieh, P.; Kristufek, S.; Downes, M.; Evans, R. M.; MacMillan, D. W. C.; Johnson, J. A. Antibody–Bottlebrush Conjugates Unlock Diverse Payloads for Targeted Cancer Therapy. DOI: . 
  • Sun, Z.#; Liu, B.#; Ma, M.; Alexander-Katz, A.; Ross, C. A.; Johnson, J. A. ROMP of Macromonomers Prepared by ROMP: Expanding Access to Complex, Functional Bottlebrush Polymers. (# equal contribution)
  • Liu, B.#; Gong, S.#; Qiu, J.; Ejaz, W.; Thayumanavan, S. Synergistic Effects of Polycationic and Polyfluorinated Functionalities for Efficient Intracellular Protein Delivery. . (# equal contribution)
  • Liu, B.; Rodriguez, J.; Kilgallon, L.; Wang, W.; Wang, Y.; Wang, X.; Dai, Y.; Nguyen, H.; Pentelute, B. L.; Johnson, J. A. An Organometallic Swap Strategy for Bottlebrush Polymer–Protein Conjugate Synthesis. .
  • Gong, S.#; Liu, B.#; Qiu, J.; Huang, F.; Thayumanavan, S. Antibody-Directing Antibody Conjugates (ADACs) Enabled by Orthogonal Click Chemistry for Targeted Intracellular Delivery. . (# equal contribution)
  • Liu, B.; Singh, K.; Gong, S.; Canakci, M.; Osborne, B.; Thayumanavan, S. Protein–Antibody Conjugates (PACs) – A Plug‐and‐Play Strategy for Covalent Conjugation and Targeted Intracellular Delivery of Pristine Proteins.  
  • Liu, B.; Thayumanavan, S. Mechanism Investigation on Oxidative Degradation of ROS Responsive Thioacetal/-ketal Moieties and Their Implications.  
  • Liu, B.; Wu, R.; Gong, S.; Xiao, H.; Thayumanavan, S. In Situ Formation of Polymeric Nanoassemblies Using an Efficient Reversible Click Reaction.
  • Liu, B.; Ejaz, W.; Gong, S.; Kurbanov, M.; Canakci, M.; Anson, F.; Thayumanavan, S. Engineered Interactions with Mesoporous Silica Facilitate Intracellular Delivery of Proteins and Gene Editing. .
  • Liu, B.; Thayumanavan, S. Three-Component Sequential Reactions for Polymeric Nanoparticles with Tailorable Core and Surface Functionalities. .
  • Liu, B.; Ianosi-Irimie, M.; Thayumanavan, S. Reversible Click Chemistry for Ultrafast and Quantitative Formation of Protein-Polymer Nanoassembly and Intracellular Protein Delivery. .
  • Liu, B.; Thayumanavan, S. Substituent Effects on the pH Sensitivity of Acetals and Ketals and Their Correlation with Encapsulation Stability in Polymeric Nanogels. .
  • Liu, B.; Thayumanavan, S. Importance of Evaluating Dynamic Encapsulation Stability of Amphiphilic Assemblies in Serum. .

Honors & Awards

  • 2023 - ACS PMSE Future Faculty Scholar
  • 2022 - KI Frontier Award
  • 2021 - KI postdoctoral fellowship at MIT
  • 2020 - Chinese Government Award for outstanding self-financed students aboard
  • 2018 - Travel grant from UMASS Amherst
  • 2013 - “Excellent Theses of Master Degree” in Tianjin, China
  • 2012 - “Excellent Theses of Master Degree” in Nankai University
  • 2012 - “Outstanding Graduates” in Nankai University
  • 2012 - First-class scholarship of Hebinglin, Nankai University
  • 2011 - Scholarship of Wanhua, Nankai University
  • 2011 - First-class scholarship of Huigu, Institute of polymer science, Nankai University
  • 2011 - Scholarship of PPG industrial group, Nankai University
  • 2011 - First-class scholarship of Nankai University
  • 2010 - First-class scholarship of Nankai University
  • 2008 - Scholarship of EVERTRUTH, Nankai University
  • 2006 - Second-class scholarship of mathematical competition in Tianjin, China
  • 2006 - First-class scholarship in mathematical competition at Nankai University
  • 2005 - Scholarship of Heshibi in Shanghai, China