Professor
-Curriculum Convenor of Undergraduate Programme
-Programme Director of Double Major Programme in Chemistry and Biology
Room 242 Science Centre
(852) 3943 1222
(852) 2603 5057
Education
| 2003 | Ph.D. | Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 1999 | B.Sc. (1st Hons) | Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
Honours and Awards
| 2020 | The Distinguished Lectureship Award, The CSJ Asian International Symposium The Chemical Society of Japan |
| 2019 | Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC) Royal Society of Chemistry |
| 2014 | Research Excellent Award, Faculty of Science The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 2013 | Young Research Award, Faculty of Science The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 2011 | Emerging Investigator, Chem Comm., RSC |
| 2008 | Faculty Exemplary Teaching Award, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 2003 | Croucher Fellowship, Croucher Foundation, Hong Kong |
| 1997 | Ko Ho Ning Scholarship, United College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 1997 | United College Endowment Fund Prize, United College, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
Position
| Since 2018 | Assistant Dean (Research), Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| Since 2017 | Professor, Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 2012-2017 | Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 2008-2012 | Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 2006-2007 | Research Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong |
| 2005-2005 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Chemistry, University of Minnesota, MN, USA |
| 2003-2005 | Postdoctoral Fellow, BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Professional Affiliations
| Since 2020 | Member of Editorial Board of Reactive and Functional Polymers, Elsevier |
| Since 2019 | Member of Editorial Board of Langmuir, American Chemical Society (ACS) |
| Since 2019 | Member of Editorial Board of Colloid and Surface A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, Elsevier |
| Since 2019 | Member of Editorial Board of Journal of Leather Science and Engineering, Springer |
| Since 2019 | Committee member (第三十屆理事會膠體與界面專業委員會委員) Chinese Chemical Society (中國化學會) |
| Since 2017 | Member of Editorial Board of Colloids and Interface, MPDI |
| Since 2016 | Committee member The International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists |
| Since 2015 | Adjunct Professor, Shanxi University, China |
| Since 2008 | Member of Royal Society of Chemistry (MRSC) Member of Material Chemistry Division |
| Since 2006 | Member of American Chemical Society Member of ACS Colloids and Surface Science Division |
| 2011-2014 | Adjunct Associate Professor, Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering South China University of Technology, China |
| Since 2011 | Adjunct Professor, Sichuan University, China |
| Since 2015 | Committee member The Asian Society for Colloid and Surface Science |
| Since 2018 | Adjunct Professor, Jiangnan University, China |
Research Interests
Our research interests center around the colloid, interface and soft materials. Current areas of focus include:
| 1. | Design, preparation and application of particle-stabilized emulsions (Pickering emulsions) |
| 2. | Measuring the interaction between functionalized surfaces |
| 3. | Microrehology of soft and biomaterials |
| 4. | Development of orthopaedic implant biomaterials |
Representative Publications
Book and Book Chapters
| 1. | Reinhard Miller, To Ngai , Mieke Kleijn, and Ger Kiper (Eds), “Selected Papers from the 16th Conference of the International Association of Colloid and Interface Scientists (IACIS 2018),(2018). |
| 2. | To Ngai and Syuji Fujii, (Eds), “Pickering Emulsion and Derived Materials”, MDPI Publishing,(2017). |
| 3. | To Ngai and Stefan A F Bon (Eds), “Particle-Stabilized Emulsions and Colloids: Formation and Applications”, RSC Publishing, (2015). |
| 4. | Guanghui Ma, Haruma Kawaguchi, and To Ngai (Eds), “Selected Papers from ASEPFPM 2015, MDPI Publishing, (2015). |
| 5. | Zifu Li and To Ngai, “Emulsion-Stabilized by Soft Microgel Particles” in Particle-Stabilized Emulsions and Colloids: Formation and Applications, To Ngai and Stefan A F Bon (Eds), RSC Publishing, (2015), 93-126. |
| 6. | Man-hin, Kwok, and To Ngai, “Responsive Particle-Stabilized Emulsions: Formation and Applications” in Smart Materials for Advanced Environmental Applications, Peng Wang (eds), RSC Publishing, (2016), 91-138. |
Recent Refereed Journal Publications
| 1. | Yuwei Zhu, Bingyang Dai, Shian Zhang, Jun Liu, Shunxiang Xu, Weiyang Liu, Xin Chen, Haozhi Zhang, Quan Li, Florence Ou-Suet Pang, Weiguo Li, Chunyi Wen, Ling Qin*, Jiankun Xu*, and To Ngai*, “Tissue Mimetic Membranes for Guiding Fibrocartilaginous Interface Regeneration in Rotator Cuff Repair”, Adv. Mater. 2025 2407358. |
| 2. | Boguang Yang, Zhuo Li, Zhengmeng Yang,Pengchao Zhao, Sien Lin, Jiahao Wu, Wei Liu, Xuefeng Yang, Xian Xie, Zhixian Zong, Yuanning Lyu, Zhinan Yang, Gang Li, To Ngai*, Kunyu Zhang*, Liming Bian*, “Recapitulating Hypoxic Metabolism in Cartilaginous Organoids via Adaptive Cell-Matrix Interactions Enhances Histone Lactylation and Cartilage Regeneration”, Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 2711. |
| 3. | Weijie Jiang, Xin Guan, Wei Liu, Yunxing Li, Hang Jiang*, and To Ngai*, “Rotating Liquid Marble Microreactors for Enhanced Enzymatic Reactions”, Adv. Funct. Mater. 2025, 2504193. |
| 4. | Hang Jiang*, Lin Qi, Yunxing Li, Bingtian Zhao, Xin Guan, Panfei Ma, Wei Liu, Cheng Yang, Jianzhong Jiang, Bernard P. Binks*, and To Ngai*, “Localizing Anaerobic Microbial Cultivation and Recovery through Intelligent Pickering Emulsion Phase Inversion”, CCS Chem, 2025, 7, 2137 – 2148. |
| 5. | Xin Guan, Yang Liu, Lianwei Li, Man-Hin Kwok*, Mingming Ding, Hang Jiang*, and To Ngai*, “Dynamic Assembly of Microgels and Polymers at Non-Aqueous Liquid/Liquid Interfaces”, Adv. Sci. 2025, 2415642. |
| 6. | Jiahao Wu, Feng Cao, Manjia Li, Wei Liu*, Kohji Ohno, and To Ngai*, “Direct Measurements of Overlooked Long-range Interactions Near Zwitterionic and Non-ionic Polymer Brushes”, ACS Macro Lett. 2025, 14, 502-508. |
| 7. | Jie Liu, Zichun Song, Jing Luo, To Ngai* and Guanqing Sun*, “Programmable Control of Active Ingredient Release in Pickering Emulsions Using Light, Small 2025, 2412361. |
| 8. | Wei Liu*, Zuwei Zhao, Li Zhang, Kangle Zhou, Pui Wo Felix Yeung, Hang Jiang, Cheng Yang, Yuwei Zhu, and To Ngai*, “Intermacromolecular Interaction Determines the Long-Ranged Force and Self-Assembly of Microgels at the Air/Water Interface”, ACS Macro Lett. 2025, 14, 564-569. |
| 9. | Jie Mei, Yunxing Li, Yikai Feng, Bingtian Zhao, Cheng Yang*, Yajuan Sun, and To Ngai*, “Preparation of Stable Zein/Poly(g-glutamic Acid) Nanocomposite Particles for Improved Encapsulation of Curcumin”, Adv. Mater. Interfaces, 2025, 2500362. |
| 10. | Li Zhang, Jun Cao, Pui Wo Felix Yeung, Hang Jiang, Jianzhong Jiang, Wei Liu*, and To Ngai*, “Unveiling the Rheological Behavior of Poly(styrene-co-N-Isopropylacrylamide) Microgel Aqueous Suspensions” J. Colloid Interface Sci. 2025, 685, 1173-1183. |
Major Research Grants
| 1. | Principal Investigator & Chief Scientific Advisor, “O-Spheres Limited” Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities Under Innovation and Technology Commission (TSSSU) – ITF, 2022 – 2024. |
| 2. | Principal Investigator, “Engineering Hollow Spheres for Energy-Saving Radiative Eco-Cooling Paint”, – Collaborative Research Impact Matching Scheme (CRIMS 2022 – 23), Faculty of Science, CUHK, 2022 – 2024. |
| 3. | Principal Investigator, “Explore the Latex-Latex/Latex-Filler Interaction by Total Reflection Microscopy (TIRM) and Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM)” (TB2115749) – BASF SE/BASF Advanced Chemicals, Co. Ltd, 2021 – 2023. |
| 4. | Principal Investigator, “Understanding the Nanobubbles Properties and Long-term Stability” (TI2116482) – i-Natural Healthcare Product Ltd, 2021 – 2022. |
| 5. | Principal Investigator, “Measuring Nanoparticle-Surface Interaction: from Colloidal Dispersions to Biological Application” (14302120) – RGC, General Research Fund (GRF), 2021 – 2023. |
| 6. | Principal Investigator, “Development of TiO2-Polymer Composite Hollow Particles for White Ink Formulation” (TX2015544) – Xianhong Science (Hong Kong) Ltd, 2021 – 2022. |
| 7. | Principal Investigator, “Surface Modification of Nano Cellulose Impregnated Plant Fibers (NCIF) for Food Packaging Application” (TE2014620) – Ecoinno (HK) Ltd, 2020 – 2021. |
| 8. | Principal Investigator, “Tailor-made Colloidosomes for Enzyme Encapsulation in Liquid Laundry Detergent Applications” (14304619) – RGC, General Research Fund (GRF), 2020 – 2022. |
| 9. | Principal Investigator, “Latex-Latex/Latex-Filler Interaction Probed by Total Reflection Microscopy (TIRM)” (TB1914413) – BASF SE/BASF Advanced Chemicals, Co. Ltd, 2019 – 2020. |
| 10. | Principal Investigator, “Pickering Multiple Emulsions: Formation, Structure and Food Applications” – RGC, General Research Fund (GRF) (14303715), 2018 – 2020. |
| 11. | Co-Investigator, “Aging, Skeletal Degeneration and Regeneration” – RGC, Areas of Excellence (AoE/M-402/20), PC: Prof. Ling Qin, 2021 – 2029. |
| 12. | Co-Investigator, “Joint R&D of Magnesium-based Orthopaedic Implants” – RGC, Collaborative Research Fund (CRF) (C4026-17w), PC: Prof. Ling Qin, 2018 – 2022. |