Congratulations to Professor Fangfang Cao on Her Selection to the Nanoscale Horizons Emerging Investigator Series

Professor Fangfang Cao has been selected for the Nanoscale Horizons Emerging Investigator Series. Nanoscale Horizons is a prestigious journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry, focusing on cutting-edge research in nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Professor Cao was recognized for her innovative work in the field of nanozyme-probiotic hybrid systems, particularly her contributions to developing multifunctional nanoantibiotics for treating intracellular antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Her selection was based on her representative research article published in October 2025: “MOF-derived nanozymes loaded with botanicals as multifunctional nanoantibiotics for synergistic treatment of intracellular antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection” (Nanoscale Horiz., 2025, 10, 1377–1389).

In the interview with Nanoscale Horizons, Professor Cao shared her research journey and future outlook. She noted that her work has evolved from early research on DNA-based nanoparticles for biosensing, to the design and application of synthetic biomaterials such as nanozymes, and more recently to the construction of bioactive materials integrating probiotics, bacteriophages, immune cells, and nanomaterials. “Looking ahead, we will continue to explore how nanotechnology can be used to regulate the metabolism of cells or microorganisms, overcoming challenges such as low survival rates and limited therapeutic efficacy in disease treatment and prevention, with the ultimate goal of advancing clinical translation,” said Professor Cao. （The full interview is available in English at: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/nh/d5nh90069g and a Chinese summary is also available via: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/RRVfvwGbHy5IhxdyEllZFg.

(By Zhehan Xing)