Dr. ZHANG holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and serves as an Associate Researcher at Zhejiang University School of Medicine as well as Technologist-in-charge at the First Affiliated Hospital,  Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

His research focus on multifunctional nucleic acid aptamer-based molecular targeted drugs for photodynamic-enhanced synergistic therapy of colorectal cancer, with particular emphasis on functional nucleic acids in targeted protein degradation and immune checkpoint blockade therapy.

He is currently leading the National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Project, Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation Youth Project, and the Youth Class A Project of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine.

Over the past 5 years, he has published 18 SCI-indexed papers, including 11 as first author (including co-first author). Six have an impact factor greater than 10, with a highest impact factor of 29.4. He has also applied for multiple invention patents.

His major publications include Journal of The American Chemical Society, ACS Nano, Nano Today, CCS Chemistry, Nanoscale, Advanced Materials (2 articles), Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, and Chinese Chemical Letters.

Multifunctional nucleic acid aptamer-based molecular targeted drugs for photodynamic-enhanced synergistic therapy of colorectal cancer

Functional nucleic acids in targeted protein degradation and immune checkpoint blockade therapy

1. Research Projects:

1) National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Project, 2026.1-2028.12；

2) Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation Youth Project, 2025.1-2026.12；

2. Research Papers (First Author / Co-first Author):

1) Rongjun Zhang, Changjie Yang, Xiaobo Gao, Zhenyang He, Ding-Kun Ji, and Weihong Tan. Phototriggered LYTAC: Photoactive Bispecific Aptamer Chimera Enhances Targeted Degradation of Membrane Protein through Regulating Cell Autophagy [J]. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 20989-21002. (JCR Q1 TOP，Co-first Author).

2) Rongjun Zhan, Lihao Guo, Qingjiao Li, Yin Liang, Yingying Liao, Huibin Xu, Chutong Liu, Gandong Zhou, Li Wang, Shuxiang Xu, and Miaomiao Yuan. Biodegradable Carrier-Free Nanomedicine via Self-Assembly of Pure Drug Molecules for Triple Sensitization of Radiotherapy [J]. ACS Nano. 2025, 19, 16355-16371. (JCR Q1 TOP，Co-first Author).

3) Rongjun Zhang, Weihong Tan, Ding-Kun Ji. DNA aptamer-empowered self-assembly full-API nanodrug for enhanced photodynamic and chemotherapy synergistic cancer therapy. Nano today. 2024.57.102399. (JCR Q1 TOP，first Author).

4) Rongjun Zhang, Ding-Kun Ji, Defan Yao, Zeyu Xiao, Weihong Tan. Molecular Engineering of Aptamer to Solubilize Hydrophobic NIR Photosensitizer for Enhanced Cancer Photodynamic Therapy [J]. CCS Chemistry. 2023.6:1240-1254 (JCR Q1区TOP，Co-first Author).

5) Rongjun Zhang, Shuxiang Xu, Miaomiao Yuan, Lihao Guo, Luoyijun Xie, Yingying Liao, Yang Xu and Xuemei Fu. An ultrasmall PVP-Fe-Cu-Ni-S nano-agent for synergistic cancer therapy through triggering ferroptosis and autophagy [J]. Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 12598-12611 (JCR Q1，Co-first Author).

6) Ning Tang, Rongjun Zhang, Youbin Zheng, Jing Wang, Muhammad Khatib, Xue Jiang, Cheng Zhou, Rawan Omar, Walaa Saliba, Weiwei Wu, Miaomiao Yuan*, Daxiang Cui*, Hossam Haick*. Highly Efficient Self-Healing Multifunctional Dressing with Antibacterial Activity for Sutureless Wound Closure and Infected Wound Monitoring [J]. Advanced Materials. 2022, 34(3) :e2106842. (JCR Q1 TOP，Co-first Author).

7) Youbin Zheng, Rawan Omar, Rongjun Zhang, Ning Tang, Muhammad Khatib, Qi Xu, Yana Milyutin, Walaa Saliba, Yoav Y Broza, Weiwei Wu, Miaomiao Yuan*, and Hossam Haick*. Wearable Microneedle-Based Extended Gate Transistor for Real-Time Detection of Sodium in Interstitial Fluids [J]. Advanced Materials. 2022, 34(10):e2108607. (JCR Q1 TOP，Co-first Author).

8) Rongjun Zhang, Youbing Zheng, Tianqing Liu, Ning Tang, Lianzhi Mao, Lihan Lin, Jiahui Ye, Luoyijun Xie, Wenwen Hu, Weiwei Wu, Wenzhen Liao, Miaomiao Yuan. The marriage of sealant agent between structure transformable silk fibroin and traditional Chinese medicine for faster skin repair [J]. Chinese Chemical Letters. 2022,33(03):1599-1603(JCR Q1 TOP，Co-first Author).

9) Rongjun Zhang, Yuan Sijie, Ye Jufeng, Wang Xiangdong, Zhang Xudong, Shen Jie, Yuan Miaomiao, Liao Wenzhen. Polysaccharide from flammuliana velutipes improves colitis via regulation of colonic microbial dysbiosis and inflammatory responses [J]. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020,149: 1252-1261 (JCR Q1 TOP，Co-first Author).

10) Rongjun Zhang, Chen Jian, Mao Lianzhi, Guo Yajie, Hao Yuting, Deng Yudi, Han Xue, Li Qingjiao, Liao Wenzhen, Yuan Miaomiao. Nobiletin Triggers Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Pyroptosis through Regulating Autophagy in Ovarian Cancer Cells [J]. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 2020, 68(5): 1326-1336 (JCR Q1 TOP，Co-first Author)