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Dr Rui SANG

Dr Rui SANG

Research Associate
Engineering
Grad Sch: Biomedical Eng

Dr. Sang is a Research Associate at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Australia. She obtained her Ph.D. degree from UNSW, specializing in nanoparticle-based technology for cancer treatment and CRISPR-based gene therapy and diagnostic applications. Dr. Sang has authored over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles in high-impact journals, including Nature Communications, eBioMedicine, Acta Biomaterialia, Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, and Journal of Materials Chemistry B. She has secured over $160K in research funding, including grants from the NICE-UNSW “Proof-of-Scale” Fund, the Development and Research Training Grant, and the Sydney Vital Research Scholarship Award. Her research has been internationally recognized, earning her a PhD Scholarship Top-up Award from the Translational Cancer Research Network and the Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad from the China Scholarship Council. She holds one PCT patent (PCT/AU2023/051144) and one provisional patent (2025900402). In addition to her research contributions, Dr. Sang serves as the Co-Chair of the Women in Chemistry division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI), NSW Branch.
Phone
+61480247087
E-mail
r.sang@unsw.edu.au
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Deng F; Sang R; Li Y; Yang B; Zhai X; Xue R; Zhang C; Deng W; Goldys EM, 2025, 'Hairpin-locker mediated CRISPR/Cas tandem system for ultrasensitive detection of DNA without pre-amplification', Microchemical Journal, 210, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2025.113025
    Journal articles | 2025
    Hall T; Gulati S; Sang R; Jia Z; Mckinnirey F; Vesey G; Goldys E; Deng F, 2025, 'CRISPR biosensing with lateral flow assays for point of care Diagnostics: Overcoming commercial development challenges', TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 189, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.trac.2025.118275
    Journal articles | 2025
    Pan L; Ma Y; Sang R; Lu X; Fan X; Li M; Zuo Q; Wang A; Deng F, 2025, 'Optimization of CRISPR/Cas12f1 guide RNAs using AlphaFold 3 for enhanced nucleic acid detection', Microchemical Journal, 212, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2025.113194
    Journal articles | 2025
    Pan L; Wang A; Sang R; Lu X; Chen W; Ma Y; Deng F, 2025, 'AlphaFold 3 sheds insights into chemical enhancer-induced structural changes in Cas12a RNPs', Health Nanotechnology, 1, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s44301-024-00003-z
    Journal articles | 2025
    Sang R; Nixdorf S; Hung T; Power C; Deng F; Bui TA; Engel A; Goldys EM; Deng W, 2025, 'Unlocking the in vivo therapeutic potential of radiation-activated photodynamic therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer with lymph node involvement', eBioMedicine, 116, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2025.105724
    Journal articles | 2024
    Chandrasekara CMN; Gemikonakli G; Mach J; Sang R; Anwer AG; Agha A; Goldys EM; Hilmer SN; Campbell JM, 2024, 'Ageing and Polypharmacy in Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Metabolic Impact Assessed by Hyperspectral Imaging of Autofluorescence', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115830
    Journal articles | 2024
    Deng F; Li Y; Yang B; Sang R; Deng W; Kansara M; Lin F; Thavaneswaran S; Thomas DM; Goldys EM, 2024, 'Topological barrier to Cas12a activation by circular DNA nanostructures facilitates autocatalysis and transforms DNA/RNA sensing', Nature Communications, 15, pp. 1818, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46001-8
    Journal articles | 2024
    Deng F; Sang R; Li Y; Yang D; Mckinnirey F; Deng W; Goldys EM, 2024, 'Towards understanding Trans-cleavage of natural and synthetic nucleic acids by Cas12a for sensitive CRISPR biosensing', Microchemical Journal, 207, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2024.111850
    Journal articles | 2024
    Yang B; Sang R; Li Y; Goldys E; Deng W, 2024, 'Abstract 5743: Liposome platform enables X-ray induced photodynamic therapy treatment against human triple negative breast cancer cells', Cancer Research, 84, pp. 5743 - 5743, http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2024-5743
    Journal articles | 2024
    Yang B; Sang R; Li Y; Goldys EM; Deng W, 2024, 'Improved effectiveness of X-PDT against human triple-negative breast cancer cells through the use of liposomes co-loaded with protoporphyrin IX and perfluorooctyl bromide', Journal of Materials Chemistry B, 12, pp. 3764 - 3773, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/d4tb00011k
    Journal articles | 2022
    Sang R; Deng F; Engel A; Goldys E; Deng W, 2022, 'Lipid-polymer nanocarrier platform enables X-ray induced photodynamic therapy against human colorectal cancer cells', Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 155, pp. 113837, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113837
    Journal articles | 2021
    Sang R; Stratton B; Engel A; Deng W, 2021, 'Liposome technologies towards colorectal cancer therapeutics', Acta Biomaterialia, 127, pp. 24 - 40, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actbio.2021.03.055
    Journal articles | 2018
    Sang R; Zheng Y; Zhang H; Wu X; Wang Q; Hai L; Wu Y, 2018, 'Palladium-catalyzed direct C-H ethoxycarbonylation of 2-aryl-1,2,3-triazoles and efficient synthesis of suvorexant', Organic Chemistry Frontiers, 5, pp. 648 - 652, http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c7qo00945c
    Journal articles | 2018
    Zhang H; Jing L; Zheng Y; Sang R; Zhao Y; Wang Q; Wu Y, 2018, 'Rhodium-Catalyzed ortho-Cyanation of 2-Aryl-1,2,3-triazole: An Alternative Approach to Suvorexant', European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2018, pp. 723 - 729, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.201701476
    Journal articles | 2017
    Cheng X; Li W; Nie R; Ma X; Sang R; Guo L; Wu Y, 2017, 'Ligand-Free C–C Coupling Reactions Promoted by Hexagonal Boron Nitride-Supported Palladium(II) Catalyst in Water', Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, 359, pp. 454 - 466, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adsc.201600815
    Journal articles | 2017
    Ma X; Lv G; Cheng X; Li W; Sang R; Zhang Y; Wang Q; Hai L; Wu Y, 2017, 'Novel cyclodextrin-modified h-BN@Pd(II) nanomaterial: An efficient and recoverable catalyst for ligand-free C-C cross-coupling reactions in water', Applied Organometallic Chemistry, 31, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aoc.3854
    Journal articles | 2017
    Sang R; Cheng X; Li W; Luo P; Zhang Y; Nie R; Hai L; Wu Y, 2017, 'Heterogeneous h-BN@Cyclodextrin@Pd(II) nanomaterial: Fabrication, characterization and application as a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst for C—C coupling reactions', Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 33, pp. 811 - 815, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40242-017-6455-9
    Journal articles | 2017
    Wang Y; Sang R; Zheng Y; Guo L; Guan M; Wu Y, 2017, 'Graphene oxide: An efficient recyclable solid acid for the synthesis of bis(indolyl)methanes from aldehydes and indoles in water', Catalysis Communications, 89, pp. 138 - 142, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.catcom.2016.09.027
    Journal articles | 2016
    Li W; Lv G; Cheng X; Sang R; Ma X; Zhang Y; Nie R; Li J; Guan M; Wu Y, 2016, 'Palladium(II)-Schiff base complex immobilized covalently on h-BN: An efficient and recyclable catalyst for aqueous organic transformations', Tetrahedron, 72, pp. 8557 - 8564, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2016.11.027
    Journal articles | 2016
    Nie R; Sang R; Ma X; Zheng Y; Cheng X; Li W; Guo L; Jin H; Wu Y, 2016, 'Copper-γ-cyclodextrin complexes immobilized on hexagonal boron nitride as an efficient catalyst in the multicomponent synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles', Journal of Catalysis, 344, pp. 286 - 292, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2016.09.022
  • Preprints | 2024
    Deng F; Gulati S; Sang R; Li Y; Goldys E, 2024, Modulating Cas13atrans-cleavage by double strand RNA: Application to the development of an autocatalytic sensor, http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.05.583472
    Conference Papers | 2024
    Qiao L; Guo T; Xue R; Sang R; Yang D; Deng F, 2024, 'Flexible chip-based wearable sensors enhanced by gold nanoparticles for IFN-γ detection', in Proceedings of the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, EMBS, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), United States, pp. 1 - 4, presented at 2024 46th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC), United States, 15 July 2024 - 19 July 2024, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/EMBC53108.2024.10782776
    Conference Papers | 2023
    Deng F; Goldys E; Li Y; SANG R; Hall T; Zhang C, 2023, 'RNA reporter based CRISPR/Cas12a biosensing platform for sensitive detection of circulating tumor DNA', in 2023 45th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Sydney, pp. 1 - 4, presented at 45th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, Sydney, 24 July 2023 - 27 July 2023, http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/EMBC40787.2023.10340759
    Preprints | 2023
    Deng F; Sang R; Li Y; Deng W; Goldys E, 2023, Bifunctional circular DNA amplifier transforms a classic CRISPR/Cas sensor into an ultrasensitive autocatalytic sensor, http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2626952/v1

1. NICE-UNSW "Proof-of-Scale" Fund, 2024-2025, co-CI

  1.  Research Training Program International Scholarship, Australian Government (2020-2024)
  2. Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-financed Students Abroad (2023)
  3. Development and Research Training Grant (DRTG) (2023)
  4. PhD Scholarship Top-up Awards, TCRN (2021)
  5. Research Scholarship Award, Sydney Vital (2021)

  1. Ultrasensitive CRISPR biosensors assisted by nucleic acid mediators. (2023) PCT Patent. International application No. PCT/AU2023/051144.  
  2. Radiation-activated photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment. (2025) Australian Provisional Patent. Application No. 2025900402.

  1. Co-chair of Committee RACI Women in Chemistry, NSW branch, 2024-now
  2. Secretary of Committee RACI Women in Chemistry, NSW branch, 2023-2024
  3. PhD representative of Committee RACI Women in Chemistry, NSW branch, 2022-2023
  4. Member, RACI, 2022-now
  5. Member, IEEE EMBC, 2023-now
  6. Member, ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics (CNBP), 2020-now
  7. Member, Australian Centre for NanoMedicine (ACN), 2020-now
  8. Member, Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR), 2022-2024
  9. Session chair in "Performing Research in Industry" session in the “Performing Research” series organized by the IEEE EMBS Student Activities Committee as part of EMBC on Tuesday 25th July 2023.
  10. Guest Judge at the 2021 Year 9 Science Conference at Sydney Girls High School Anzac parade Surry Hills
  11. Judge for the Autumn 2024 UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT(FEIT) - Engineering Capstone Awards
  12. Assessor for honors project on 26th March in UTS.
  13. Assessor for master student (Zichen Xu) in UTS, whose project is focused on nuclear-targeted delivery of CRISPR by using polymer nanocarriers.
  14. Guest Editor for the journal of Biomedicines: Special Issue "Application of Biomedical Materials in Cancer Therapy" in 2024-2025.

My Research Supervision

  1. Co-supervising PhD research project: Targeted polymer lipid hybrid nanoparticles for breast cancer treatment (K. Zahra), 2024-now
  2. Co-supervising thesis student research project: Sensitive detection of RNA methylation using CRISPR/Cas13a biosensing system (F. Wu), 2025.
  3. Co-supervising PhD research project: CRISPR-based gene editing for enhanced Car-T cell therapy (H. Mei), 2024-now.
  4. Mentor undergraduate students (I. Joun) research project: Targeting and treatment options using liposomes/polymer nanoparticles for metastatic breast cancer, June 2021 - December 2021.
  5. Mentor undergraduate students (A.K. Numkarng) research project: Therapeutic Liposomes modified by anti-EGFR antibody for Glioblastoma treatment, January 2021 - September 2021.
  6. Mentor undergraduate students (M. Stramotas) research project: Anti-EGFR and anti-ICAM1 antibodies modified dual-targeting liposomes for breast cancer treatment, September 2020 - September 2021.
  7. Mentor undergraduate students (S. Shankar) research project: Active Liposomes for the treatment of Breast Cancer., February 2020 - December 2020.

My Teaching

  1. Demonstrator, Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering Studio B - 41163, UTS, 2022-2023
  2. Instructor, Fundamentals of Biomedical Engineering Studio B - 41163, UTS, 2024.