Dr. Song Liu, EIT

Research

Area

Biomaterials, Biomedical and Electrical Biosensors, Water Resources, Materials Science and Engineering, New Materials and Manufacturing Technologies.

Expertise

Biomaterials, Biocidal surface, Microencapsulation, Nanotechnology, Functional polymers, Biocides.

Research description

Dr. Song Liu‘s research focuses on 1) the development of novel surface engineering techniques for chemically inert semicrystalline polymers; 2) the development of new biocidal and biocompatible materials; and 3) micro- and nano-encapsulation of bioactive agents for their targeted and controlled delivery.

Biography

Song Liu is a Professor of Polymer Science & Engineering and directs the Biomaterials Synthesis and Surface Engineering Laboratory at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, MB. Dr. Liu earned a Ph.D. in Fiber and Polymer Science at the University of California, Davis.
Dr. Liu‘s research focuses on 1) the development of novel surface engineering techniques for chemically inert semicrystalline polymers; 2) the development of new biocidal and biocompatible materials; and 3) micro- and nano-encapsulation of bioactive agents for their targeted and controlled delivery. He has received over 2 M CAD in research funding as PI and over 2.7 M CAD as Co-PI or collaborator from various granting agencies (including NSERC, CIHR, CFI and Research Manitoba) for his pioneering work in exploring new durable and versatile surface modification techniques for chemically inert semicrystalline polymers, and developing new broad-spectrum biocides and “smart” polymeric materials. His research group has successfully developed a versatile polyester platform which can allow furnishing the surface with various bio-functionalities via “click” chemistry method in a spatially-controlled manner. This work lays an important foundation for well-controlled durable bio-functionalization of chemically inert semicrystalline polymers for their uses in medical devices such as anti-biofilm catheters, vascular grafts, drug release stents and wound dressings.
Dr. Liu has published 65 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious journals such as Advanced Functional Materials (impact factor (IF) 19.924), Advanced Healthcare Materials (IF 11.092), Carbohydrate Polymers (IF 10.723), ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (IF 10.383), Acta Biomaterialia (IF 10.633), Nanoscale (IF 8.307), Journal of Material Chemistry B (IF 7.571), Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine (IF 6.458), and Progress in Surface Science (IF 6.071). Dr. Liu’s research has also had successful translation to industry with five patent applications, two granted patents and two licensing agreements. He has won the 2012 Rh Award in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Winnipeg Rh Foundation in view of his leadership in interdisciplinary research. He received the 2018 Merit Award for Research, Scholarly Work and Creative Activities from the University of Manitoba, and the 2019 John Ogilvie Research Innovation Award of Canadian Society for Bioengineering CSBE/SCGAB. He is one of the recipients of the 2019 Outstanding Teacher from the University of Manitoba through the Students’ Teacher Recognition program, and the 2021 Graduating Class Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Price Faculty of Engineering, University of Manitoba.

Graduate Student Opportunities

Dr. Liu is looking for highly self-motivated, intelligent and team-playing students who have a solid background in polymer sciences, chemistry, engineering, and microbiology. The student needs to be sincerely interested in what Dr. Liu's team is researching especially antimicrobial coatings and plan to pursue a Ph.D. or a M.Sc. degree.

Selected Publications

1. Currie, S.; Cutts, T.; Kasloff, S.; Wang, W.; Hollowayb, K.; Logsetty, S.; Kumar, Anand.; Kumar, Ayush; Liu, S.* Rechargeable potent anti-viral cotton grafted with a new quaternized N-chloramine. Advanced Materials Interfaces, 2022, in press. https://doi-org.uml.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/admi.202201338
2. Wang, L.; Yang, C.; Liu, S*. Development and antibacterial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in core-shell microparticles for managing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli related post-weaning diarrhea. Applied Nanoscience, 2022, 12, 1449–1458.
3. Yu, C.; Litke, Q.; Li, Q.; Lu, P.; Liu, Shangxi.; Diony, F.; Gong, J.; Yang, C.;* Liu, S.* Targeted delivery of sodium metabisulfite (SMBS) by pH-sensitive Eudragit L100-55 nanofibrous mats fabricated through advanced coaxial electrospinning. Journal of Materials Science, 2022, 57, 3375–3395
4. Cadogan, K.; Bashar, S.; Magnusson, S.; Patidar, R.; Embil, J.; Gawaziuk, J.; Gawthrop, M.; Liu, S.; Kumar, A.; Logsetty, S. Assessment of Cleaning Methods on Bacterial Burden of Hospital Privacy Curtains: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. Scientific Reports, 2021, 11, Article number: 21866
5. Yu, C.; Lu, P.; Liu, Shangxi.; Li, Q.; Xu, E.; Gong, J.; Liu, S.*; Yang, C.* Efficiency of Deoxynivalenol Detoxification by Microencapsulated Sodium Metabisulfite Assessed via an In Vitro Bioassay Based on Intestinal Porcine Epithelial Cells. ACS Omega, 2021, 6, 12, 8382–8393.
6. Ren, X.; Levin, D.; Liu, S.; Lin, F.* Investigations on T cell transmigration in a human skin-on-chip (SoC) model. Lab on a Chip, 2021, 21(8),1527-1539.
7. Dartiailh, C.; Blunt, W.; Sharma, P.; Liu, S.; Cicek, N.; Levin, D. B. The Effects of Substrate Utilization on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Medium Chain-Length Polyhydroxyalkanoates Synthesized by Pseudomonas putida LS46. Frontiers Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2021, 8:617489.
8. Chen, Y.; Liu, S.; Yu, C.; Azevedo, P.; Liu, S.; O, K.; Gong, J.; Hou, Y.; Yang, C. Evaluating the effectiveness of Lactobacillus zeae against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 infection in an in vitro porcine intestinal epithelial cell model. ACS Food Science & Technology, 2021, 1, 2, 215–228.
9. Currie, S.; Shariatzadeh, F.J.; Logsetty, S.; Liu, S.* Highly Sensitive Bacteria-Responsive Membranes Consisting of Core–Shell Polyurethane Polyvinylpyrrolidone Electrospun Nanofibers for In Situ Detection of Bacterial Infections. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (Impact Factor: 9.229), 2020, 12, 41, 45859–45872.
10. Currie, S.; Kim, S.; Gu, X.; Ren, X.; Lin, F.; Yang, C.; Kim, J.; Liu, S.* Mucus-penetrating PEGylated polysuccinimide-based nanocarrier for intravaginal delivery of siRNA battling sexually transmitted infections. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces (Impact Factor: 5.268), 2020, 196, 111287.
11. Ross, J.A.; Schatz, C.; Olson, M.; Nation, P.; Gawaziuk, J.; Sethi, J. Liu, S.; Logsetty, S*. Comparison of the efficacy of silver-based antimicrobial burn dressings in a porcine model of burn wounds. Burn, 2020, 46(7), 1632-1640.
12. Choi, J.; Wang, L.; Liu, Shangxi.; Lu, P.; Zhao, X.; Liu, H.; Lahaye, L.; Santin, E.; Liu, S.; Nyachoti, M.; Yang, C. Effects of a microencapsulated formula of organic acids and essential oils on nutrient absorption, immunity, gut barrier function, and abundance of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 in weaned piglets challenged with E. coli F4, Journal of Animal Science, 2020, 98(9), 259.
13. Nickel, R.; Kazemian, M.R.; Wroczynskyj, Y.; Liu, S*.; van Lierop, J*. Exploiting Shape-Selected Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for the Destruction of Robust Bacterial Biofilms -- Active Transport of Biocides via Surface Charge and Magnetic Field Control, Nanoscale (Impact Factor: 7.790), 2020,12, 4328-4333.
14. Choi, J.; Wang, L.; Lahaye, L.; Liu, S.; Nyachoti, M.; Yang, C*. Evaluation of lipid matrix micro-encapsulation for intestinal delivery of thymol in weaned pigs. Translational Animal Science, 2020, 4 (1), 411–422.
15. Li, W.; Cicek,