Dr. Wen Ren

Photograph
Biography

Biography

Dr. Wen Ren received his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 2006 and his Ph.D. in 2011. He then pursued postdoctoral research at Purdue University starting in 2013 before joining UIUC as a Research Specialist in 2018. His research interests lie in the field of nanotechnology and its applications in biosensors and functional materials for medical care. Specifically, his work on biosensors focuses on lateral flow devices, and spectroscopic and colorimetric sensors for monitoring physiological processes in cells and detecting pollutants, pathogenic organisms, cervical cancer biomarkers, and DNA sequences. He has developed functional materials improved with unique nanostructures and applied them to analytical technology and medical care. In the long term, he aims to lead a program in novel functional materials to address human health.

 

Research Topics

Functionalized materials for medical care

Biosensors based on colorimetry, lateral flow assay, and SERS

 

Academic Positions

Research Specialist, Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana-Champaign, IL (10/2018-present)

Research Associate, Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (07/2017-06/2018)

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Agricultural and Biological Engineering and Bindley Bioscience Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (07/2013-07/2017)

Research Assistant, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun, China (01/2012-06/2013)

 

Publications

  1. Ren, W.; Messerschmidt, V.; Tsipursky, M.; Irudayaraj, J., Oxygen nanobubbles-embedded hydrogel as wound dressing to accelerate healing. ACS Applied Nano Materials 2023, 6 (14), 13116-13126.
  2. Ren, W.; Irudayaraj, J., Magnetic control-enhanced lateral flow technique for ultrasensitive nucleic acid target detection. ACS omega 2022, 7 (33), 29204-29210.
  3. Ren, W.; Irudayaraj, J. Paper-Based Test for Rapid On-Site Screening of SARS-CoV-2 in Clinical Samples. Biosensors 2021, 11, 488.
  4. Ren, W.; Ahmad, S.; Irudayaraj, J., 16S rRNA monitoring point-of-care magnetic focus lateral flow sensor. ACS Omega 2021, 6, 11095–11102.
  5. Ren, W.; Cabush, A.; Irudayaraj, J. Checkpoint enrichment for sensitive detection of target bacteria from large volume of food matrices. Chim. Acta 2020, 1127, 114-121.
  6. Ren, W.; Mohammed, S.; Wereley, S.; Irudayaraj, J., Magnetic focus lateral flow sensor for detection of cervical cancer biomarkers, Chem. 2019, 91, 2876-2884.
  7. Ren, W.; Ballou, DR.; FitzGerald, R.; Irudayaraj, J., Plasmonic enhancement in lateral flow sensors for improved sensing of pathogens, Bioelectron. 2019, 126, 324-331.
  8. Ren, W.; Liu, W.; Irudayaraj, J., A net fishing enrichment strategy for colorimetric detection of coli O157:H7, Sens. Actuator B-Chem. 2017, 247, 923-929.
  9. Ren, W.; Cho, I.; Zhou, Z.; Irudayaraj, J., Ultrasensitive detection of microbial cells by magnetic focus enhanced lateral flow sensors, Comm. 2016, 52, 4930-4933.
  10. Ren, W.; Damayanti, N.; Wang, X.; Irudayaraj, J., Kinase phosphorylation monitoring with i-motif DNA cross-linked SERS probes, Comm. 2016, 52, 410-413.
  11. Ren, W.; Zhou, Z.; Irudayaraj, J., Trichloroethylene sensing in water based on SERS with multifunctional Au/TiO2 core-shell nanocomposites, Analyst 2015, 140, 6625-6630.
  12. Ren, W.; Mura, S.; Irudayaraj, J, Modified graphene oxide sensors for ultra-sensitive detection of nitrate ions in water, Talanta 2015, 143, 234-9.
  13. Ren, W.; Zhu, C.; Wang, E, Enhanced sensitivity of a direct SERS technique for Hg2+ detection based on the investigation of the interaction between silver nanoparticles and mercury ions, Nanoscale 2012, 4 (19), 5902-5909.
  14. Ren, W.; Fang, Y.; Wang, E., A binary functional substrate for enrichment and ultrasensitive SERS spectroscopic detection of folic acid using graphene oxide/Ag nanoparticle hybrids. ACS Nano 2011, 5 (8), 6425-6433.
  15. Ren, W.; Guo, S.; Dong, S.; Wang, E., Ag dendrites with rod-like tips: synthesis, characterization and fabrication of superhydrophobic surfaces. Nanoscale 2011, 3 (5), 2241-2246.
  16. Ren, W.; Guo, S.; Dong, S.; Wang, E., A simple route for the synthesis of morphology-controlled and SERS-active Ag dendrites with near-infrared absorption. Phys. Chem. C 2011, 115 (21), 10315-10320.
  17. Ren, W.; Liu, J.; Guo, S.; Wang, E., SERS imaging for label-free detection of the phospholipids distribution in hybrid lipid membrane. Sci China Chem, 2011, 54(8), 1334–1341.
  18. Messerschmidt, V.; Ren, W.; Tsipursky, M.; Irudayaraj, J., Characterization of oxygen nanobubbles and in vitro evaluation of retinal cells in hypoxia. Translational Vision Science & Technology 2023, 12 (2), 16.
  19. Ouyang, L.; Ren, W.; Zhu L.; Irudayaraj J., Prosperity to challenges: recent approaches in SERS substrate fabrication. Anal. Chem. 2017, 36(1), 20160027.
  20. Mohammed, S.; Ren, W.; Flowers, L., Rajwa, B.; Chibwesha, C.; Parham, G.; Iruayaraj, J., Point-of-care test for cervical cancer in LMICs, Oncotarget 2016, 7, 18787.
  21. Shah, M. M.; Ren, W.; Irudayaraj, J.; Sajini, A. A.; Ali, M. I.; Ahmad, B., Colorimetric Detection of Organophosphate Pesticides Based on Acetylcholinesterase and Cysteamine Capped Gold Nanoparticles as Nanozyme. Sensors 2021, 21 (23), 8050.
  22. Wang, Y.; Ren, W.; Dong, S.; Wang, E., Characterization and optimization of AuNPs labeled by Raman reporters on glass based on silver enhancement. Raman Spectrosc. 2009, 40 (5), 571-576.
  23. Tsipursky, M.; Messerschmidt, V. L.; Ren, W.; Irudayaraj, J., Injectable oxygen carriers for the treatment of retinal ischemia. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2023, 64 (8), 2616.
  24. Zheng, L.; Wen, Y.; Ren, W.; Duan, H.; Lin, J.; Irudayaraj, J., Hyperspectral dark-field microscopy for pathogen detection based on spectral angle mapping. Actuator B-Chem. 2022,132042.
  25. Liu, W.; Cui, Y.; Ren, W.; Irudayaraj, J., Epigenetic biomarker screening by FLIM-FRET for combination therapy in ER+ breast cancer. Clinical epigenetics 2019, 11(1), 16.
  26. Cui, Y.; Wang, X.; Ren, W.; Liu, J.; Irudayaraj, J, Optical clearing delivers ultrasensitive hyperspectral dark-field imaging for single cell evaluation, ACS nano, 2016, 10, 3132-3143.
  27. Guo, S.; Li, J.; Ren, W.; Wen, D.; Dong, S.; Wang, E., Carbon nanotube/silica coaxial nanocable as a three-dimensional support for loading diverse ultra-high-density metal nanostructures: facile preparation and use as enhanced materials for electrochemical devices and SERS. Mat. 2009, 21 (11), 2247-2257.
  28. Wang, Y.; Li, D.; Ren, W.; Liu, Z.; Dong, S.; Wang, E., Ultrasensitive colorimetric detection of protein by aptamer-Au nanoparticles conjugates based on a dot-blot assay. Comm. 2008, (22), 2520-2522.
  29. Wang, Y.; Zou, X.; Ren, W.; Wang, W.; Wang, E., Effect of silver nanoplates on Raman spectra of p-aminothiophenol assembled on smooth macroscopic gold and silver surface. Phys. Chem. C 2007, 111 (8), 3259-3265.
  30. Wen, Y.; Liu, W.; David, B.; Ren, W.; Irudayaraj, J., Multifunctional oxygenated particles for targeted cancer drug delivery and evaluation with darkfield hyperspectral imaging. ACS omega 2022, 7 (45), 41275-41283.
  31. Liu, J.; Guo, S.; Han, L.; Ren, W.; Liu, Y.; Wang, E., Multiple pH-responsive graphene composites by non-covalent modification with chitosan. Talanta 2012, 101, 151-156.
  32. Wang, Y.; Wei, H.; Li, B.; Ren, W.; Guo, S.; Dong, S.; Wang, E., SERS opens a new way in aptasensor for protein recognition with high sensitivity and selectivity. Comm. 2007, 48, 5220-5222.
  33. Wang, R.; Xu, Y.; Sors, T.; Iruayaraj, J.; Ren, W.; Wang, R., Impedimetric detection of bacteria by using a microfluidic chip and silver nanoparticle based signal enhancement, Acta 2018, 185, 184.
  34. Fang Y.; Guo S.; Li D.; Zhu C.; Ren W.; Dong S. and Wang E., Easy synthesis and imaging applications of cross-linked green fluorescent hollow carbon nanoparticles, ACS Nano, 2012, 6 (1), 400-409.
  35. Zhai Y.; Han L.; Wang P.; Li G.; Ren W.; Liu L.; Wang E. and Dong S., Superparamagnetic plasmonic nanohybrids: shape-controlled synthesis, TEM-induced structure evolution, and efficient sunlight-driven inactivation of bacteria, ACS Nano, 2011, 5 (11), 8562-8570.
  36. Wang, L.; Wang, F.; Shang, L.; Zhu, C.; Ren, W.; Dong, S., AuAg bimetallic nanoparticles film fabricated based on H2O2-mediated silver reduction and its application. Talanta 2010, 82 (1), 113-117.
  37. Wen, D.; Guo, S.; Zhai, J.; Deng, L.; Ren, W.; Dong, S., Pt nanoparticles supported on TiO2 colloidal spheres with nanoporous surface: preparation and use as an enhancing material for biosensing applications. Phys. Chem. C 2009, 113 (30), 13023-13028.
  38. Zhai, Y.; Zhai, J.; Wang, Y.; Guo, S.; Ren, W.; Dong, S., Fabrication of iron oxide core/gold shell submicrometer spheres with nanoscale surface roughness for efficient surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Phys. Chem. C 2009, 113 (17), 7009-7014.
  39. Zhou, M.; Wang, Y.; Zhai, Y.; Zhai, J.; Ren, W.; Wang, F.; Dong, S., Controlled synthesis of large-area and patterned electrochemically reduced graphene oxide films. -Eur. J. 2009, 15 (25), 6116-6120.
  40. Wang, Y.; Li, D.; Li, P.; Wang, W.; Ren, W.; Dong, S.; Wang, E., Surface enhanced Raman Scattering of brilliant green on Ag nanoparticles and applications in living cells as optical probes. Phys. Chem. C 2007, 111 (45), 16833-16839.