Profile

Research Interests

The central theme of our research is functional surfaces and interfaces. It lies at the interface of organic chemistry, materials chemistry, and nanotechnology. We develop new methods for the immobilization of synthetic polymers, small molecules, and biomolecules, and conduct fundamental studies to better understand the surface chemistry that governs the immobilization processes. We are also developing methodologies to create surfaces that can provide functions such as biocompatibility and molecular recognition for biomaterial and biomedical applications.

Surface chemistry is inherently multidisciplinary, therefore, our research involves a variety of activities including organic/polymer synthesis, materials characterization, nanofabrication, surface analysis, and molecular interaction studies. We collaborate with colleagues in biology, physics, and engineering applying our surface techniques in a wide range of bioanalytical and nanoelectronic applications.

For detailed and updated information of research activities in our laboratory, visit http://www.chem.pdx.edu/~yanm/Research.html

Selected Recent Publications

• Liu, L.-H.; Yan, M. “A Simple Method for the Covalent Immobilization of Graphene,” Nano Lett. 2009, 9, 3375-3378.
• Wang, X.; Ramström, O.; Yan, M. “A Photochemically Initiated Chemistry for Coupling Underivatized Carbohydrates to Gold Nanoparticles,” J. Mater. Chem. 2009, ASAP published online Oct. 20, 2009.
• Uppalapati, S.; Chada, S.; Engelhard, M. H.; Yan, M. “Photochemical Reactions of Poly(4-vinyl phenol) Thin Films,” Macromol. Chem. Phys. 2009, in press.
• Wang, X.; Liu, L.-H.; Ramström, O.; Yan, M. “Engineering Nanomaterial Surfaces for Biomedical Applications,” Exp. Biol. Med. 2009, 234, 1128-1139.
• Liu, L.-H.; Dietsch, H.; Schurtenberger, P.; Yan, M. “Photoinitiated Coupling of Carbohydrates on Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Sensing Carbohydrate-Protein Interactions,” Bioconjugate Chem. 2009, 20, 1349–1355.
• Knudsen, D.; Harnish, B.; Toth, R.; Yan, M. “Creating Microstructures on Silicon Wafers Using UV-Crosslinked Polystyrene Thin Films,” Polym. Eng. Sci. 2009, 49, 945-948.
• Chada, S.; Yan, M. “Self-Assembled Nanostructures from Homopolymer Induced by UV and Solvent Exposure,” Soft Matter 2008, 4, 2164-2167.
• Gann, J. P.; Yan, M. “A Versatile Method for Grafting Polymers on Nanoparticles,” Langmuir 2008, 24, 5319-5323.
• Maedler, C.; Chada, S.; Cui, X.; Taylor, M.; Yan, M.; La Rosa, A. “Creation of Nanopatterns by Local Protonation of P4VP via Dip Pen Nanolithography,” J. Appl. Phys. 2008, 104, 014311-1 – 014311-4.
• Yan, M. "Photochemically Initiated Single Polymer Immobilization," Chem. Eur. J., 2007, 13, 4138-4144.