Academic Profile : Faculty

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Prof Chan Bee Eng, Mary
Professor, School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
President's Chair in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
Professor, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (Courtesy Appointment)
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Dr Mary Chan-Park is the 2019 Board of Trustees Chaired Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU Singapore). She also holds a joint appointment at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU. She is the Director of the Centre for Antimicrobial Bioengineering, and also the Director of the Nanyang Food Technology Centre (NAFTEC). She is a Fellow of the America Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering. She is also an associate editor of the American Chemical Society (ACS) Applied Materials & Interfaces

She obtained her BEng (Chemical) and PhD (Polymers) from the National University of Singapore and MIT in 1986 and 1993. respectively.
Her main research interests are in polymers in nanoscience and biotechnology. She has published extensively, with more than 240 papers in top-tier journals. She is a leader in the field of antibacterial and antibiofilm polymers. Her group has invented a new class of potent cationic antimicrobial polymers which are non-toxic and biocompatible. Her antibacterial polymers are more environmentally friendly than current disinfectives and are being applied as device coatings and solutions to fight the global Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) public health crisis. These new antimicrobial polymers have been reported in Angewandte Chemie (2020), Chemical Science (2020), Nature Communications (2019), Nano Letters (2018), ACS Nano (2015), Advanced Materials (2012) and Nature Materials (2011). Her polymers are explored for human and animal infections.

The key inventions of Mary include glycosylated block co-beta-peptides that can eradicate biofilm and persister bacteria that are not easily treatable by classical antibiotics and which are the cause of recurrent infections. She also invented a series of polyimidazoliums that have antibiotic-like properties and ultra-high selectivity window, so that these can be exploited in complex consumer care products. She pioneered microporous antibacterial hydrogels that kill bacteria through acting as an anion sponge. These hydrogel coatings have been applied to contact lens and wound dressing

Her patents have been used by/licensed to companies. Professor Mary Chan contributes actively to the industry through industry cooperation projects, consultancy and licensing of her technologies.
 
  • Synthetic Biology Collaboration with Imperial College
  • Targeting bacterial membrane biology with novel main chain cationic polymers
  • Biodegradable cationic polymer as the gene delivery carrier
  • Targeting bacterial membrane biology with novel main chain cationic polymers (overhead portion to Lead PI)
  • Polycarbene formation from poly(ionic liquids) and its binding with ammonia for removal from salt water
  • President’s Chair in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology
  • Selective Contact-active Cationic Antimicrobial Biomacromolecules
  • Bacteriophages as a Solution to Combat Antimicrobial Resistant Bacterial Infections
  • Development of lung-targeting mutation p53-specific siRNAs
  • A safe, efficacious and sustainable solution to treat bovine mastitis
  • Proteins4Singapore
US 2016/0022827 A1: Hybrid Nanomaterial Of Graphene Oxide Nanomaterial And Cationic Quaternized Chitosan (2020)
Abstract: A hybrid nanomaterial consisting of graphene oxide (GO) nanomaterial covalently conjugated to cationic quaternized chitosan is provided. Method of preparing the hybrid nanomaterial, an antimicrobial composition containing the hybrid nanomaterial, and use of the antimicrobial composition in inhibiting growth of microorganisms in an environment are also provided.

US 2017/0137291 A1: Methods For Separating Carbon Nanotubes (2019)
Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for separating semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes from metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes may be provided. The method may include the steps of (a) passing a carbon nanotube dispersion over a charged material. The dispersion may include a mixture of the semiconducting carbon nanotubes and the metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes. The method may further include (b) passing an eluent solution through the charged material after (a). The method may also include (c) collecting an eluate including semiconducting carbon nanotubes or a mixture of semiconducting carbon nanotubes and metallic carbon nanotubes.

US 2013/0040439 A1: Method Of Modifying Electrical Properties Of Carbon Nanotubes Using Nanoparticles (2018)
Abstract: Various embodiments relate to a method of modifying the electrical properties of carbon nanotubes. The method may include providing a substrate having carbon nanotubes deposited on a surface of the substrate, and depositing on the carbon nanotubes a coating layer comprising a mixture of nanoparticles, a matrix in which the nanoparticles are dissolved or stabilized, and an ionic liquid. A field-effect transistor including the modified carbon nanotubes is also provided.

US 2017/0145175 A1: Polyimide-Carbon Nanotube Composite Film (2018)
Abstract: A polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film is provided. The composite film includes a carbon nanotube, and a polyimide obtainable by imidizing a poly(amic acid).

US 2016/0038636 A1: Chitosan Hydrogel Derivatives as a Coating Agent with Broad Spectrum of Antimicrobial Activities (2017)
Abstract: The present invention relates to water soluble quaternized chitosan derivatives which form hydrogel matrix with broad antimicrobial properties for the protection and coating of medical device. Hydrogel is attractive as an antimicrobial coating since its hydrophilicity intrinsically prevents the reversible nonspecific attachment of microbes. In order to achieve hydrogel formation, quaternized chitosan can be grafted with polymerizable groups, especially photocrosslinkable groups, such as methacrylates, PEG derivatives and be converted into hydrogels through a thermal or UV polymerization process. Hydrogels are hydrated cross-linked polymeric systems that contain water in an equilibrium state forming cushion water shield. The present invention is widely used in many medical devices. This invention describes the formation of novel hydrogels based on quaternized ammonium chitosan derivatives which has been grafted with photocrosslinkable groups, hence providing hydrogels as antimicrobial water shield coating agent.

US 2013/0075671 A1: Method For Forming Polyimide-Carbon Nanotube Composite Film, And Polyimide-Carbon Nanotube Composite Film Formed Thereof (2017)
Abstract: A method for forming a polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film on a substrate is provided. The method comprises: suspending carbon nanotubes in a solution comprising a poly(amic acid) and a suitable solvent; casting the solution onto a substrate to form a layer on the substrate; and heating the layer to convert the poly(amic acid) into a polyimide to form the polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film. A polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film and an electronic device comprising the polyimide-carbon nanotube composite film are also provided.

US 2013/0336874 A1: Quinone Radicals for Enriching Specific Species of Carbon Nanotubes (2016)
Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for enriching specific species of carbon nanotubes, comprising contacting a composition of carbon nanotubes with one or more quinone compounds, reacting the carbon nanotubes with the quinone compounds, and separating the carbon nanotubes reacted with the quinone compounds from the unreacted carbon nanotubes. The present invention is also directed to a field-effect transistor comprising a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube enriched using a method described herein.

US 2014/0308194 A1: Methods Of Enriching Different Species Of Carbon Nanotubes (2016)
Abstract: A method of enriching specific species of carbon nanotubes by exposing a composition of carbon nanotubes to an azo compound is provided. The method includes a) mixing the azo compound with a suspension comprising the composition of carbon nanotubes to form a mixture; b) incubating the mixture to react the azo compound with the carbon nanotubes; and c) separating a supernatant and a precipitate formed in the mixture. An electrode and a field-effect transistor comprising a single-walled carbon nanotube species enriched using the method are also provided.

US-2012-0171103-A1: Method for Modifying Electrical Properties of Carbon Nanotubes (2016)
Abstract: The invention relates to a method of modifying electrical properties of carbon nanotubes by subjecting a composition of carbon nanotubes to one or more radical initiator(s). The invention also relates to an electronic component such as field-effect transistor comprising a carbon nanotube obtained using the method of the invention. The invention also relates to the use of the modified carbon nanotubes in conductive and high-strength nanotube/polymer composites, transparent electrodes, sensors and nanoelectromechanical devices, additives for batteries, radiation sources, semiconductor devices (e.g. transistors) or interconnects.

US 2014/016133 A1: Polymerizable Composition For Ophthalmic And Medical Use And Antimicrobial Composition Obtained By Polymerizing The Same Polymerizable Composition (2016)
Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a polymerizable composition capable of providing antimicrobial properties to ophthalmic and medical devices relatively inexpensively with ease, and an antimicrobial composition obtained by polymerizing the polymerizable composition.

US 2014/0193476 A1: Chitosan Hydrogel Derivatives as a Coating Agent with Broad Spectrum of Antimicrobial Activities (2015)
Abstract: The present invention relates to water soluble quaternized chitosan derivatives which form hydrogel matrix with broad antimicrobial properties for the protection and coating of medical device. Hydrogel is attractive as an antimicrobial coating since its hydrophilicity intrinsically prevents the reversible nonspecific attachment of microbes.

US 2013/0035419 A1: Methods for Dispersing Carbon Nanotubes and Compositions Used for the Methods (2015)
Abstract: The present invention refers to a method of dispersing carbon nanotubes in a thermosetting resin. The method comprises: (a) contacting the carbon nanotubes with a dispersant in a solvent to form a dispersion mixture, wherein the dispersant is a graft polymer comprising a polymeric backbone and a side chain grafted to the polymeric backbone; and (b) adding the thermosetting resin to the dispersion solution to form a resin blend. The present invention also refers to a composition used for the method.

US 2013/0341570 A1: Method For Dispersing Carbon Nanotubes Using Chondroitin Sulfate Cation Salt (2015)
Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dispersing carbon nanotubes. The method may include contacting the carbon nanotubes with a solution containing chondroitin sulfate cation salt of formula (I) wherein R1 is MSO3 and R2 is H, or R1 is H and R2 is MSO3; M is an alkaline metal, or an alkaline earth metal further bound to a monovalent counter-anion; n is at least 20.

US 2007/0009572 A1: Micro-Structured and Nano-Structured Surfaces On Biodegradable Polymers (2014)
Abstract: In embodiments of the present invention, a biodegradable/biodegradable polymer film may be used as a scaffold for tissue engineering scaffolds for engineering organized organs, such as vascular grafts, for example. In one embodiment, an ultraviolet (UV) resin made from a diacrylated biodegradable oligomer is molded into a flexible scaffold having cavities and/or channels.

US 2012/0164208 A1: Chitosan Hydrogel Derivatives as a Coating Agent with Broad Spectrum of Antimicrobial Activities (2014)
Abstract: The present invention relates to water soluble quaternized chitosan derivatives which form hydrogel matrix with broad antimicrobial properties for the protection and coating of medical device. Hydrogel is attractive as an antimicrobial coating since its hydrophilicity intrinsically prevents the reversible nonspecific attachment of microbes.

US 2009-0246408: Method of Aligning Nanotubes (2012)
Abstract: A method of aligning nanotubes is described, where a plurality of channels is provided on a substrate (100), a suspension of nanotubes is placed on or adjacent an open surface of the channels (102) and the suspension is allowed to flow into the channels to align the nanotubes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the channels (104).

US 2022/0332892 A1: β-Peptido-Sugar-Copolymer (2024)
Abstract: There is provided a β-peptido sugar-copolymer having the structure of formula (I) as defined herein, or a stereoisomer, a tautomer, an N-oxide, a hydrate, a solvate, or a salt thereof, or a mixture of the same. There is provided a process to make the β-peptido sugar-copolymer as defined herein. There are further provided medical applications of the β-peptido sugar-copolymer as defined herein. In a preferred embodiment, a block-like copolymer poly(amido-D-glucose)-block-poly-β-(L)-homolysine (PDGu-b-PBLK) synthesized via anionic ring-opening polymerization (ROP) demonstrates an antimicrobial efficacy, an enhanced selectivity towards different bacteria, biocompatibility vs. mammalian cells and spontaneous assembly.
Courses Taught
CH2112 Chemical Reaction Engineering

CH3102 Chemical Reaction Engineering