Wang Zhisong
Dr. rer. nat., University of Tuebingen, Germany (1998)
Associate Professor

Email: phywangz@nus.edu.sg
Office: S16-07-07
Tel: +65 6516 2606

Current Research

  • Our Molecular Motors Lab focuses on experimental development of rationally designed DNA nanomotors and their technological applications. To support the experimental development, we also conduct theoretical study of our DNA motors and general small-system thermodynamics (covering artificial nanomotors as well as motor proteins from biology).
  • Our lab has a lasting interest in developing advanced translational nanomotors that go beyond early simplistic bridge-burning systems to achieve truly sustainable self-directed motion (see a latest review in Nanoscale 2019, Vol. 11, pp.9240). Some motors from our lab are powered and remotely controlled by light; some motors operate autonomously by consuming chemical fuels. Currently we are combining a variety of nanomotors with larger DNA origami platforms to develop molecular robots and artificial muscles for real-world applications (automated chemical synthesis and medical technology).


Autonomous bipedal DNA motor (red) circulating a triangle DNA origami surface

Selected Publications

  • W. Siti, H. L. Too, T. Anderson, X. R. Liu, I. Y. Loh, Z. S. Wang, “Autonomous DNA molecular motor tailor-designed to navigate DNA origami surface for fast complex motion and advanced nanorobotics”, Science Advances 9, eadi8444 (2023)
  • X. R. Liu, I. Y. Loh, W. Siti, H. L. Too, T. Anderson, Z. S. Wang, “A light-operated integrated DNA walker–origami system beyond bridge burning”, Nanoscale Horizons 8, 827 (2023).
  • M. Liu, J. Cheng, S. R. Tee, S. Sreelatha, I.Y. Loh, Z.S. Wang, ”Biomimietic Autonomous Enzymatic Nanowalker of High Fuel Efficiency”, ACS Nano 10, 5882 (2016).
  • I.Y. Loh, J. Cheng, S.R. Tee, A. Efremov, and Z.S. Wang, “From Bistate Molecular Switches to Self- Directed Track-Walking Nanomotors”, ACS Nano 10, 10293 (2014).
  • M. Liu, R. Hou, J. Cheng, I.Y. Loh, S. Sreelatha, J.N. Tey, J. Wei, and Z.S. Wang, “Autonomous Synergic Control of Nanomotors”, ACS Nano 8, 1792 (2014).
  • Z.S. Wang, R. Hou, and A. Efremov, “Directional fidelity of nanoscale motors and particles is limited by the 2nd law of thermodynamics—Via a universal equality”, J. Chem. Phys. 139, 035105 (2013).
  • J. Cheng, S. Sreelatha, R. Hou, A. Efremov, R. Liu, J.R.C. van der Maarel, and Z.S. Wang, “Bipedal nanowalker by pure physical mechanisms”, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 238104 (2012).
  • Z.S. Wang, “Synergic mechanism and fabrication target for bipedal nanomotors”, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 104, 17921 (2007).