Chao Huang

Dr. Chao Huang, Associate Professor，Doctoral Supervisor at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University. He also serves as Head of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. His primary research focuses on medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, encompassing structural modification and bioactivity studies of active natural products, design and synthesis of targeted anticancer and antimicrobial molecules, and development of health products based on the 'Medicine Food Homology' concept and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). To date, he has published over 40 SCI papers in international journals such as Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews and European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, with an H-index of 15. He has led multiple research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program), the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation, and the Sichuan Science and Technology Department, in addition to undertaking numerous industry-sponsored collaborative R&D projects. Several of his 'Medicine Food Homology' products have been commercialized through industry partnerships and successfully launched to the market. He is also a founder or advisor to several biotechnology and health product companies.

ORCID ID：https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4215-3630

2020.09–present   Associate Professor, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing University 

2017.09–2020.08   Associate Professor, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University 

2014.07–2017.08   Lecturer, College of Chemistry, Sichuan University

2008.09–2014.06   Ph.D. in Chemistry (Prof. Yufen Zhao), Xiamen University, Fujian, China  

2011.12–2013.06   Joint Ph.D. Student in Chemistry (Prof. C. C. Cummins, Kit), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA

2004.09–2008.07   B.S. in Chemistry, Xiamen University, Fujian, China

Mainly engaged in research in the fields of medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, including structural modification and activity studies of active natural products, design and synthesis of targeted anti-tumor and antibacterial molecules; Chemistry of Chinese Materia Medicanal ; development of traditional Chinese medicine products that are both food and medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine products for overall health.

Technology Transfer & Commercialization:

Building on the research of natural active products and guided by TCM theories, we precisely target the health product market. We are enhancing modern research on medicine-food homologous substances. Leveraging the cultivation and production of authentic Chongqing medicinal materials from regions like the Northeast of Chongqing City, Three Gorges Reservoir area, Daba Mountain Medicinal Valley, and Wuling Medicinal Capital, we primarily utilize genuine Chongqing herbs such as the "Yu Shi Wei" (Chongqing's Ten Signature Medicinals) as raw materials. Our focus is on the R&D and application of health foods, functional foods, and foods for special medical purposes. To date, multiple medicine-food homologous products have been commercialized, produced in collaboration with enterprises, and successfully launched to the market.

As the project leader, he has secured and presided over multiple research initiatives, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Young Scientists Fund, the Innovation Research Group of the Sichuan Science and Technology Department, the Key Joint Project of Chongqing Municipal Science and Technology Bureau and Municipal Education Commission, and grants from Sichuan University and Chongqing University, in addition to various industry-sponsored horizontal R&D projects. He has also participated in several national and ministerial/provincial-level research programs.

1. J. Feng, X. Li, R. Zhang, X. Deng, M. Chen, W. Mou, F. Huang, C. Zou, S. Zhao ,  Z. Wang, C. Huang*, Y. He*, Development of TPP-HK conjugates as membrane-targeting antibacterial agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Bioorg. Chem. 2025, 163, 108758. (JCR1, IF = 4.7)

2. D.  Liao, Y. Yang , S. Xiong, J. Feng, C. Zou, H. Peng, X. Yang, S. Zhang, Z. Wang, Y. He, C. Huang*, Self-assembled GSH-responsive polycyclophosphazene loaded honokiol nano-drug for enhanced cancer therapy, Colloids Surf. B 2025, 255,114876. (JCR1, IF = 5.6)

3. Z. Tang, J. Feng, M. Challa, S. R. Rowthu, S. Xiong, C. Zou, J. Li, C. S. Verma, H. Peng, X. He, C. Huang*, Y. He*, Discovery of novel Thymol-TPP antibiotics that eradicate MRSA persisters, Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2024, 270, 116381. （JCR1， Top，8/72）

4. C. Pan, Q. Li, S. Xiong, Y. Yang, Y.Yang, C. Huang*,  Z. Wang*, Delivery strategies, structural modification, and pharmacological mechanisms of honokiol: a comprehensive review, Chem. Biodiver. 2024, 21, e202302032. （JCR3，Invited Review）

5. Z. Tang, J. Feng, S. Rowthu, C. Zou, H. Peng, C. Huang*, Y. He*, Uncovering the anti-biofilm activity of Ilicicolin B against Staphylococcus aureus, Biochem. Bioph. Res. Co. 2023, 684, 149138. (JCR3)

6. Y. Zhong; X. He; W. Tao; J. Feng; R. Zhang; H. Gong; Z. Tang; C. Huang*; Yun He*; 2,4-Diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) derivatives rapidly eradicate methicillinresistant staphylococcus aureus without resistance development by disrupting membrane, Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2023, 261, 115823. （JCR1, Top，8/72）

7. A. Nazli, Y. He, D. Liao, M. Z. I. Khan, C. Huang*, Y. He*, Strategies and progresses for enhancing targeted antibiotic delivery, Adv. Drug Deliver. Rev. 2022, 189, 114502. （JCR1, Top, 4/354, IF = 15.904）

8. S. Jiang, J. Wang, Z. Zhu, S. Shan, Y. Mao, X. Zhang, X. Pei, C. Huang*, Q. Wan*, Microp. Mesop. Mat. 2022, 334, 111773. （JCR1）

9. J. Kang, R. Wu, L. Li, H. Hu, Y. Fan, Y. Jin, C. Huang*, J. Chen, C. Xu, and C. Xia*. Inorg. Chem. 2021, 60(18), 14212–14220. （JCR1, Top）

10. X. Shu, Y. Fan, S. Li, Y. Jin, C. Xia, C. Huang^*. New J. Chem. 2020, 44, 2033–2045. （JCR2）

11. "Preparation of Honokiol-Loaded Responsive Phosphazene Nanoparticles for Antitumor Application", Chinese Invention Patent, CN116270537A, Application Submitted.