Prof. Xing Bengang

Academic Staff

PolyU Scholars Hub

Chair Professor of Chemical Biology (Global STEM Professorship Scheme)

PolyU Scholars Hub

ORCID ID

SCOPUS ID

Research Overview

My research interests are inherently interdisciplinary, spanning the fields of chemical biology, molecular probe and imaging, biomedical labeling, molecular therapy, and nano-theranostics. Our central goal is to design and discover “smart” small molecules, natural products, bioactive peptides, and their analogues to address critical biological and medical challenges. In parallel, we focus on developing advanced functional molecular tools and hybrid nanomaterials as chemical biology platforms for applications in biomolecular labeling, imaging and biosensing, drug and gene delivery, as well as biomedical theranostics.

Research Interests

Education and Academic Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Chemistry, Nanjing University, China

Professional Qualifications

Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry

Academic and Professional Experience

Chair, 2nd International Symposium on Chemical and Biomedical Imaging (CBMI-2) (2026)
Advisory Board of NPG Asia Materials, Journal of Controlled Release (2024 – Present)
Editorial Advisory Board, iRadiology, Exploration, FlexMat (2023 – Present)
International Advisory Board (IAB) and Chair, IUPAC/13 International Symposium on Bio-organic Chemistry (ISBOC 13) (2023)
Guest Editor, Advanced Drug Delivery Review (ADDR) (2022)
Member, Luminescent Committee of China Rare Earth Society (2021 – Present)
Associate Editor, Analytical Sciences, The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry (2020 – Present)
Singapore Representative, Asian Chemical Biology Initiative (ACBI) in JSPS, Japan (2017 – Present)
Editorial Advisory Board, Bioconjugate Chemistry, ACS (2017 – Present)
Editorial Board Member, Nano-theranostics (2017 – Present)
Advisory Editorial Board, Journal of Controlled Release, Bioconjugate Chemistry (ACS), NPG Asia Materials

Achievements

Global STEM Scholar, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2024)
Young Innovator Award in Nano-biotechnology, featured by Nano Research (2018)

B. G. Xing, E. Yan, G. Kwek, Enzymes In Synergy: Bacterial Proteases Mediated In Vivo Real-Time Imaging of Localized Urinary Tract Infection, 2023-329-02-PCT/PRV, 10202303589T SG, 2023
B. G. Xing, L. Qiao, W. Lang. Intelligent NIR II Photothermal And Colorimetric Sensing Technology, PCT/SG2023/050719, 2023
B. G. Xing, C. T. Do. Compounds For Use In The Treatment Of Cancer. PCT/SG2022/050282, WO/2022/235220, 2022.
B. G. Xing; X. Huang, T. Jiang, R. Liu, “Multifunctional Glycopeptide Antibiotic Derivatives for Fluorescent Imaging and Photoactive Antimicrobial Therapy. US9476087B2, 2016
B. G. Xing, C. T. Do. Enzyme Triggered Degradation of Tumour Circadian: A New And Unique Drug-Free Strategy For Specific Therapy. 2020, TD 2021-142.; 2021-142-01-SG PRV.
B. G. Xing, J. Aw, Q. Shao, Y. Yang, T. Jiang, C. Ang, Quinazolinone based fluorogenic probes, PCT US8697714B2, 2014.
T. Loh, B. Ata., B. G. Xing; TD/086/14; Allenamides As Orthogonal Handle for Selective Modification Of Cysteine in Peptides and Proteins. USA patent. A) US Application No: 15/303,670., European Patent No: 15780447.7, US10294205B2, 2019

Sun, C.; Liu, S.; Lau, J. W.; Yang, H.; Chen, Y.; Xing, B. Enzyme-Activated Orthogonal Proteolysis Chimeras for Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Immunomodulation. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2025, 64, e202423057. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202423057
Xin, E. Y. H.; Kwek, G.; An, X.; Sun, C.; Liu, S.; Qing, N. S.; Lingesh, S.; Jiang, L.; Liu, G.; Xing, B. Enzymes in Synergy: Bacteria Specific Molecular Probe for Locoregional Imaging of Urinary Tract Infection in vivo. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202406843. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202406843
Wang, Z.; Lau, J. W.; Liu, S.; Ren, Z.; Gong, Z.; Liu, X.; Xing, B. A Nitroreductase-Activatable Metabolic Reporter for Covalent Labeling of Pathological Hypoxic Cells in Tumorigenesis. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2024, 63, e202411636. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202411636
Huang, Q.; Zhu, W.; Gao, X.; Liu, X.; Zhang, Z.; Xing, B. Nanoparticles-mediated ion channels manipulation: From their membrane interactions to bioapplications. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews 2023, 195, 114763. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2023.114763
Do, T. C.; Lau, J. W.; Sun, C.; Liu, S.; Kha, K. T.; Lim, S. T.; Oon, Y. Y.; Kwan, Y. P.; Ma, J. J.; Mu, Y.; Liu, X.; Carney, T. J.; Wang, X.; Xing, B. Hypoxia deactivates epigenetic feedbacks via enzyme-derived clicking proteolysis-targeting chimeras. Science Advances 2022, 8, eabq2216. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq2216
Wang, Z.; Cong, T. D.; Zhong, W.; Lau, J. W.; Kwek, G.; Chan-Park, M. B.; Xing, B. Cyanine-Dyad Molecular Probe for the Simultaneous Profiling of the Evolution of Multiple Radical Species During Bacterial Infections. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2021, 60, 16900–16905. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202104100
Ai, X.; Wang, Z.; Cheong, H.; Wang, Y.; Zhang, R.; Lin, J.; Zheng, Y.; Gao, M.; Xing, B. Multispectral optoacoustic imaging of dynamic redox correlation and pathophysiological progression utilizing upconversion nanoprobes. Nature Communications 2019, 10, 1087. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09001-7
Ai, X.; Lyu, L.; Zhang, Y.; Tang, Y.; Mu, J.; Liu, F.; Zhou, Y.; Zuo, Z.; Liu, G.; Xing, B. Remote Regulation of Membrane Channel Activity by Site-Specific Localization of Lanthanide-Doped Upconversion Nanocrystals. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2017, 56, 3031–3035. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201612142 (
Ai, X.; Ho, C. J. H.; Aw, J.; Attia, A. B. E.; Mu, J.; Wang, Y.; Wang, X.; Wang, Y.; Liu, X.; Chen, H.; Gao, M.; Chen, X.; Yeow, E. K. L.; Liu, G.; Olivo, M.; Xing, B. In vivo covalent cross-linking of photon-converted rare-earth nanostructures for tumour localization and theranostics. Nature Communications 2016, 7, 10432. DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10432
Mu, J.; Liu, F.; Rajab, M. S.; Shi, M.; Li, S.; Goh, C.; Lu, L.; Xu, Q.-H.; Liu, B.; Ng, L. G.; Xing, B. A Small-Molecule FRET Reporter for the Real-Time Visualization of Cell-Surface Proteolytic Enzyme Functions. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2014, 53, 14357–14362. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201407182

Yang, Yanmei; Bengang Xing. "Surface Coated NIR Light-Responsive Nanostructures for Imaging and Therapeutic Applications" in Soft Nanomaterials, Ye Zhang, Bing Xu, WORLD SCIENTIFIC, Singapore, Hackensack NJ, and London, 2018, Vol. 19, pp. 135-165.

Mu, Jing; Hao Lun Cheong; Bengang Xing. "FRET Reporter Molecules for Identification of Enzyme Functions" In Biocatalysis and Nanotechnology, Grunwald, P. (Ed.)., Jenny Stanford Publishing, New York, 2017, vol. 13, pp. 447-483.