Bioactive Substance Analysis & Evaluation Team

 

Team Members：

Long Ma, Ph.D., Professor, (Principal Investigator), Director of the International Exchange Office, Deputy Director of State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety.

Tianjin Thousand Talents Program; The first tier of the 131 Innovative Talents in Tianjin; "Leading Talents in Science and Technology Innovation among the Middle-aged and Young Generation" under the Tianjin Innovation Talent Promotion Program; "Outstanding Young Science and Technology Talents" under the Tianjin Innovation Talent Promotion Program; Top 2% Global Scientists (2023-2024).

Lijuan Yin, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Xinkuan Cheng, Ph.D., Associate Professor

Weipan Peng, Ph.D., Lecturer

Team Overview：

Led by Prof. Long Ma, the Bioactive Substance Analysis & Evaluation Team pioneers cutting-edge research in molecular diagnostics, nanomaterial-enabled biosensing, and food safety surveillance. Combining expertise in programmable nucleases (CRISPR/Argonaute), surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and synthetic biology, we develop rapid, ultrasensitive detection platforms for pathogens, toxins, and biomarkers. Our work has yielded 30+ high-impact publications (including ACS Nano, Trends in Biotechnology, and Coordination Chemistry Reviews), 15 patents, and 3 national awards for innovation in biosensor technologies. Collaborating globally, we bridge nanotechnology, microbiology, and bioengineering to address critical challenges in food safety and public health.

Team teaching：

Molecular biology microbial genetics and breeding (Bilingual)

Introduction to bioengineering (English)

Microbiology

Synthetic Bioethics and Safety

Advances in Fermentation Engineering

Team research focus：

(1) Food safety inspection

(2) Pharmacological research on Plant Natural products

(3) Drug delivery and molecular diagnosis

(4) Synthetic Biology and Enzyme Engineering

Team awards：

First Prize of Tianjin Food Science and Technology Innovation Achievement.

Second Prize of Natural Science of Tianjin Municipality.

Tianjin Youth Science and Technology Award.

National Silver Award in the First National Postdoctoral Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in 2021.

Bronze Award of the 2nd National Postdoctoral Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition in 2023.

Second Prize in the Tianjin Region of the 2023 National Postdoctoral Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition.

Fund supports：

National Natural Science Foundation of China (32372415, 32072309, 82074069).

Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Committee (22YFZCSN00070, 23JCJQJC00090, 19JCYBJC27800).

National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scientists, 2024-2026.

Representative publications：

1. Ma, L.*, Lu, M., Jia, J., Wang N., Li, Y., Peng, W., Man, S.*, Engineered crRNA for CRISPR/Cas-assisted biosensing. Trend Biotechnol. 2025, 43, 8-11.

2. Peng, W., Shi, M., Jia, J., Wang, N., Man*, S., Ye*, S., Ma, L.* Nanotechnology-leveraged CRISPR/Cas systems: Icebreaking in trace cancer-related nucleic acids biosensing. Mol. Cancer. 2025, 24, 2-28.

3. Wang, N., Zhang, Q., Liu, Y., Huang, B., Man, S.*, Ye, S.*, Ma, L.*, Sample-in-answer-out centrifugal microfluidic chip reaction biosensor powered by Thermus thermophilus Argonaute (TtAgo) for rapid, highly sensitive and multiplexed molecular diagnostics of foodborne bacterial pathogens. Chem. Eng. J. 2024, 495, 153434.

4. Zhao, Z., Wang, R., Yang, X., Jia, J., Zhang, Q., Ye, S. *, Man, S.*, Ma, L.*, Machine Learning-Assisted, Dual-Channel CRISPR/Cas12a Biosensor-In-Microdroplet for Amplification-Free Nucleic Acid Detection for Food Authenticity Testing. ACS Nano. 2024 Dec 10;18(49):33505-33519.

5. Peng, W, Liu, Y., Lu, M., Li, X., Liang, Y., Wang, R., Zhang, W., Man, S.*, Ma, L.*, Advances in Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering detection of foodborne pathogens: From recognition-based fingerprint to molecular diagnosis. Coordin. Chem. Rev. 2024, 518, 216083.

6. Kou, J., Li, Y., Zhao, Z., Man, S.*, Ma, L.*, Simultaneous dual-gene test of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using an Argonaute-centered portable and visual biosensor. Small. 2024, 2311764.

7. Tang, X., Lu, M., Wang, J., Man, S., Peng, W., Ma, L.*, Recent advances of DNA-templated metal nanoclusters for food safety detection: From synthesis, applications, challenges, and beyond. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2024, 72, 5542-5554. (Front cover art)

8. Li, Y., Jia, J., Man, S.*, Ye, S.*, Ma, L.*, Emerging programmable nuclease-based detection for food safety. Trends Biotechnol. 2023, 42, 151-155.

9. Li, Y., Tang, X., Wang, N., Zhao, Z., Man, S.*, Zhu, L.*, Ma, L.*, Argonaute-DNAzyme tandem biosensing for highly sensitive and simultaneous dual-gene detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Biosens. Bioelectron. 2023, 244, 115758.

10. Qiao, J., Zhao, Z., Li, Y., Lu, M., Man, S.*, Ye, S.*, Zhang, Q.*, Ma, L.*, Recent advances of food safety detection by nucleic acid isothermal amplification integrated with CRISPR/Cas. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. 2023, 1-22.

11. Zhao, Z., Lu, M., Wang, N., Li, Y., Zhao, L.*, Zhang Q.*, Man, S.*, Ye, S.*, Ma, L.*, Nanomaterials-assisted CRISPR/Cas detection for food safety: Advances, challenges and future prospects. TrAC Trends Anal. Chem. 2023, 167, 117269.

12. Li, Y., Kou, J., Han, X., Jia, L., Zhang, W., Man, S.*, Ma, L.*, Argonaute-triggered visual and rebuilding-free foodborne pathogenic bacteria detection. J. Hazard. Mater. 2023, 454, 131485.

13. Ma, L.*, Zhang W., Yin, L., Li, Y., Zhuang, J., Shen, L., Man, S.*, A SERS-signalled, CRISPR/Cas-powered bioassay for amplification-free and anti-interference detection of SARS-CoV-2 in foods and environmental samples using a single tube-in-tube vessel. J. Hazard. Mater. 2023, 452, 131195.

14. Ma, L.*, Wang J., Li Y., Liao D., Zhang W., Han X., Man S.*, A ratiometric fluorescent biosensing platform for ultrasensitive detection of Salmonella typhimurium via CRISPR/Cas12a and silver nanoclusters. J. Hazard. Mater. 2022, 443, 130243.

15. Cheng, X., Li, Y., Kou, J., Liao, D., Zhang, W., Yin, L., Man, S.*, Ma, L.*, Novel non-nucleic acid targets detection strategies based on CRISPR/Cas toolboxes: A review, Biosens. Bioelectron. 2022, 215.

Contact:
Prof. Long Ma | malong@tust.edu.cn
State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety
Tianjin University of Science & Technology, TEDA, Tianjin 300457, China