Ke(Iris) Xu
Doctoral Candidate, McGill University Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry [email protected] |
A) EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Ph.D. McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec (2017-current)
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry
M.S. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota (2015-2017)
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
Concentration: Biosensor and nanotechnology
B.E. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota (2011-2015)
Major: Bioproducts and Biosystems Engeering
Subtrack: Bioprocessing and Food Engineering
Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry
M.S. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota (2015-2017)
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering
Concentration: Biosensor and nanotechnology
B.E. University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota (2011-2015)
Major: Bioproducts and Biosystems Engeering
Subtrack: Bioprocessing and Food Engineering
B) RESEARCH INTERESTS AND CURRENT PROJECTS
Nanotechnology is one of the enabling technologies that has been widely applied in food industry as food ingredients, additives and in food-contacting materials. Although the distinct properties of nanomaterials enable formulation of food with improved taste, texture, and extended shelf lives with competitive costs, the potential adverse effects of ingested nanoparticles on human are not well-addressed and require detailed investigation. Systematic toxicity studies is thus needed to identify the potential adverse outcomes induced by dietary nanomaterials from oral exposure and explain the mechanisms of related diseases conditions.
My research will attempt to develop an adverse outcome pathway that explains the mechanism of negative impacts from nanomaterials' exposure in gastrointestinal cell line models, and then apply the developed method to screen relevant libraries of nanomaterials for predictive hazard assessment. Further studies will be performed to understand the transition of dietary nanomaterials inside the GI system for risk assessment.
My research will attempt to develop an adverse outcome pathway that explains the mechanism of negative impacts from nanomaterials' exposure in gastrointestinal cell line models, and then apply the developed method to screen relevant libraries of nanomaterials for predictive hazard assessment. Further studies will be performed to understand the transition of dietary nanomaterials inside the GI system for risk assessment.
C) HONOURS AND AWARDS
2017- Amy Wong Fellowship ( Mcgill University)
2017- Graduate Excellence Award ( Mcgill University)
2015 Graduation with distinction (University of Minnesota)
2014-2015 Academic Leadership Scholarship (University of Minnesota)
2011-2015 Global Excellence Scholarship (University of Minnesota)
2017- Graduate Excellence Award ( Mcgill University)
2015 Graduation with distinction (University of Minnesota)
2014-2015 Academic Leadership Scholarship (University of Minnesota)
2011-2015 Global Excellence Scholarship (University of Minnesota)
D) RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Graduate Student, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MN, 2015–2016
Project: Plasmonic cell nanocoating in rapid microbial screening
Developed sensing methods using gold nanoparticles to detect foodborne pathogens based on nano-coating via thiol-Au bond. Optimized the detection limit of the colorimetric detection assay for selected microbes (bacteria and fungi). Developed a novel fluorescence detection assay of food borne pathogens in food matrix with 200 cfu/ml of lower limit of detection.
Project: Mercury detection and capture in water using Selenium nanoparticles
Conducted experiments on the effect of Selenium-Mercury complex on the growth of different microbes; Analyzed the toxic kinetics parameters of the Selenium-Mercury complex on selenium-containing enzymes.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of BBE, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MN, 2013–2015
Project: Sponge-Supported Synthesis of Colloidal Selenium Nanospheres
Synthesized Selenium nanospheres on different types of natural or artificial sponge materials.
Project: Effect of Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance on Enzyme Biocatalytic Reactions
Independently conducted research on the LSPR effect of gold nanospheres and nanorods on four enzymes (oxidizing and reducing enzymes) by analyzing kinetic parameters.
Project: Plasmonic cell nanocoating in rapid microbial screening
Developed sensing methods using gold nanoparticles to detect foodborne pathogens based on nano-coating via thiol-Au bond. Optimized the detection limit of the colorimetric detection assay for selected microbes (bacteria and fungi). Developed a novel fluorescence detection assay of food borne pathogens in food matrix with 200 cfu/ml of lower limit of detection.
Project: Mercury detection and capture in water using Selenium nanoparticles
Conducted experiments on the effect of Selenium-Mercury complex on the growth of different microbes; Analyzed the toxic kinetics parameters of the Selenium-Mercury complex on selenium-containing enzymes.
Undergraduate Research Assistant, Department of BBE, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MN, 2013–2015
Project: Sponge-Supported Synthesis of Colloidal Selenium Nanospheres
Synthesized Selenium nanospheres on different types of natural or artificial sponge materials.
Project: Effect of Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance on Enzyme Biocatalytic Reactions
Independently conducted research on the LSPR effect of gold nanospheres and nanorods on four enzymes (oxidizing and reducing enzymes) by analyzing kinetic parameters.
E) PUBLICATIONS
K. Xu, P. N. Bui, A. Fang and A. Abbas*, “Plasmonic cell nanocoating: a new concept for rapid microbial screening”, Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2017, 409(27):6305-6314.
S. Ahmed, J. Brockgreitens, K. Xu and A. Abbas*, "Sponge-Supported Synthesis of Colloidal Selenium Nanospheres", Nanotechnology, 2016 Nov 18;27(46):465601.
J. Brockgreitens, K. Xu, S. Ahmed and A. Abbas*, "Chromogenic Coating for Bioresponsive Food Packaging", 13th Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium, October 7-9, 2014.
S. Ahmed, J. Brockgreitens, K. Xu and A. Abbas*, "Sponge-Supported Synthesis of Colloidal Selenium Nanospheres", Nanotechnology, 2016 Nov 18;27(46):465601.
J. Brockgreitens, K. Xu, S. Ahmed and A. Abbas*, "Chromogenic Coating for Bioresponsive Food Packaging", 13th Advanced Coating Fundamentals Symposium, October 7-9, 2014.
F) PRESENTATIONS
“Instantaneous Microbial Screening-A fluorescence detection Assay.” Poster presented at the Food Defense Conference. Minneapolis, MN, June 2016.
“Instantaneous Microbial Screening-A colorimetric detection Assay” Poster presented at the 2nd International Conference on One Medicine One Science. Minneapolis, MN, April 2016
“Instantaneous Microbial Screening-A colorimetric detection Assay” Poster presented at the 2nd International Conference on One Medicine One Science. Minneapolis, MN, April 2016
G) WHEN I AM NOT IN THE LAB
I love composing and arranging music, photography and baking are also my favorite parts of life.