Keynote Speakers

Dr. Xiaoyang Qi, Professor

Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, USA

Biography: Dr. Xiaoyang Qi is a professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. The laboratory of Dr. Qi focuses on cell membrane phospholipids and proteins as specific therapeutic targets and diagnostic biomarkers for cancer and genetic diseases. His research is focused on developing a new saposin C (SapC) coupled dioleoylphosphatidylserine (DOPS) nanovesicle which has the potential to offer a targeted, potent, broad, and safe therapeutic agent for cancer patients.

Topic: Cancer Immunotherapy: Impeding Hsp70–TLR2 Axis for MerTK downregulation

Abstract: Despite significant advancements in cancer treatment, a major challenge remains in overcoming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that hinders effective anti-tumor immunity. Immunosuppressive M2 macrophages (MΦs) in the TME facilitate escape from immune surveillance and promote tumor growth. One key player in this suppression is MerTK (Myeloid-epithelial-reproductive tyrosine kinase), which promotes tumor immune evasion through various mechanisms. This study investigates a novel therapeutic approach centered on interrupting the interaction between cancer-secreted heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) to downregulate MerTK expression and reverse immune tolerance. Hsp70, often found on the surface of tumor cells, engages with TLR2 on immune cells, initiating signaling cascades that ultimately lead to increased MerTK expression and the promotion of a pro-tumoral phenotype. By employing specific lipid vesicles (LVs) to impede the Hsp70–TLR2 axis, we hypothesized that the downstream signaling can be interrupted, thereby reducing MerTK levels. Our findings demonstrate that sequestering of cancer-secreted Hsp70 by tumor-targeting saposin C (SapC)-based LVs to block the M2 MΦ polarization through disrupting the Hsp70-TLR2-MerTK interaction. These results suggest that targeting the Hsp70–TLR2 axis represents a novel and effective strategy for downregulating MerTK, offering a potent adjunct to existing immunotherapies and providing a potential pathway to overcome resistance in a broad range of cancers.

Dr. Hang Li, Associate Professor

Biomedical Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China

Biography: Dr. Hang Li is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Jinan University. He received his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Akron, USA, in 2015, and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research at Lehigh University (PA, USA) and the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (CA, USA). Since returning to China in 2019, he has focused his research primarily on polysaccharide materials, wound healing, and tissue engineering. To date, he has authored more than 40 papers in high-impact journals such as Biomaterials, Carbohydrate Polymers, and Advanced Healthcare Materials. His research focus on functional hydrogels, antibacterial and antioxidant materials, wound repair, and regenerative medicine. He has been invited to speak or deliver keynote presentations at several international academic conferences and serves as an editorial board member for journals including PLoS ONE and Burns & Trauma, as well as a reviewer for prestigious journals such as Advanced Materials and Advanced Functional Materials.

Topic: Advancing Multifunctional Hydrogels for Wound Management: Innovative Chitosan-Based Platforms

Abstract: Wounds pose significant clinical challenges, requiring advanced dressings that integrate antibacterial activity, rapid hemostasis, robust tissue adhesion, enhanced mechanical properties, and promotion of tissue regeneration. This keynote presentation reviews recent developments in multifunctional hydrogels based on chitosan and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC), highlighting three tailored platforms that address these multifaceted demands. The first system, a DCMC-OHA-PCMC hydrogel incorporating protamine-grafted CMC, catechol-modified CMC, and oxidized hyaluronic acid, demonstrates sustained antibacterial efficacy (>76% against E. coli and S. aureus over 5 days), superior adhesion and hemostasis driven by charged interactions, and accelerated in vivo wound healing, including enhanced collagen deposition, epidermal regeneration, and closure. The second, a one-pot PEG-CMC-THB-PRTM hydrogel formed via dynamic Schiff base crosslinking, offers excellent mechanical strength, controlled release of protamine for antibacterial and hemostatic effects, and promoted extracellular matrix remodeling in full-thickness wound models. The third, a CS-PEG-hydrocaffeic acid hybrid, achieves four-fold mechanical improvement, enhanced mucoadhesiveness, rapid hemostasis in visceral models (liver bleeding model), and significantly accelerated skin re-epithelialization with thickened epidermis within 14 days. These versatile polysaccharide-based hydrogels exemplify how strategic chemical modifications can yield comprehensive solutions for both cutaneous and internal wound management, holding substantial promise for clinical translation and improved patient outcomes.