For an overview on PubMed of the most recent publications of the Li Lab and collaborators, click HERE.
2026
The 10–23 DNAzyme in Biosensing and Diagnostics: Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions
2025
Enhancing Clinical Detection Accuracy of Large Structured Viral RNA via DNAzyme Cleavage and Antisense-Assisted Rolling Circle Amplification – **Determined as high impact by reviewers**
Bacteriophage-Activated DNAzyme Hydrogels Combined with Machine Learning Enable Point-of-Use Colorimetric Detection of Escherichia coli – **Highly cited publication**
2024
Aptamer and DNAzyme Based Colorimetric Biosensors for Pathogen Detection – **Highly cited publication**
Elucidating Evolutionary Mechanisms and Variants of the Hammerhead Ribozyme Using In Vitro Selection
High-Precision Viral Detection Using Electrochemical Kinetic Profiling of Aptamer-Antigen Recognition in Clinical Samples and Machine Learning – **Highly cited publication**
Development of Better Aptamers: Structured Library Approaches, Selection Methods, and Chemical Modifications – **Highly cited publication**
2023
An RNA-Cleaving DNAzyme That Requires an Organic Solvent to Function
2022
Three on Three: Universal and High-Affinity Molecular Recognition of the Symmetric Homotrimeric Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2 with a Symmetric Homotrimeric Aptamer – **Highly cited publication**
Aptamers for SARS-CoV-2: Isolation, Characterization, and Diagnostic and Therapeutic Developments
Development of Nucleic-Acid-Based Electrochemical Biosensors for Clinical Applications – **Highly cited publication**
A Universal DNA Aptamer that Recognizes Spike Proteins of Diverse SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern
Aptamers from random sequence space: Accomplishments, gaps and future considerations – **Highly cited publication**
2021
Facile Synthesis of Pd-Ir Nanocubes for Biosensing
High-Affinity Dimeric Aptamers Enable the Rapid Electrochemical Detection of Wild-Type and B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 in Unprocessed Saliva – **Highly cited publication**
DNAzyme-Based Biosensors: Immobilization Strategies, Applications, and Future Prospective – **Highly cited publication**
A DNA Nanoflower-Assisted Separation-Free Nucleic Acid Detection Platform with a Commercial Pregnancy Test Strip – **Highly cited publication**
Functional Nucleic Acids for Pathogenic Bacteria Detection – **Highly cited publication**
Diverse high-affinity DNA aptamers for wild-type and B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins from a pre-structured DNA library – **Highly cited publication**
Biosensing with DNAzymes – **Highly cited publication**
Fast-responding functional DNA superstructures for stimuli-triggered protein release
Integrating programmable DNAzymes with electrical readout for rapid and culture-free bacterial detection using a handheld platform – **Highly cited publication**
Functional Nucleic Acids Under Unusual Conditions
A Syringe-Based DNAzyme Sensor for Bacterial Detection
DNAzymes as key components of biosensing systems for the detection of biological targets – **Highly cited publication**
A Highly Specific DNA Aptamer for RNase H2 from Clostridium difficile
Selection and Characterization of an RNA-Cleaving DNAzyme Activated by Legionella pneumophila
2020
Evolution of a highly functional circular DNA aptamer in serum
Engineering Micrometer-Sized DNA Tracks for High-Speed DNA Synthesis and Biosensing
Aptamer-Based Biosensors for Environmental Monitoring – **Highly cited publication**
Ribbon of DNA Lattice on Gold Nanoparticles for Selective Drug Delivery to Cancer Cells – **Highly cited publication**
In Vitro Selection of a DNA Aptamer Targeting Degraded Protein Fragments for Biosensing – **Highly cited publication**
A Multi-component All-DNA Biosensing System Controlled by a DNAzyme – **Highly cited publication**
In Vitro Selection of New DNA Aptamers for Human Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor 165
Circular Nucleic Acids: Discovery, Functions and Applications – **Highly cited publication**
Advances in functional nucleic acid based paper sensors – **Highly cited publication**
Selection and applications of synthetic functional DNAs for bacterial detection
Highly Sensitive RNA-Cleaving DNAzyme Sensors from Surface-to-Surface Product Enrichment
An Unintentional Discovery of a Fluorogenic DNA Probe for Ribonuclease I
Biosensors Made of Synthetic Functional Nucleic Acids Toward Better Human Health – **Highly cited publication**
2019
Unraveling Determinants of Affinity Enhancement in Dimeric Aptamers for a Dimeric Protein
A DNAzyme-Based Colorimetric Paper Sensor for Helicobacter pylori – **Highly cited publication**
In Vitro Selection of Circular DNA Aptamers for Biosensing Applications – **Highly cited publication**
Investigation of RNA structure-switching aptamers in tunable sol–gel-derived materials
2018
Discovery of Butyrylcholinesterase-Activated Near-Infrared Fluorogenic Probe for Live-Cell and In Vivo Imaging – **Highly cited publication**
Colorimetric Detection of Uranyl Using a Litmus Test
Target-Induced Catalytic Assembly of Y-Shaped DNA and Its Application for In Situ Imaging of MicroRNAs – **Highly cited publication**
Graphene-DNAzyme-based fluorescent biosensor for Escherichia coli detection
A Paper Sensor Printed with Multifunctional Bio/Nano Materials – **Highly cited publication**
DNAzyme Feedback Amplification: Relaying Molecular Recognition to Exponential DNA Amplification
DNAzymes: Selected for Applications – **Highly cited publication**
Serendipitous Discovery of a Guanine-rich DNA Molecule with a Highly Stable Structure in Urea
2017
A Printed Multicomponent Paper Sensor for Bacterial Detection – **Highly cited publication**
Discovery and Biosensing Applications of Diverse RNA-Cleaving DNAzymes – **Highly cited publication**
Sol–Gel-Derived Biohybrid Materials Incorporating Long-Chain DNA Aptamers
Detection of DNA Amplicons of Polymerase Chain Reaction Using Litmus Test
Optical biosensors utilizing graphene and functional DNA molecules
A DNAzyme Feedback Amplification Strategy for Biosensing – **Highly cited publication**
In Vitro Selection of DNA Aptamers that Binds Geniposide
Automating multi-step paper-based assays using integrated layering of reagents
RNA Protection is Effectively Achieved by Pullulan Film Formation
2016
Integrating Deoxyribozymes into Colorimetric Sensing Platforms
Programming a topologically constrained DNA nanostructure into a sensor – **Highly cited publication**
Colorimetric Detection of Bacteria Using Litmus Test
In vitro selection of RNA-cleaving DNAzymes for bacterial detection
Topological DNA Assemblies Containing Identical or Fraternal Twins
Simple and ultrastable all-inclusive pullulan tablets for challenging bioassays
Target-Induced and Equipment-Free DNA Amplification with a Simple Paper Device – **Highly cited publication**
A Catalytic DNA Activated by a Specific Strain of Bacterial Pathogen – **Highly cited publication**
2015
A Quarter Century of In Vitro Selection
Evolution of an Enzyme from a Noncatalytic Nucleic Acid Sequence
An Efficient Catalytic DNA that Cleaves L-RNA
Optimal DNA Templates for Rolling Circle Amplification Revealed by In Vitro Selection
Patterned Paper Sensors Printed with Long-Chain DNA Aptamers
Fluorescence Activation Imaging of Cytochrome c Released from Mitochondria Using Aptameric Nanosensor – **Highly cited publication**
Highly Specific Recognition of Breast Tumors by an RNA-Cleaving Fluorogenic DNAzyme Probe
2014
Examination of Bacterial Inhibition Using a Catalytic DNA
A Dual Reporter System for Detecting RNA Interactions in Bacterial Cells
Translating Bacterial Detection by DNAzymes into a Litmus Test – **Highly cited publication**
An inkjet-printed bioactive paper sensor that reports ATP through odour generation
A General Strategy to Create RNA Aptamer Sensors Using “Regulated” Graphene Oxide Adsorption
Engineering interlocking DNA rings with weak physical interactions
A Graphene-Based Biosensing Platform Based on the Release of DNA Probes and Rolling Circle Amplification – **Highly cited publication**
Pullulan Encapsulation of Labile Biomolecules to Give Stable Bioassay Tablets
Therapeutic Peptides: New Arsenal Against Drug Resistant Pathogens
Arrest of Rolling Circle Amplification by Protein-Binding DNA Aptamers
Turning Tryptophanase into Odor-Generating Biosensors
Artificial Riboswitch Selection: A FACS-Based Approach
Lysozyme-stabilized gold nanoclusters as a novel fluorescence probe for cyanide recognition
Exploration of Structure-Switching in the Design of Aptamer Biosensors
2013
Evolving Wonder-RNAs in a Test Tube
Exploring Intermolecular Interactions of a Substrate Binding Protein Using a Riboswitch-Based Sensor
A Sensitive DNA Enzyme-Based Fluorescent Assay for Bacterial Detection
A novel phosphorescence sensor for Co2+ ion based on Mn-doped ZnS quantum dots
Turning a Kinase Deoxyribozyme into a Sensor
Quality Control Certification of RNA Aptamer-Based Detection
A Highly Efficient Molecular Cloning Platform that Utilizes a Small Bacterial Toxin Gene – Most accessed paper in 2013
Artificially Created Nucleic Acids and Peptides/Proteins in Chemical Biology
2012
Lighting Up RNA-Cleaving DNAzymes for Biosensing
Synthesis and evaluation of glucosamine-6-phosphate analogues as activators of glmS riboswitch
Detection of Bacteria Using Fluorogenic DNAzymes
Multiplexed paper test strip for quantitative bacterial detection – **Highly cited publication**
Developing Fluorogenic RNA-Cleaving DNAzymes for Biosensing Applications
2011
Characterization of non-8–17 sequences uncovers structurally diverse RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes
Controlling biotinylation of microgels and modeling streptavidin uptake
Fluorogenic DNAzyme Probes as Bacterial Indicators – **Highly cited publication** | Featured in: [Science Daily] [CTS TV News] [McMaster Daily News] [Internetchemistry.com] [PhysOrg.com] [Innovations Report]
2010
Decoding Toxicity: DEDUCING THE SEQUENCE REQUIREMENTS OF IbsC, A TYPE I TOXIN IN ESCHERICHIA COLI
A General Approach to the Construction of Structure-Switching Reporters from RNA Aptamers
The Structural Diversity of Deoxyribozymes
Influence of Cleavage Site on Global Folding of an RNA-Cleaving DNAzyme
A Complex RNA-Cleaving DNAzyme That Can Efficiently Cleave a Pyrimidine–Pyrimidine Junction
Photoluminescence model for a hybrid aptamer-GaAs optical biosensor
2009
Detection of DNA using bioactive paper strips
Characterization of an RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme with optimal activity at pH 5
Incorporation of an inducible nucleotide analog into DNA by DNA polymerases
Kinetics of signaling-DNA-aptamer–ATP binding
Biologically Inspired Synthetic Enzymes Made from DNA – **Highly cited publication**
Identification of a Toxic Peptide through Bidirectional Expression of Small RNAs
2008
DNAzyme-mediated catalysis with only guanosine and cytidine nucleotides
Recent Progress in Nucleic Acid Aptamer-Based Biosensors and Bioassays
Paper-Based Bioassays Using Gold Nanoparticle Colorimetric Probes – **Highly cited publication**
A Novel DNA-Catalyzed Aldol Reaction
Design of Gold Nanoparticle-Based Colorimetric Biosensing Assays – **Highly cited publication**
In vitro selection of small RNA-cleaving deoxyribozymes that cleave pyrimidine–pyrimidine junctions
Investigation of DNA as a catalyst for Henry reaction in water
Chemical Biology meets Systems Biology
A FACS-Based Approach to Engineering Artificial Riboswitches
Rolling Circle Amplification: Applications in Nanotechnology and Biodetection with Functional Nucleic Acids – **Highly cited publication**
DNA Aptamer Folding on Gold Nanoparticles: From Colloid Chemistry to Biosensors – **Highly cited publication**
Microgel-Based Inks for Paper-Supported Biosensing Applications
A Deoxyribozyme with a Novel Guanine Quartet-Helix Pseudoknot Structure
2007
Label-Free Fiber Optic Biosensors With Enhanced Sensitivity
Understanding DNA-based catalysis one molecule at a time
Aptamers and Small Molecules Play Tug of War
Simple and rapid colorimetric enzyme sensing assays using non-crosslinking gold nanoparticle aggregation – **Highly cited publication**
Highly Stabilized Nucleotide-Capped Small Gold Nanoparticles with Tunable Size
Simple and Rapid Colorimetric Biosensors Based on DNA Aptamer and Noncrosslinking Gold Nanoparticle Aggregation – **Highly cited publication**
Characterization of pH3DZ1 — An RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme with optimal activity at pH 3
A synthetic luxCDABE gene cluster optimized for expression in high-GC bacteria
Entrapment of Fluorescence Signaling DNA Enzymes in Sol−Gel-Derived Materials for Metal Ion Sensing
Optimization of Cladding-Structure-Modified Long-Period-Grating Refractive-Index Sensors
Multiple Occurrences of an Efficient Self-Phosphorylating Deoxyribozyme Motif
Adsorption and Covalent Coupling of ATP-Binding DNA Aptamers onto Cellulose
2006
Evolution of High-Branching Deoxyribozymes from a Catalytic DNA with a Three-Way Junction
Nucleic acid aptamers and enzymes as sensors – **Highly cited publication**
Solid-Phase Enzyme Activity Assay Utilizing an Entrapped Fluorescence-Signaling DNA Aptamer
Characterization of a catalytically efficient acidic RNA-cleaving deoxyribozyme
2005
Aptamers with fluorescence-signaling properties
A DNA–Protein Nanoengine for “On-Demand” Release and Precise Delivery of Molecules
Entrapment of Fluorescent Signaling DNA Aptamers in Sol−Gel-Derived Silica
Structure-switching allosteric deoxyribozymes
Secondary-Structure Characterization of Two Proficient Kinase Deoxyribozymes
In Vitro Selection of Structure-Switching Signaling Aptamers – **Highly cited publication**
2004
Synthesis and characterization of topologically linked single-stranded DNA rings
Engineering DNA aptamers and DNA enzymes with fluorescence-signaling properties
DNAzymes: From Creation In Vitro to Application In Vivo
Signaling Aptamers for Monitoring Enzymatic Activity and for Inhibitor Screening
Structure-Switching Signaling Aptamers: Transducing Molecular Recognition into Fluorescence Signaling – **Highly cited publication**
Dinucleotide Junction Cleavage Versatility of 8-17 Deoxyribozyme
2003
Catalytic DNAs as reporter molecules
Assemblage of Signaling DNA Enzymes with Intriguing Metal-Ion Specificities and pH Dependences
Structure-Switching Signaling Aptamers – **Highly cited publication**
An Efficient RNA-Cleaving DNA Enzyme that Synchronizes Catalysis with Fluorescence Signaling – **Highly cited publication**
2002
Making AppDNA using T4 DNA ligase
2001
In Vitro Selection of Kinase and Ligase Deoxyribozymes
2000
1999
Deoxyribozymes: New players in the ancient game of biocatalysis
Kinetics of RNA Degradation by Specific Base Catalysis of Transesterification Involving the 2‘-Hydroxyl Group – **Highly cited publication**
1998
DNA-enhanced peroxidase activity of a DNA aptamer-hemin complex – **Highly cited publication**
The modus operandi of a DNA enzyme: enhancement of substrate basicity
1997
1996
A catalytic DNA for porphyrin metallation – **Highly cited publication**
Recognition of Anionic Porphyrins by DNA Aptamers – **Highly cited publication**
1992
Li, Y. & Wang, H. (1992). Studies on bromination of phenol by dioxane-dibromide. Journal of Chemical Reagents 14, 50-51.
1991
Li, Y. & Zhou, C. (1991). Synthesis and Bioactivity of Some Novel Non-Ester Pyrethroids (I). Chemical Journal of Chinese Universities 12, 479-481.
Li, Y. & Zhou, C. (1991). Synthesis and bioactivity of some novel non-ester pyrethroids (II). Journal of Applied Chemistry 8, 63-66.
1990
Li, Y. & Zhou, C. (1990). A new synthetic route for alkane pyrethroids. Journal of Pesticide Science 187, 39-43.
Li, Y. & Zhou, C. (1990). Synthesis of p-fluoro-m-phenoxytoluene. Journal of Pesticide Science 183, 17-20.