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For citation of our papers, click here.

(69) Wang, X. Q.; Huang, Y.; Xie, X. Y.; Liu, Y.; Huo, Z. Y.; Lin, M.; Xin, H. L.; Tong, R. "Bayesian-Optimization-Assisted Discovery of Stereoselective Aluminum Complexes for Ring-Opening Polymerization of Racemic Lactide" Nature Communications, 2023, 14, 3647
(68) Huo, Z. Y.; Xie, X. Y.; Tong, R. "Recent Advances in the Functionalized Poly(α-Hydroxy Acids) Synthesized from O-Carboxyanhydrides", ACS Books "Sustainable Green Chemistry in Polymer Science and Technology", 2023, in press
(67) Wang, X. Q.; Huo, Z. Y.; Xie, X. Y.; Shanaiah, N.; Tong. R. "Recent Advances in Sequence‐Controlled Ring‐Opening Copolymerizations of Monomer Mixtures", Chemistry An Asian Journal, 2023, 18, e202201147
(66) Wang, X. Q; Tong, R. "
 Facile Tandem Copolymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides and Epoxides to Synthesize Functionalized Poly(ester-b-carbonates)", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2022, 144, 20687-20698, 10.1021/jacs.5b08658. Featured as the Journal Cover.
(65) Wang, X. Q.; Chin, A. L.; Zhou, J. Y.; Wang, H.; Tong, R. "Resilient Poly(alpha-hydroxy acids) with Improved Strength and Ductility via Scalable Stereosequence-Controlled Polymerization", Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2021, 143, 16813-16823.
(64) Chin, A. L.; Jiang, S.; Jang, E.; Niu, L.; Li, L.; Jia, X.; Tong, R. "Implantable Optical Fibers for Immunotherapeutics Delivery and Tumor Impedance Measurement", Nature Communications, 2021, 12, 5138.
(63) Niu, L.; Jang, E.; Chin, A. L.; Tong, R. "External Stimuli-Responsive Nanomedicine for Cancer Immunotherapy", Encyclopedia of Nanomaterials (
Elsevier), 2021, 10.1016/B978-0-12-822425-0.00026-9
(62) Chin, A. L.; Wang, X.; Tong, R. "Aliphatic Polyester-Based Materials for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy", Macromolecular Bioscience, 2021, 210087
(61). Jiang, S.; Song, J.; Zhang, Y.; Nie, M.; Kim, J.; Marcano, A. L.; Kadlec, K.; Mills, W. A.; Yang, X.; Liu, H.; Tong, R.; Wang, H.; Kimbrough, I. F.; Sontheimer, H.; Zhou, W.; Jia, X.  "Nano-optoelectrodes Integrated with Flexible Multifunctional Fiber Probes by High-Throughput Scalable Fabrication" ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2021, 13, 9156-9165
(60). Zhong, Y.; Feng, Q.; Wang, X.; Yang, L.; Tong, R. "Photocatalyst-Independent Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides: Stereocontrol and Mechanism" Chemical Science, 2021, 12, 3702-3712, doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.13054058.v1
(59) Wang, X.; Chin, A. L.; Tong, R. "Controlled Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides to Synthesize Functionalized Poly (α-hydroxy acids)", Organic Materials, 2021, 3, 41-50

(58). Zhong, Y.; Feng, Q.; Wang, X.; Chen, J.; Cai, W.; Tong, R. "Functionalized Polyesters via Stereoselective Electrochemical Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides." ACS Macro Lett. 2020, 9, 1114-1118. (Selected as journal cover)
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsmacrolett.0c00364.
(57). Chauhan, V. P.; Chen, I. X., Tong, R. (co-first author); Ng, M. R.; Martin, J. D.; Naxerova, K.; Wu, M. W.; Boucher, Y.; Kohane, D. S.; Langer, R.; Jain, R. K. "Reprogramming the Microenvironment with Tumor-Selective Angiotensin Blockers Enhances Cancer Immunotherapy", Proceedings of the National Academy of Science U.S.A., 2019,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1819889116
(56). Zhong, Y. L.; Tong, R. "Living Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides: the Search for Catalysts" Frontiers in Chemistry, 2018, 6, 641.
(55). Feng, Q.; Yang, L.; Zhong, Y. L.; Guo, D.; Liu, G.; Xie, L. H.; Huang, W.; Tong, R. "Stereoselective Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides", Nature Communications, 2018, 9, 1559. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03879-5. Highlighted by Science Daily, Phys.org, Science Codex, R&D, Brinkwire, EurekAlert etc.
(54). Wang, Y.; Barhoumi, A.; Tong, R.; Wang, W.; Ji, T.; Deng, X.; Reznor, G.; Zurakowski, D.; Kohane, D. S. "BaTiO3-core Au-Shell Nanoparticles for Photothermal Therapy and Bimodal Imaging", Acta Biomaterialia, 2018, 72, 287-294.
(53). Feng, Q.; Tong, R. "Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Mediated by Ni/Zn Complexes", Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2017, doi: 10.3791/56654. 
(52). Feng, Q.; Zhong, Y. L.; Xie, L. H.; Tong, R. "Recent Advances in Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides",  Synlett, 2017, 28, 1857-1866.
(51). Chin, A. L., Zhong, Y. L., Tong, R. "Emerging Strategies in Near-Infrared Light Triggered Drug Delivery Using Organic Nanomaterials" Biomaterials Science, 2017, 5, 1491-1499.
(50). Feng, Q.; Tong, R. "Controlled Photoredox Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides" J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2017, 139, 6177-6182.   Highlighted by C&EN news
(49). Tong, R. "New Chemistry in Functional Aliphatic Polyesters", Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 2017, 56, 4207-4219.
(48). Yu, L.; Xuan, H.; Guo, Y.; Chin, A. L.; Tong, R.; Pickrell G.; Wang, A.; Jia, X. "Porous Polymer Optical Fiber Fabrication and Potential Biomedical Application" Optical Materials Express, 2017, 7, 1813-1819.

(47). Wang, R.; Zhang, J.; Yin, Q.; Xu, Y.; Cheng, J.; Tong, R. “Controlled Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides Using β-Diiminate Zinc Catalyst", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 2016, 55, 5452-5456.
(46). Yang, R.; Sabharwal, V.; Okonkwo, O. S.; Shlykova, N.; Tong, R.; Lin, L. Y.; Wang, W.; Guo, S.; Rosowski, J. J.; Pelton, S. I.; Kohane, D. S. “Treatment of Otitis Media by Trans-tympanic Delivery of Antibiotics”, Sci. Transl. Med., 2016, 8, pp356ra120.
(45). Feng, Q.; Tong, R. “Anticancer Nanoparticulate Polymer-Drug Conjugate”, Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, 2016,1, 277-296.
(44). Yin, Q.; Tang, L.; Cai, K.; Tong, R.; Sternberg, R.; Yang, X.; Dobrucki, L. W.; Borst, L. B.; Kamstock, D.; Song, Z.; Helferich, W. G.; Cheng, J.; Fan, T. M. “Pamidronate Functionalized Nanoconjugates for Targeted Therapy of Focal Skeletal Malignant Osteolysis”, Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2016, 113, E4601-4609.

(43). Guo, S.; Nakagawa, Y.; Barhoumi, A.; Wang, W.; Zhan, C.; Tong, R.; Santamaria, C.; Kohane, D. S. “Extended Release of Native Drug Conjugated in Polyketal Microparticles”, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 6127-6130.
(42). Li, L. L.; Tong, R.; Li, M. Y.; Kohane, D. S. Acta Biomaterialia, 2016, 33, 34-69
(​41). Tong, R.; Kohane, D. S. Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology, 2016, 56, 41-57
(40). Tong, R.; Langer, R. "Nanomedicines Targeting the Tumor Microenvironment", The Cancer Journal, 2015, 21, 314-321.

Prior to Virginia Tech
(39). Tang, L.; Tong, R.; Coyle, V.J.; Yin, Q.; Pondenis, H.; Borst, L.B.; Cheng, J.; Fan, T.M. "Targeting Tumor Vasculature with Aptamer Functionalized Doxorubicin-Polylactide Nanoconjugates for Enhanced Cancer Therapy", ACS Nano, 2015, 9, 5072-5081.
(38). Li, L. L.; Tong, R. (co-first author); Chu, H.; Langer, R.; Kohane, D. S. "Aptamer Photo-regulation in vivo", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U. S. A. 2014, 111, 17099-17103.
(37).  Monterio, I. P.; Gabriel, D.; Timko, B. P.; Hashimoto, M.; Karajanagi, S.; Tong, R.; Marques, A. P.; Reis, R.; Kohane, D. S. “A bilayered dermal-epidermal scaffold”, Acta Biomaterialia, 2014, 10, 4928-4938.
(36).  Tong, R.; Tang, L.;  Ma, L.; Tu, C.; Baumgartner, R.; Cheng, J. "Smart Chemistry in Polymeric Nanomedicine",  Chem. Soc. Rev., 2014, 43, 6982-7012.
(35). Yin, Q.; Tong, R.; Yin, L.; Fan, T.M.; Cheng, J. "Anticancer Camptothecin-N-Poly(lactic acid) Nanoconjugates with Facile Hydrolysable Linker", Polymer Chemistry, 2014, 5, 1581-1585.
(34). Tong, R.; Chiang, H. H.; Kohane, D. S. "Photoswitchable nanoparticles for in vivo cancer chemotherapy",  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences U.S.A., 2013, 110, 19048-19053.
(33). Tian, B. Z.; Shankarappa, S. A.; Chiang, H. H.; Tong, R.; Kohane, D.S. "Biodegradable Mesostructured Polymer Membranes", Nano Letters, 2013, 13, 4410-4415.
(32). Hashimoto, M.; Tong, R.; Kohane, D. S. "Microdevices for nanomedicine", Molecular Pharmaceutics, 2013, 10, 2127-2144
(31).  Wang, L.; Shankarappa, S.A.; Tong, R.; Ciolino, J.B.; Tsui, J.H.; Chiang, H.H.; Kohane, D.S. "Topical Drug Formulations for Prolonged Corneal Anesthesia", Cornea, 2013, 32, 1040-1045.
(30).  Yin, Q.; Tong, R.; Xu, Y.; Dobrucki, L.W.; Fan, T. M.; Cheng, J. "Drug-Initiated Ring-Opening Polymerization of O-Carboxyanhydrides for the Preparation of Anticancer Drug-Poly(O-carboxyanhydride) Nanoconjugation", Biomacromolecules, 2013, 14, 920-929.
(29). Zhang, Z.; Yin, L.; Zhang, Y.; Xu, Y.; Tong, R.; Zhou, Q.; Ren, J.; Cheng, J. “Redox-Responsive, Core Cross-Linked Polyester Micelles”, ACS Macro Lett., 2013, 2, 40-44.
(28). Tong, R.; Tang, L.; Yin, Q.; Cheng, J. “Polymer-Drug Nanoconjugates”, Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems: Strategies, Technologies, and Applications (Book Chapter), 2013, 151-182.
(27). Tong, R.; Gabrielson, N. P.; Fan, T. M.; Cheng, J. "Polymeric Nanomedicine Based on Poly(lactide) and Poly(lactic/ glycolic acid)", Current Opinion in Solid State and Materials Science, 2012, 16, 323-332.
(26). Tong, R.; Kohane, D. S. “Shedding Light on Nanomedicine”, Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology, 2012, 4, 638-662
(25). Tong, R.; Hemmati, H. D.; Langer, R. S.; Kohane, D. S. “Photoswitchable Nanoparticles for Triggered Drug Delivery”, Journal of American Chemical Society, 2012, 134, 8848-8855.
(24). Tong, R.; Cheng, J. "Drug-Initiated, Controlled Ring-Opening Polymerization for the Synthesis of Polymer-Drug Conjugates", Macromolecules, 2012, 45, 2255-2232.
(23). Tong, R.; Cheng, J. “Efficient Regioselective O-Acylation of Therapeutic Agents mediated by Zinc Catalyst for Bioconjugation and Drug Delivery”, Chemical Science, 2012, 3, 2234-2239
(22). Tang, L.; Azzi, A.;  Kwon, M.; Mounayar, M.; Tong, R.; Yin, Q.; Moore, R.; Skartsis, R.; Fan, T. M. Abdi, R.; Cheng, J. "Immunosuppressive Activity of Size-Controlled PEG-PLGA Nanoparticles Containing Encapsulated Cyclosporine A",  Journal of Transplantation, 2012, 896141
(21).  Zhang, Z.; Yin, L.; Xu, Y.; Tong, R.; Lu, Y.; Zhou, Q.; Ren, J.; Cheng, J. "Facile Functionalization of Polyesters through Thiol-yne Chemistry for the Design of Degradable, Cell-Penetrating and Gene Delivery Dual-Functional Agents" Biomacromolecules, 2012, 13, 3456–3462
(20). Tong, R.; Tang, L.; Cheng, J. “Development and Application of Anticancer Nanomedicine”, Nanostructure Science and Technology (Book Chapter), 2012, 31-46. 
(19).  Lu, Y.; Yin, L.; Zhang, Y.; Tong, R.; Xu, Y.; Cheng, J. "Synthesis of Water-soluble Poly(α-hydroxy acids) From Living Ring-opening Polymerization of O-benzyl-L-serine carboxy-anhydrides", ACS Macro Letters, 2012, 1, 441-444.
(18).  Mishra, A.;  Lai, G.H.; Schmidt, N.W.; Sun, V.Z.; Rodriguez, A.R., Tong, R.; Tang, L.; Cheng, J.; Deming, T.J.;  Kamei, D.T.; Wong, G.C.L. "Translocation of HIV TAT peptide and analogues induced by multiplexed membrane and cytoskeletal interactions", Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2011, 108, 16883-16888
(17).  Chan, J.; Zhang, L. F.; Tong, R.; Ghosh, D.; Gao, W.; Liao, G.; Yuet, K.; Gray, D.; Rhee, J. W.; Cheng, J.; Golomb, G.; Libby, P; Langer, R.; Farokhzad, O. “Spatiotemporal Controlled Delivery of Nanoparticles to Injured Vasculature”, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2010, 107, 2213-2218
(16). Azzi, J.; Tang, L.; Moore, R.; Tong, R.; El Haddad, N.; Akiyoshi, T.; Mfarrej, B.; Yang, S. M.; Jurewicz, M.; Ichimura, T.; Lindeman, N.; Cheng, J. J.; Abdi, R. “Polylactide-cyclosporin A nanoparticles for targeted immunosuppression”, FASEB Journal, 2010, 24, 3927-3938.
(15). Yang, X. J.; Shi, C. M.; Tong, R.; Qian, W. P.; Zhau, H. E.; Wang, R. X.; Zhu, G. D.; Cheng, J.; Yang, V. W.; Cheng, T. M.; Henary, M.; Strekowski, L.; Chung, L. W. K. “Near IR Heptamethine Cyanine Dye-Mediated Cancer Imaging”, Clinical Cancer Research, 2010, 16, 2833-2844.
(14). Chaney, E. J.; Tang, L.; Tong, R.; Rezaeipoor, R.; Cheng, J.; Boppart, S. "Lymphatic Biodistribution of Polylactide Nanoparticles", Molecular Imaging, 2010, 9, 153-162.
(13). Tong, R.; Coyle, V. J.; Tang, L.; Barger A. M.; Fan, T. M.; Cheng, J. “Polylactide Nanoparticles Containing Stably-Incorporated Cyanine Dyes for In Vitro and In Vivo Imaging Applications”, Microscopy Research and Technique, 2010, 73, 901-909.
(12). Tong, R.; Yala, L.; Cheng, J. “Controlled Formulation of Paclitaxel-Polylactide Conjugate Nanoparticles”, Biomaterials, 2010, 31, 3043-3053.
(11). Tong, R.; Cheng, J. “Controlled Synthesis of Camptothecin Polylactide Conjugates and Nanoconjugates”, Bioconjugate Chemistry, 2010, 21, 111-121
(10). Yigit, M. V.; Mishra, A.; Tong, R.; Cheng, J.; Wong, G. C. L.; Lu, Y.  "Inorganic mercury detection and controlled release of chelating agents from ion-responsive PEG-liposomes", Chemistry & Biology, 2009, 16, 937-942
(9). Tong, R.; Christian, D. A.; Tang, L.; Cabral, H.; Baker, J. R. Jr.; Kataoka, K.; Discher, D.; Cheng, J. “Nanopolymeric Therapeutics", MRS Bulletin, 2009, 34, 422-431.
(8). Cao, Z.*; Tong, R.* (co-first author); Xu, W.; Wong, G. C. L.; Cheng, J.; Lu, Y. “Reversible Cell-Specific Delivery of Chemotherapy Drugs Using Aptamer-Functionalized Liposomes”, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2009, 48, 4694-4698
(7). Tong, R.; Cheng, J. “Ring-Opening Polymerization Mediated-Controlled Formulation of Polylactide Nanoparticles”, Journal of American Chemical Society, 2009, 131, 4744-4754
(6). Tong, R.; Cheng, J. “Paclitaxel-Initiated, Controlled Polymerization of Lactide for the Formulation of Polymeric Nanoparticulate Delivery Vehicles”, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2008, 47, 4830-4834
(5). Teply, B. A.; Tong, R.; Jeong, S. Y.;  Luther, G.; Sherifi, I.; Yim, C. H.; Khademhosseini, A.;  Farokhzad,O. C.; Langer, R.; Cheng, J. "Charge-Coupled Polymeric Microparticles and Micromagnets Allow External Modulation of the Bioavailability of Orally Delivered Macromolecules", Biomaterials, 2008, 29, 1216-1223.​
(4). Tong, R.; Cheng, J. “Anticancer Polymeric Nanomedicines”, Polymer Reviews, 2007, 47, 345-381.
(3). Xu, P.; Wang, H. T.; Tong, R.; Du, Q. G.; Zhong, W. Colloid and Polymer Science, 2006, 284, 755-762.
(2). Xu, P.; Wang, H. T.; Tong, R.; Iv, R.; Shen, Y.; Du, Q. G.; Zhong, W. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 2006, 91, 1522-1529.
(1). Xu, P.; Zhong, W.; Wang, H. T.; Tong, R.; Du, Q. G. Colloid and Polymer Science, 2004, 282, 1409-1414.
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  • ROP Catalyst Database
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