Roger M. Leblanc
Professor

Education
1968-70 | Post Doctoral , Davy Faraday Research Laboratory |
1967 | Ph.D. , Universite Laval |
Brief description of research
Our research group aims at understanding the surface chemistry, spectroscopic and microscopic investigation of organic and biological supramolecular complexes. The chemistry of monolayers of supramolecular complexes is of paramount importance on account of many potential applications in diverse fields such as manufacture of new polymers, bio- and chemisensors, protective surface coatings, conductive films, optoelectronic devices, etc.
- Specifically we are focusing on:
- Combinatorial chemistry
- Molecular recognition
- Development of chemi- and biosensors
- Tissue engineering
- Aggregation studies regarding amyloidogenesis
Molecular recognition, surface chemistry and spectroscopy
Publications
Pardo, J., Peng, Z. & Leblanc, R. Cancer targeting and drug delivery using carbon-based quantum dots and nanotubes 37823, 2 (Molecules. 2018). [Link]
Mintz, K., Waidely, E., Zhou, Y., Peng, Z., Al-Youbi, A. O., Bashammakh, A. S., El-Shahawi, M. S. & Leblanc, R. Carbon dots and gold nanoparticles based immunoassay for detection of alpha-L-fucosidase 114-1211041 (Analytica Chimica Acta. 2018). [Link]
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the leading causes of mortality in the world. The detection of HCC in its early stage is the key for early treatment and thus the improvement of the chances of survival. Among the various methods of HCC screening, assays based on the detection of biomarker that is specific to HCC such as alpha-l-fucosidase (AFU) have been regarded as the most prominent methods. In this regards, a new assay for the detection of AFU to screen HCC was developed. This assay was based on the energy transfer between carbon dots (C-dots) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), the concentration of AFU could be monitored by the degree of C-dots fluorescence quenching due to the energy transfer. With this assay, a limit of detection of 3.4 nM (well below the diagnostic cutoff point of 80 nM), and a broad linear range of detection from 11.3 to 200 nM were achieved. We also demonstrate the determination of the concentration of AFU in human blood serum.
Zhou, Y., Peng, Z., Seven, E. S. & Leblanc, R., Crossing the blood-brain barrier with nanoparticles 290-303270 (Journal of Controlled Release. 2018).
Zhou, Y., Mintz, K. J., Oztan, C. Y., Hettiarachchi, S. D., Peng, Z., Seven, E. S., Liyanage, P. Y., De La Torre, S., Celik, E. & Leblanc, R. Embedding carbon dots in superabsorbent polymers for additive manufacturing 92110, 8 (Polymers. 2018).
Zhou, Y., Liyanage, P. Y., Geleroff, D. L., Peng, Z., Mintz, K. J., Hettiarachchi, S. D., Pandey, R. R., Chusuei, C. C., Blackwelder, P. L. & Leblanc, R. Photoluminescent Carbon Dots: A Mixture of Heterogeneous Fractions 2589-259719 (ChemPhysChem. 2018). [Link]
Peng, Z., Li, J., Li, S., Pardo, J., Zhou, Y., Al-Youbi, A. O., Bashammakh, A. S., El-Shahawi, M. S. & Leblanc, R. Quantification of Nucleic Acid Concentration in the Nanoparticle or Polymer Conjugates Using Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy 2255-226290, 3 (Anal. Chem.. 2018). [Link]
Sharma, S. K., Seven, E. S., Micic, M., Li, S. & Leblanc, R. Surface Chemistry and Spectroscopic Study of a Cholera Toxin B Langmuir Monolayer 2557-256434, 7 (Langmuir. 2018). [Link]
Han, X., Shokri Kojori, H., Leblanc, R. & Kim, S. J. Ultrasensitive Plasmonic Biosensors for Real-Time Parallel Detection of Alpha-L-Fucosidase and Cardiac-Troponin-I in Whole Human Blood 7795-779990, 13 (Analytical Chemistry. 2018). [Link]
Waidely, E., Al-Youbi, A. O., Bashammakh, A. S., El-Shahawi, M. S. & Leblanc, R. Alpha- l -Fucosidase Immunoassay for Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma 9459-946689, 17 (Analytical Chemistry. 2017). [Link]
Han, X., Park, J., Wu, W., Malagon, A., Wang, L., Vargas, E., Wikramanayake, A., Houk, K. N. & Leblanc, R. A resorcinarene for inhibition of Aβ fibrillation 2003-20098, 3 (Chemical Science. 2017). [Link]
Han, X., Jing, Z., Wu, W., Zou, B., Peng, Z., Ren, P., Wikramanayake, A., Lu, Z. & Leblanc, R. Biocompatible and blood-brain barrier permeable carbon dots for inhibition of Aβ fibrillation and toxicity, and BACE1 activity 12862-128669, 35 (Nanoscale. 2017). [Link]
Sharma, S. K. & Leblanc, R. Biosensors based on β-galactosidase enzyme: Recent advances and perspectives 1-11535 (Analytical Biochemistry. 2017). [Link]
Many industries are striving for the development of more reliable and robust β-galactosidase biosensors that exhibit high response rate, increased detection limit and enriched useful lifetime. In a newfangled technological atmosphere, a trivial advantage or disadvantage of the developed biosensor may escort to the survival and extinction of the industry. Several alternative strategies to immobilize β-galactosidase enzyme for their utilization in biosensors have been developed in recent years in the quest of maximum utility by controlling the defects seen in the previous biosensors. The overwhelming call for on-line measurement of different sample constituents has directed science and industry to search for best practical solutions and biosensors are witnessed as the best prospect. The main objective of this paper is to serve as a narrow footbridge by comparing the literary works on the β-galactosidase biosensors, critically analyze their use in the construction of best biosensor by showing the pros and cons of the predicted methods for the practical use of biosensors.
Peng, Z., Han, X., Li, S., Al-Youbi, A. O., Bashammakh, A. S., El-Shahawi, M. S. & Leblanc, R. Carbon dots: Biomacromolecule interaction, bioimaging and nanomedicine 256-277343 (Coordination Chemistry Reviews. 2017). [Link]
Peng, Z., Miyanji, E. H., Zhou, Y., Pardo, J., Hettiarachchi, S. D., Li, S., Blackwelder, P. L., Skromne, I. & Leblanc, R. Carbon dots: Promising biomaterials for bone-specific imaging and drug delivery 17533-175439, 44 (Nanoscale. 2017). [Link]
Liu, W., Li, S., Wang, Z., Yan, E. C. Y. & Leblanc, R. Characterization of Surface-Active Biofilm Protein BslA in Self-Assembling Langmuir Monolayer at the Air-Water Interface 7548-755533, 30 (Langmuir. 2017). [Link]
Zhou, Y., Desserre, A., Sharma, S. K., Li, S., Marksberry, M. H., Chusuei, C., Blackwelder, P. L. & Leblanc, R. Gel-like Carbon Dots: Characterization and their Potential Applications 890-89718 (ChemPhysChem.. 2017). [Link]
Zhou, Y., Sharma, S. K., Peng, Z. & Leblanc, R. Polymers 679, 2 (Polymers in carbon dots: A review. 2017). [Link]
Peng, Z., Li, S., Han, X., Al-Youbi, A. O., Bashammakh, A. S., El-Shahawi, M. S. & Leblanc, R. Recent Progress Toward the Spectroscopic Analysis of Biomacromolecule-Nanoparticle Interactions 649-6664 (Bioinspired and Biomimetic Supramolecular Chemistry. 2017). [Link]
Ji, Y., Zhou, Y., Waidely, E., Desserre, A., Marksberry, M. H., Chusuei, C. C., Dar, A. A., Chat, O. A., Li, S. & Leblanc, R. Rheology of a carbon dot gel 119-124468 (Inorganica Chimica Acta. 2017). [Link]
Han, X., Tian, C., Gandra, I., Eslava, V., Galindres, D., Vargas, E. & Leblanc, R. The Investigation on Resorcinarenes towards either Inhibiting or Promoting Insulin Fibrillation 17903-1790723, 71 (Chemistry - A European Journal. 2017). [Link]