Xuefeng Wang

My laboratory is dedicated to biomedical studies with innovative biophysical and biochemical approaches. Our current research focuses on the mechanobiology and enzymology of blood cells including platelets, monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils. We develop state-of-art DNA-based biosensors to visualize and map the forces and DNase activities generated by these cells, and investigate the physiological functions of these cellular forces and membrane-bound DNases during hemostasis and innate immune response.

Professional Experience
Associate Professor, Hoxworth blood center, UC, 08/2023 – Present
Associate Professor, Iowa State University, 01/2020 – 07/2023
Assistant Professor, Iowa State University, 08/2015 – 12/2019
Postdoctoral Fellow, UIUC, 05/2010 – 07/2015
Ph.D. Purdue University, 09/2004 – 12/2009
M.S. Tsinghua University, 09/2001 – 07/2004
B.S. Tsinghua University, 09/1997 – 09/2001

Grant: #R35GM128747 Investigators:Wang, Xuefeng 08-01-2018 -07-31-2024 National Institute of General Medical Sciences Study the role of integrin tension in cell migration, platelet contraction and invadopodium dynamics Role:PI $1,845,555.00 Completed

Grant: #Award # 2204447 Investigators:Wang, Xuefeng 09-01-2022 -08-31-2025 National Science Foundation Platelets on Chip: Studies of Mechanobiology of Platelet-Mediated Thrombosis Enabled by Molecular Fluorescence Sensors Grafted inside Microfluidic Chips Role:Co-PI $492,076.00 Active

Grant: #Award# 1825724 Investigators:Wang, Xuefeng 09-01-2018 -08-31-2023 National Science Foundation Study of the regulative role of integrin tension in the formation and function of plasma membrane protrusions in cancer cells Role:PI $371,028.00 Completed

Grant: #2R35GM128747 Investigators:Wang, Xuefeng 01-01-2025 -12-31-2029 National Institute of General Medical Sciences Study the role of integrin tension in cell migration, platelet functions and phagocytosis Role:PI $2,316,600.00 Active

Peer Reviewed Publications

S. Kundu, K. Pal, A. Pyne and X. Wang (2025. ) Force-bearing phagocytic adhesion rings mediate the phagocytosis of surface-bound particles .Nature Communications, ,

V. Pandey, S. Kundu, A. Pyne and X. Wang (2025. ) Live-Cell Imaging of Single Integrin Tensions with Minimal Background Fluorescence Noise .Biophysical Journal, ,

Niraula G.; Pyne A.; Wang X. (07-26-2024. ) Develop Tandem Tension Sensor to Gauge Integrin-Transmitted Molecular Forces.ACS Sensors, , 9 (7 ) ,3660-3670 More Information

Sarkar A.; Niraula G.; LeVine D.; Zhao Y.; Tu Y.; Mollaeian K.; Ren J.; Que L.; Wang X. (10-27-2023. ) Development of a Ratiometric Tension Sensor Exclusively Responding to Integrin Tension Magnitude in .ACS Sensors, , 8 (10 ) ,3701-3712 More Information

Austin J.; Tu Y.; Pal K.; Wang X. (01-03-2023. ) Vinculin transmits high-level integrin tensions that are dispensable for focal adhesion formation.Biophysical Journal, , 122 (1 ) ,156-167 More Information

Tu Y.; Wang X. (01-01-2023. ) Imaging Cell Adhesive Force at the Single Molecule Level.Methods in Molecular Biology, , 2600 ,207-217 More Information

Tu Y.; Pal K.; Austin J.; Wang X. (10-24-2022. ) Filopodial adhesive force in discrete nodes revealed by integrin molecular tension imaging.Current Biology, , 32 (20 ) ,4386-4396.e3 More Information

Pal K.; Tu Y.; Wang X. (02-22-2022. ) Single-Molecule Force Imaging Reveals That Podosome Formation Requires No Extracellular Integrin-Lig.ACS Nano, , 16 (2 ) ,2481-2493 More Information

Tu Y.; Wang X. (12-01-2021. ) Tracking cell migration by cellular force footprint recorded with a mechano-optical biosensor.Biosensors and Bioelectronics, , 193 , More Information

Mao S.; Sarkar A.; Wang Y.; Song C.; LeVine D.; Wang X.; Que L. (08-21-2021. ) Microfluidic chip grafted with integrin tension sensors for evaluating the effects of flowing shear .Lab on a Chip, , 21 (16 ) ,3128-3136 More Information

Pal K.; Zhao Y.; Wang Y.; Wang X. (01-01-2021. ) Ubiquitous membrane-bound DNase activity in podosomes and invadopodia.Journal of Cell Biology, , 220 (7 ) , More Information

Tu Y.; Wang X. (12-02-2020. ) Recent advances in cell adhesive force microscopy.Sensors (Switzerland), , 20 (24 ) ,1-14 More Information

Sarkar A.; LeVine D.N.; Kuzmina N.; Zhao Y.; Wang X. (10-19-2020. ) Cell Migration Driven by Self-Generated Integrin Ligand Gradient on Ligand-Labile Surfaces.Current Biology, , 30 (20 ) ,4022-4032.e5 More Information

Zhao Y.; Pal K.; Tu Y.; Wang X. (04-15-2020. ) Cellular Force Nanoscopy with 50 nm Resolution Based on Integrin Molecular Tension Imaging and Local.Journal of the American Chemical Society, , 142 (15 ) ,6930-6934 More Information

Zhao Y.; Sarkar A.; Wang X. (02-15-2020. ) Peptide nucleic acid based tension sensor for cellular force imaging with strong DNase resistance.Biosensors and Bioelectronics, , 150 , More Information

Wang Y.; Zhao Y.; Sarkar A.; Wang X. (05-01-2019. ) Optical sensor revealed abnormal nuclease spatial activity on cancer cell membrane.Journal of Biophotonics, , 12 (5 ) , More Information

Zhao Y.; Wetter N.M.; Wang X. (04-01-2019. ) Imaging integrin tension and cellular force at submicron resolution with an integrative tension sens.Journal of Visualized Experiments, , 2019 (146 ) , More Information

Zhao Y.; Wang Y.; Sarkar A.; Wang X. (11-30-2018. ) Keratocytes Generate High Integrin Tension at the Trailing Edge to Mediate Rear De-adhesion during R.iScience, , 9 ,502-512 More Information

Wang X.; Park S.; Zeng L.; Jain A.; Ha T. (07-17-2018. ) Toward Single-Cell Single-Molecule Pull-Down.Biophysical Journal, , 115 (2 ) ,283-288 More Information

Sarkar A.; Zhao Y.; Wang Y.; Wang X. (06-25-2018. ) Force-activatable coating enables high-resolution cellular force imaging directly on regular cell cu.Physical Biology, , 15 (6 ) , More Information

Wang Y.; LeVine D.N.; Gannon M.; Zhao Y.; Sarkar A.; Hoch B.; Wang X. (02-15-2018. ) Force-activatable biosensor enables single platelet force mapping directly by fluorescence imaging.Biosensors and Bioelectronics, , 100 ,192-200 More Information

Wang Y.; Wang X. (11-15-2016. ) Integrins outside focal adhesions transmit tensions during stable cell adhesion.Scientific Reports, , 6 , More Information

Rahil Z.; Pedron S.; Wang X.; Ha T.; Harley B.; Leckband D. (09-01-2016. ) Nanoscale mechanics guides cellular decision making.Integrative Biology (United Kingdom), , 8 (9 ) ,929-935 More Information

Chowdhury F.; Li I.T.S.; Ngo T.T.M.; Leslie B.J.; Kim B.C.; Sokoloski J.E.; Weiland E.; Wang X.; Chemla Y.R.; Lohman T.M.; Ha T. (06-08-2016. ) Defining single molecular forces required for notch activation using nano yoyo.Nano Letters, , 16 (6 ) ,3892-3897 More Information

Wang X.; Rahil Z.; Li I.T.S.; Chowdhury F.; Leckband D.E.; Chemla Y.R.; Ha T. (02-15-2016. ) Constructing modular and universal single molecule tension sensor using protein G to study mechano-s.Scientific Reports, , 6 , More Information

Roein-Peikar M.; Xu Q.; Wang X.; Ha T. (01-01-2016. ) Ultrasensitivity of cell adhesion to the presence of mechanically strong ligands.Physical Review X, , 6 (1 ) , More Information

Lee M.K.; Park J.; Wang X.; Roein-Peikar M.; Ko E.; Qin E.; Lee J.; Ha T.; Kong H. (01-01-2016. ) Rupture force of cell adhesion ligand tethers modulates biological activities of a cell-laden hydrog.Chemical Communications, , 52 (26 ) ,4757-4760 More Information

Wang X.; Sun J.; Xu Q.; Chowdhury F.; Roein-Peikar M.; Wang Y.; Ha T. (12-01-2015. ) Integrin Molecular Tension within Motile Focal Adhesions.Biophysical Journal, , 109 (11 ) ,2259-2267 More Information

Chowdhury F.; Li I.T.S.; Leslie B.J.; Do?anay S.; Singh R.; Wang X.; Seong J.; Lee S.H.; Park S.; Wang N.; Ha T. (10-01-2015. ) Single molecular force across single integrins dictates cell spreading.Integrative Biology (United Kingdom), , 7 (10 ) ,1265-1271 More Information

Wang X.; Ha T. (01-01-2013. ) Defining single molecular forces required to activate integrin and Notch signaling.Science, , 340 (6135 ) ,991-994 More Information

Academic - Hoxworth Blood Center
Phone: 513-558-1450
Fax: 513-558-1522