Cai Kang, Ph.D, Researcher, Department of Chemistry, graduated from Peking University

Special Talent：
Address：Nankai University, Weijin Road 94, Tianjin 300071, China
Telephone：
Email：kangcai@nankai.edu.cn

Research Group Website：https://www.x-mol.com/groups/kangcai?lang=en

Research Interest：

1. High-affinity molecular recognition and functions

2. Chiral supramolecular materials

3. Mechanically Interlocked polymers and soft materials

History：

Honors and Awards

National Award for Emerging Stars in Supramolecular and Macrocyclic Chemistry    

Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of Peking University

Scientific Achievements & Selected Publications

1. Fu, R.; Chen, F.-Y.; Dai, L.; Li, D.-Y.; Zhao, Q.-Y.; Guo, S.-D.; Song, Z.; Jing, L.-B.; Wang, H.; Li, X.; Guo, D.-S.; Cai, K.* Chiral Macrocycles Forming High-affinity 1:2 Host-guest Complexes for Chiral Discrimination and Amplified Circularly Polarized Luminescence. Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 9718

2. Wang, R.#; Han, H.#*; Jing, L.-B.; Shen, P.-Y.; Deng, J.-Y.; Zhang, Q.; Di, H.; Guo, D.-S.; Cai, K.* Corral[n]bicarbazoles: Redox-active Chiral Macrocycles for Air-stable Radical Cations Formation and Guest Capture/Release. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202511366. (Selected as Hot Paper). (#Contribute Equally)

3. Chen, F.-Y.#; Fu, R.#; Gong, Z.-H.; Li, C.- J.*; Guo, D.-S.*; Cai, K.*  Ultrahigh-affinity nolecular recognition in water and biomedical applications.  Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202500916. (#Contribute Equally)

4. Chen, F.-Y.; Gen, W.-C.; Chen, M.-M.; Fu, R.; Han, H.; Zhang, Z.-Z.; Li, B.-W.; Cheng, Y.-Q.; Li, J.-J.; Stoddart, J. F.*; Cai, K.*; Guo, D.-S*.  Assembly-enhanced Recognition: A Biomimetic Pathway to Achieve Ultrahigh Affinities.  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.2025, 122, e2414253122.

5. Pan, T.#;  Zhou, S.#;   Ma, Y.#;   Cai, K.* ; Chen, H.* Programmable Charge Transport in a Multichannel Single-Molecule  Parallel Circuit. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.  2025, 64, e202513668.  (#Contribute Equally) 

6. Fu, R.#; Li, D.-Y.#; Tian, J.-H.; Lin, Y.-L.; Zhao, Q.-Y.; Li, W.-L.; Chen, F.-Y.; Guo, D.-S.; Cai, K.*Enantiopure Corral [4] BINOLs as Ultrastrong Receptors for Recognition and Differential Sensing of Steroids.Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2024, 63, e202406233. (#Contribute Equally)

7. Yao, S.-Y.; Ying, A.-K.; Jiang, Z.-T.; Cheng, Y.-Q.; Geng, W.-C.; Hu, X.-Y.; Cai, K.*; Guo, D.-S*. Single Molecular Nanomedicines Based on Macrocyclic Carrier-Drug Conjugates for Concentration-Independent Encapsulation and Precise Activation of Drugs. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 14203–14212.       

8. Wang, R.; Li, W.-B.; Deng, J.-Y.; Han, H.; Chen, F.-Y.; Li, D.-Y.; Jing, L.-B.; Song, Z.; Fu, R.; Guo, D.-S.*; Cai, K.* Adaptive and Ultrahigh-Affinity Recognition in Water by Sulfated Conjugated Corral[5]arene. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2024, 63, e202317402.

9. Chen, F.-Y.; Li, C.-Z.; Han H.; Geng, W.-C.; Zhang, S.-X.; Jiang, Z.-T.; Zhao, Q.-Y.;Cai, K.*; Guo, D.-S.* Expanding the Hydrophobic Cavity Surface of Azocalix[4]Arene to Enable Biotin/avidin Affinity with Controlled Release.Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2024, 63, e202402139.

10. Fu, R.; Zhao, Q.-Y; Han, H.; Li, W.-L; Chen, F.-Y; Tang, C.; Zhang, W.; Guo, S.-D.; Li, D.-Y; Geng, W.-C; Guo, D.-S; Cai, K.* A Chiral Emissive Conjugated Corral for High-Affinity and Highly Enantioselective Recognition in Water. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.2023, 62, e202315990.

11. Yao, S.-Y.; Yue, Y.-X.; Ying, A.-K.; Hu, X.-Y.; Li, H.-B.; Cai, K.*; Guo, D.-S.* An Antitumor Dual-Responsive Host-Guest Supramolecular Polymer Based on Hypoxia-Cleavable Azocalix[4]arene. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed.  2023, 62, e202213578.

12. Han, H.; Fu, R.; Wang, R.; Tang, C.; He, M.-M.; Deng, J.-Y.; Guo, D.-S.; Stoddart, J. F.; Cai, K.* Corralarenes: A Family of Conjugated Tubular Hosts. J. Am. Chem. Soc.2022, 144, 20351–20362.

Professional Cultivation