Frank Gu, University of Toronto

Research

microbes material-bio interactions medical devices metal alloy nanoparticles molecular assembly nanomaterials nanomaterials assembly pathogens

Latest papers

Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms.
HardwareX · 2025 · senior author
Photocatalysis and phosphorus drive organic production in algal-bacterial co-cultures treating oil sands process affected water.
Chemosphere · 2025 · senior author
In situ formed Se-TiO2 as a highly reusable photocatalyst for selenium reduction and removal from industrial wastewater.
Chemosphere · 2025 · senior author

All 9 publications

Latest funding

MitoRevolution: Mitochondrial Transplantation Transforming Regenerative Medicine - from research to patient care to global impact.
SSHRC · 2024 · Co-investigator
$3,934,956
Critical Resource Extraction using Sustainable Techniques (CREST)
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$500,000
Peptide Synthesizer & Cell Culture
NSERC · 2023 · Co-investigator
$89,043

All 8 grants and awards

9 publications.

01

Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms.

Nazeri M, Watchorn J, Mei S, Zhang A, Allen C, Gu F

HardwareX2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00653 PMID: 40546787

02

Photocatalysis and phosphorus drive organic production in algal-bacterial co-cultures treating oil sands process affected water.

Chidiac CN, Leshuk TMC, Gu F

Chemosphere2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2025.144322 PMID: 40179708

03

In situ formed Se-TiO2 as a highly reusable photocatalyst for selenium reduction and removal from industrial wastewater.

Ngan A, Milan E, Chen ZQ, Chan CC, Iman A, Gu F

Chemosphere2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143959 PMID: 39701319

04

Ambient solar-driven selenate reduction and removal from industrial brine using TiO2-based buoyant photocatalysts.

Ngan A, Chen ZQ, Bleasdale-Pollowy A, Chan C, Gu F

Water research2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122761 PMID: 39550845

05

Photocatalytic treatment of diverse contaminants of potential concern in oil sands process-affected water.

Martin JT, Leshuk TMC, Armstrong K, Chai T, Young ZW, Paradis T, Bekele A, White T, Gu F

Chemosphere2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143344 PMID: 39278328

06

A Light Touch: Solar Photocatalysis Detoxifies Oil Sands Process-Affected Waters Prior to Significant Treatment of Naphthenic Acids.

Leshuk TMC, Young ZW, Wilson B, Chen ZQ, Smith DA, Lazaris G, Gopanchuk M, McLay S, Seelemann CA, Paradis T, Bekele A, Guest R, Massara H, White T, Zubot W, Letinski DJ, Redman AD, Allen DG, Gu F

ACS ES&T water2024Senior author

DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00616 PMID: 38633367

07

Photocatalytic treatment of organoselenium in synthetic mine-impacted effluents.

Martin JT, Chai T, Leshuk TMC, Young ZW, Gu F

Water science and technology : a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research2023Senior author

DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.037 PMID: 36919746

08

Selective photocatalytic reduction of selenate over TiO2 in the presence of nitrate and sulfate in mine-impacted water.

Holmes AB, Ngan A, Ye J, Gu F

Chemosphere2022Senior author

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131951 PMID: 34455127

09

Silica-coated super paramagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) as biocompatible contrast agent in biomedical photoacoustics.

Alwi R, Telenkov S, Mandelis A, Leshuk T, Gu F, Oladepo S, Michaelian K

Biomedical optics express2012

DOI: 10.1364/boe.3.002500 PMID: 23082291

MitoRevolution: Mitochondrial Transplantation Transforming Regenerative Medicine - from research to patient care to global impact.

Co-investigatorSSHRC2024New Frontiers in Research Fund - Transformation

Principal investigators: Andreazza, Ana

$3,934,956

Critical Resource Extraction using Sustainable Techniques (CREST)

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Gu, Frank FX

Keywords: bioremediation; circular economy; critical minerals; metal recovery; microbes; mine tailings valorization; photocatalysis; tailings

$500,000

Peptide Synthesizer & Cell Culture

Co-investigatorNSERC2023Research Tools and Instruments

Principal investigators: Shoichet, Molly

$89,043

Nominated for the NSERC Brockhouse Canada Prize / Nomine pour le Prix Brockhouse du Canada du CRSNG

Co-investigatorNSERC2023Brockhouse Canada Prize for Interdisciplinary Research in Science and Engineering

Principal investigators: Sheardown, Heather HD

$250,000

Iterative design of metallic nanoparticles towards the discovery of nano-bio interactions

Principal investigatorNSERC2019Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Gu, Frank

Keywords: material-bio interactions; medical devices; metal alloy nanoparticles; microbes; molecular assembly; nanomaterials; nanomaterials assembly; pathogens; plasmonic materials; sensors and biosensing

$276,000

Process Engineering of Emerging Nano-Medicines (PrEEmiuM)

Co-investigatorNSERC2018Collaborative Research and Training Experience

Principal investigators: De Crescenzo, Gregory GJM

Keywords: constructivist approach; drug development continuum; knowledge co-creation; large-scale production; nano-medicines

$1,650,000

NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Nanotechnology Engineering

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Industrial Research Chairs

Principal investigators: Gu, Frank FX

$1,079,164

Towards Environmentally Responsible Resource Extraction Network (NSERC-TERRE-NET)

Co-investigatorNSERC2015Strategic Network Grants Program

Principal investigators: Blowes, David

$5,500,000

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Medical Biophysics

Co-authors at University of Toronto, colored by department. Thicker lines mean more shared papers; select anyone to open their profile and their own map.

Andreas Mandelis

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

1 shared papers, latest 2012

Christine Allen

Medical Biophysics

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Christopher Chan

Faculty

1 shared papers, latest 2025

Write to this professor

A short, specific email works best. This draft uses one of their recent papers; replace the parts in brackets with your own details before sending.

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: microbes Dear Professor Gu, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Leveraging flexible pipette-based tool changes to transform liquid handling systems into dual-function sample preparation and imaging platforms." (2025), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Critical Resource Extraction using Sustainable Techniques (CREST)" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]