Shan Zou

Roles and responsibilities

Senior Research Officer & Team Leader for Nanoscale Measurements

Current research and/or projects

 Focus on the development of nanoscale standards and measurement methods that underpin applications of nanoscience; contribute to greater understanding of the effects of nanomaterials in the environment and living systems, and promote safe and responsible utilization of nanotechnology tools and nanomaterials.

Research and/or project statements

See the Nanometrology page on teh NRC website at https://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/rd/mss/expertise/nanometrology.html

  • nanomaterial toxicity assessment
  • nanomechanical detection of cancer cell responses to drug treatments
  • method development and characterization of nanoparticles and nanotubes
  • development and characterization of nanoscale reference materials
  • nanocarbon metrology

Also see my personal webpage: http://shan-nrc.weebly.com/

ResearchGate lab at https://www.researchgate.net/lab/Shan-Zou-Lab 

Education

Ph.D.  Supramolecular Chemistry and Physics, University of Twente, 2005

M.Sc. Polymer Chemistry and Physics, Jilin University, 2001

B.Sc. (Hons.) Chemistry, Jilin University, 1998

Professional activities/interests

Research interests include development of integrated multimodal techniques for characterization of nanomaterials and quantitative detection of cancer cells and cellular mechanical responses to drug treatments. Recently, she is working on the reference material development of boron nitride nanotubes and cytotoxicity of nanomaterials. Expertise in Nanomechanical characterization; Cytotoxicity measurements of nanomaterial; Material and surface characterization;

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Chemistry, Carleton University;

Vice Chair of ASTM E56 Nanotechnology Committee

Member of Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (BIPM-CCQM) Cell Analysis Working Group (CAWG)

Affiliations

President of the Canadian Society for Chemistry;

Vice Chair of the ASTM Int. E56 Nanotechnology Committee;

Member of the BIPM-CCQM Cell Analysis Working Group

Inventions and patents

CNT thinfilm transistor with high K polymeric dielectric

Du, N.; Malenfant, P.; Zhao, Li; Lefebvre, J.; Dubey, G.; Lopinski, L.; Zou, S.

  • US 9620728 B2;
  • EP2903046 A1.

Key publications

For full publications list: http://shan-nrc.weebly.com/publication.html 

  • Graphene oxide-based gene modulation in preferential elimination of lung cancer cells in a 3D tumor microenvironment model, Grilli, F.; Sakib, S.; Variola, F.; Zou, S.* Adv. NanoBiomed Res. 2025, 5, 2500028. DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202500028.
  • Automated Machine-Learning Driven Analysis of Microplastics by TGA-FTIR for Enhanced Identification and Quantification, Prezgot, D.; Chen, M.; Leng, Y.; Gaburici, L.; Zou, S.*, Anal. Chem. 2025 , 97, 8833–8840. DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c06775.
  • Nanoscale reference and test materials for the validation of characterization methods for engineered nanomaterials – Current state, limitations, and needs, Abram, S.-L., Tavernaro, I., Johnston, L. J., Zou, S.*, Resch-Genger, U., Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 2025, 417, 2405–2425. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05719-6.
  • Identification of microplastics extracted from field soils amended with municipal biosolids, Chen, M.; Coleman, B.; Gaburici, L.; Prezgot, D.; Jakubek, Z. J.; Sivarajah, B.; Vermaire, J. C.; Lapen, D. R.; Velicogna, J. R.; Princz, J. I.; Provencher, J. F.; Zou, S.*, Sci. Total Environ. 2024, 907, 168007. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168007.
  • Lipid nanoparticle and liposome reference materials: Assessment of size homogeneity and long-term -70 ºC and 4 ºC storage stability, Jakubek, Z. J.; Chen, S.; Zaifman, J.; Tam, Y. Y. C.; Zou, S., Langmuir 2023, 39, 2509–2519. DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02657.
  • Development of lipid nanoparticles and liposomes reference materials (II) - Cytotoxic profiles, Syama, K.; Jakubek, Z. J.; Chen, S.; Zaifman, J.; Tam, Y. Y. C.; Zou, S.*, Sci. Rep. 2022, 12, 18071. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23013-2.

For full publications list: http://shan-nrc.weebly.com/publication.html 

International experience and/or work

President, Canadian Society for Chemistry

Shan Zou

Shan Zou

Senior Research Officer
Metrology
100 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6
Preferred language: English
Other(s): Chinese (Mandarin)
Telephone: 343-991-0122

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Expertise

Sciences, Nanomaterials, Materials, Technological innovation, Technology, Soil, Health, Chemical, Safety and Security, Physical sciences, Scientific research