Cecilia Leal

For More Information

• The Leal Lab: Materials Science of Soft and Living Systems
• Follow us on Twitter

Research Topics

• Health & Medicine
• Nanoscale Science and Technology

Chapters in Books

• The hydration of DNA – amphiphile complexes: C. Leal and H. Wennerström in DNA Interactions with polymers and surfactants, Dias, R.S. and Lindman, B. (eds). Wiley-Blackwell, Boston, MA, 2008. (Featured in the book cover)

Selected Articles in Journals

• J.E. Paul, Y. Gao, Y.K. Go, J.E. Rodriguez Koett, A. Sharma, M. Chen, J.J. Lessard, T. Topkaya, C. Leal, J.S. Moore, P.H. Geubelle, N.R. Sottos, "Controlled Patterning of Crystalline Domains by Frontal Polymerization" Nature 634, 85–90 (2024)
• N. Kambar, Y. K. Go, C. Snyder, M. N. Do and C. Leal*, "Structural characterization of lateral phase separation in polymer-lipid hybrid membranes", Methods in Enzymology, Academic Press (2024)
• M. Kang, Y. K. Go, M. Porras-Gómez, T. Koulaxizis, D. Steer, A. Statt* and C. Leal*, "Cooperative Self-Assembly of Lipid-Polymer Hybrids Stabilizing Highly-ordered Bicontinuous Cubic Phases in Air", Macromolecules 56, 5774–5783 (2023)
• J. Rueben, D. Steer and C. Leal*, "Super-swelling Behavior of Stacked Lipid Bilayer Systems", Eur. Phys. J. E. 46, 67 (2023) (This special issue aims at acknowledging Philip (Fyl) Pincus’ achievements)
• L. Zheng, S. Bandara, Z. Tan, and C. Leal*, "Lipid nanoparticle topology regulates endosomal escape and delivery of RNA to the cytoplasm", Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 120, e2301067120 (2023)
• N. Kambar and C. Leal*, "Microfluidic synthesis of multilayered lipid/polymer hybrid nanoparticles for the formulation of low solubility drugs", Soft Matter 19, 1596-1605 (2023)
• M. Porras-Gomez, H. Kim, M. T. Dronadula, N. Kambar, N. R. Aluru, Arend van der Zande* and C. Leal*, "Multiscale compression-induced restructuring of stacked lipid bilayers: From buckling delamination to molecular packing", PLOS ONE 17, e0275079 (2022)
• Y. K. Go, J. Shin, G. Chen, and C. Leal*, "Reorientation of Crystalline Block Copolymer Membranes by Phospholipid Hybridization", Chem. Mater. 34, 8577–8592 (2022)
• P. Singh, M. Pacholski, J. Gu, Y. K. Go, G. Singhal, C. Leal, P. Braun, K. Patankar, R. Drumright, S. Rogers, and C. Schroeder, "Designing multicomponent polymer colloids for self-stratifying films", Langmuir 38, 11160–11170 (2022)
• M. Porras-Gómez, T. Shoaib, D. Steer, R. Espinosa-Marzal, Rosa, and C. Leal*, "Pathological cardiolipin-promoted membrane hemifusion stiffens pulmonary surfactant membranes", Biophys. J. 121, 886-896 (2022)
• B. Soman, Y. K. Go, C. Shen, C. Leal, and C. Evans*, "Impact of Dynamic Covalent Chemistry and Precise Linker Length on Crystallization Kinetics and Morphology in Ethylene Vitrimers." Soft Matter, 18, 293-303 (2022).
• J. Rueben, A. Jayaraman, M. K. Mahanthappa, and C. Leal*, "Near-Infrared-Triggered Reversible Transformations of Gold Nanorod-Laden Lipid Assemblies: Implications for Cellular Delivery", ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 5, 710-717 (2022). *ACS Editor's Choice
• W. Zhou, S. R. Bandara, and C. Leal*, S. Anakk* (equal contribution of first and last authors), "Lipid droplet structural remodeling in adipose tissue upon caloric excess", bioRxiv 2021.08.23.457409 (2021)
• Y. Go and C. Leal*, "Polymer–Lipid Hybrid Materials", Chem. Rev. 22, 13996–14030 (2021)
• Z. Tan, Z. Song, T. Xue, L. Zheng, L. Jiang, Y. Jiang, Z. Fu, A. Nguyen, C. Leal , J. Cheng, "Open-air synthesis of oligo(ethylene glycol)-functionalized polypeptides from non-purified N-carboxyanhydrides", Biomater. Sci. 9, 4120-4126 (2021)
• M. Han, H. Kim, C. Leal, M. Negrito, J. Batteas, R. Espinosa-Marzal, "Insight into the Electrical Double Layer of Ionic Liquids Revealed through its Temporal Evolution" Adv. Mater. Interfaces, 2001313 (2020)
• J. Koo, S. B. Kim, Y. S. Choi, Z. Xie, A. Bandodkar, J. Khalifeh, Y. Yan, H. Kim, M. K. Pezhouh, K. Doty, G. Lee, Y.-Y. Chen, S. M. V. Lee, G. D'Andrea, K. Jung, K.H. Lee, K. Li, S. Jo, H. Wang, J. H. Kim, J. Kim, S.-G. Choi, W. J. Jang, Y. S. Oh, I. Park, S. S. Kwak, J.-H. Park, D. Hong, X. Feng, C.-H. Lee, A. Banks, C. Leal, H. M. Lee, Y. Huang, C. K. Franz, W. Ray, M. MacEwan, S.-K. Kang & J. A Rogers, "Wirelessly controlled, bioresorbable drug delivery devices with active valves that exploit electrochemically triggered crevice corrosion". Sci. Adv. 6, eabb1093 (2020)
• Y. K. Go, N. Kambar, and C. Leal*, "Hybrid Unilamellar Vesicles of Phospholipids and Block Copolymers with Crystalline Domains", Polymers 12, 1232 (2020)
• S. Lv, H. Kim, Z. Song, L. Feng, Y. Yang, R. Baumgartner, K.-Y. Tseng, S. J. Dillon, C. Leal, L. Yin, and J. Cheng "Unimolecular Polypeptide Micelles via Ultrafast Polymerization of N-Carboxyanhydrides" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142, 8570-8574 (2020)
• T. A. Kim, C. Lamuta, H. Kim, C. Leal and N. R. Sottos, "Interfacial Force-focusing Effect in Mechanophore-linked Nanocomposites" Adv. Sci. 7, 1903464 (2020)
• M. Kim, M. Porras-Gomez, and C. Leal*, "Graphene-based sensing of oxygen transport through pulmonary membranes" Nat. Commun. 11, 1103 (10 pages) (2020)
• S. Bandara, T. Molley, H. Kim, P. Bharath, K. Kristopher, and C. Leal* "The structural fate of lipid nanoparticles in the extracellular matrix" Mater. Horiz. 7, 125-134 (2020)
• M. Porras-Gomez, and C. Leal*, "Lipid-based liquid crystalline films and solutions for the delivery of cargo to cells" Liq. Cryst. Rev. 7, 167-182 (2019). DOI. (Featured in the journal cover)
• H. Kim, M. Han, S. Bandara, R. M. Espinoza-Marzal, and C. Leal*, "Mixing oil and water with ionic liquids: bicontinuous microemulsions under confinement" Soft Matter 15, 9609−9613 (2019)
• N.F. Bouxsein, C. Leal, C. S. McAllister, Y. Li, K. K. Ewert, C.E. Samuel, C. R. Safinya "3D Columnar Phase of Stacked Short DNA Organized by Coherent Membrane Undulations" Langmuir 35, 11891-11901 (2019)
• J. Shin, J. Sung, M. Kang, X. Xie, B. Lee, K. M. Lee, T. J. White, C. Leal, N. Sottos, P. V. Braun, D. G. Cahill, "Light-triggered thermal conductivity switching in azobenzene polymers" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 116, 5973-5978 (2019)
• S. W. Leung and C. Leal*, "The stabilization of primitive bicontinuous cubic phases with tunable swelling over a wide composition range", Soft Matter 15, 1269-1277 (2019)
• H. Kim, J. Sung, Y. Chang, A. Alfeche, and C. Leal*, "Microfluidics Synthesis of Gene Silencing Cubosomes", ACS Nano 12, 9196-9205 (2018)
• M. Tuteja, M. Kang, and C. Leal*, A. Centrone*, "Nanoscale Partitioning of Paclitaxel in Hybrid Lipid-Polymer Membranes", Analyst 143, 3808-3813 (2018). DOI:10.1039/C8AN00838H. [Featured in the journal cover]
• D. Steer, S. W. Leung, H. Meiselman, D. Topgaard, and C. Leal*, "Structure of Lung-mimetic Multilamellar Bodies with Lipid Compositions Relevant in Pneumonia", Langmuir 34, 7561-7574 (2018).
• S. Y. Cho, M. Kang, J. Choi, M. E. Lee, H. J. Yoon, H. J. Kim, C. Leal, S. Lee, H. -J. Jin, Y. S. Yun, "Pyrolytic Carbon Nanosheets for Ultrafast and Ultrastable Sodium-Ion Storage" Small 14, 1703043 (9 pages) (2018).
• M. Kang, M. Tuteja, A. Centrone, D. Topgaard, and C. Leal*, "Nanostructured Lipid-based Films for Substrate Mediated Applications in Biotechnology" Adv. Funct. Mater. 28, 1704356 (20 pages) (2018).
• M. Kang, B. Lee, and C. Leal*, “Three-Dimensional Microphase Separation and Synergistic Permeability in Stacked Lipid-Polymer Hybrid Membranes” Chem. Mater. 29, 9120–9132 (2017).
• H. Kim, Z. Song, and C. Leal*, "Super-swelled Lyotropic Single Crystals" Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 114, 10834-10839 (2017).
• D. Steer, M. Kang, and C. Leal*, "Soft nanostructured films for directing the assembly of functional materials" Nanotechnology 28, 142001 (17 pages) (2017).
• M. Kang, H. Kim, and C. Leal*, “Self-organization of nucleic acids in lipid constructs” ‎Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci. 26, 58-65 (2016).
• R. Mansbach, A. Ferguson, K. Kilian, J. Krogstad, C. Leal, A. Schleife, D. R. Trinkle, M. West, G. L. Herman, “Reforming an undergraduate materials science curriculum with computational modules” J. Mate. Educ. 38, 161-174 (2016).
• S. Uzan, H. Kim, C. Leal. G.W. Padua, “Ethanol-induced whey protein gels as carriers for lutein droplets” Food Hydrocoll. 61, 426-432 (2016).
• J. Shin, M. Kang, T. Tsai, C. Leal, P.V. Braun, D.G. Cahill, “Thermally functional liquid crystal networks by magnetic field driven molecular orientation” ACS Macro Lett. 5, 955-960 (2016).
• M. Kang and C. Leal*, “Soft Nanostructured Films for Actuated Surface-Based siRNA Delivery” Adv. Funct. Mater. 26, 5610–5620 (2016). [Featured in the journal cover]
• L.A. Jurado, H. Kim, A. Rossi, A. Arcifa, J.K. Schuh, N.D. Spencer, C. Leal, R.H. Ewoldt, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal, “Effect of the environmental humidity on the bulk, interfacial and nanoconfined properties of an ionic liquid” Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 18, 22719-22730 (2016).
• Y.S. Yun, S. Lee, N.R. Kim, M. Kang, C. Leal, K.Y. Park, K. Kang, H.J. Jin, “High and rapid alkali cation storage in ultramicroporous carbonaceous materials” J. Power Sources 313, 142-151 (2016).
• N. R. Kim, Y. S. Yun, M. Y. Song, S. J. Hong, M. Kang, C. Leal, Y. W. Park, H.-J. Jin, "Citrus-Peel-Derived, Nanoporous Carbon Nanosheets Containing Redox-Active Heteroatoms for Sodium-Ion Storage" ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 5, 3175–3181 (2016).
• C. H. Lee, H. Kim, D. Harburg, G. Park, Y. Ma, T. Pan, J. S. Kim, N. Y. Lee, B. H. Kim, K.-I. Jang, S.-K. Kang, Y. Huang, J. Kim, K.-M. Lee, and C. Leal*, J. A. Rogers*, "Biological lipid membranes for on-demand, wireless drug delivery from thin, bioresorbable electronic implants" NPG. Asia. Mater. 7(e227), 969-973 (2015).
• H. Kim and C. Leal*, “Cuboplexes: Topologically Active siRNA Delivery“ ACS Nano 9, 10214–10226 (2015).
• Z. Song, H. Kim, X. Ba, R. Baumgartner, J.S. Lee, H. Tang, C. Leal, J Cheng. “Polypeptide vesicles with densely packed multilayer membranes“ Soft Matter 20, 4091-4098 (2015).
• L.A. Jurado, H. Kim, A. Arcifa, A. Rossi, C. Leal, N.D. Spencer, R.M. Espinosa-Marzal, “Irreversible structural change of a dry ionic liquid under nanoconfinement“ Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 17, 13613 –13624 (2015).
• B. H. Kim, M. S. Onses, J. B. Lim, S. Nam, N. Oh, H. Kim, K. J. Yu, J. W. Lee, J.-H. Kim, S.-K. Kang, C. H. Lee, J. Lee, J. H. Shin, N. H. Kim, C. Leal, M. Shim, J. A. Rogers, “High-Resolution Patterns of Quantum Dots Formed by Electrohydrodynamic Jet Printing for Light-Emitting Diodes“ Nano Lett. 15, 969–973 (2015).
• M. Kang, G. Huang, and C. Leal*, “Role of lipid polymorphism in acoustically sensitive liposomes“ Soft Matter 10, 8846–8854 (2014).
• C. Leal, N. F. Bouxsein, K. K. Ewert, C. R. Safinya, "Highly efficient gene silencing activity of siRNA embedded in a nanostructured gyroid cubic lipid matrix" J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132, 16841–16847 (2010).
• C. Leal, D. Sandström, P. Nevsten, D. Topgaard, "Local and translational dynamics in DNA–lipid assemblies monitored by solid-state and diffusion NMR" Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Biomembranes 1778, 214–228 (2008).

Other Publications

• Cecilia Leal and Ivan Smalyukh, "Sheltering In Place At The Charles T. Munger Physics Residence", Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) Newsletter, Spring 2020

Magazine Articles

• Commentary on: "Protein-lipid particles to deliver genetic medicine" by Laurel Oldach, C&EN Magazine, September 10, 2024
• Commentary on: "Verve pauses gene therapy trial, switches delivery agent" by Laura Howes, C&EN Magazine, April 4, 2024
• Highlight at Chemical & Engineering (C&EN) News: "Labyrinthine lipid nanoparticles may boost RNA delivery" by Shi En Kim, June 28, 2023
• Commentary on: "Hopewell nabs seed funding for lipid nanoparticle delivery" by Shi En Kim, C&EN Magazine, June 9, 2023

Teaching Honors

• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students for Fall 2015 - MSE 201-Phases and Phase Relations, UIUC (2015)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students for Fall 2020 - MSE 201-Phases and Phase Relations, UIUC (2020)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students for Fall 2021 - MSE 201 - Phases and Phase Relations, UIUC (2021)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students for Spring 2017 - MSE 473-Biomolecular Materials Science, UIUC (2017)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students for Spring 2022 - MSE 473-Biomolecular Materials Science, UIUC (2022)
• List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by their Students for Spring 2023 - MSE 473-Biomolecular Materials Science, UIUC (2023)

Research Honors

• University of Illinois Provost’s Distinguished Promotion to Full Professor Award (2024)
• University of Illinois Scholar (2023)
• Illinois Grainger College of Engineering Dean's Award for Excellence in Research for Associate Professor (2021)
• Racheff Faculty Scholar Award (2019)
• University of Illinois Provost’s Distinguished Promotion to Associate Professor Award (2019)
• Illinois Grainger College of Engineering Dean's Award for Excellence in Research for Assistant Professor (2018)
• National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) Faculty Fellowship (2017)
• NIH New Innovator Award: A New Paradigm In Nanomedicine: Can Structural Interiors of Nanoparticles Regulate Cellular Delivery? (DP2-EB-024377) (2016)
• NSF CAREER Award: Nanostructured Soft Substrates for Responsive Bioactive Coatings (DMR -1554435 ) (2016)

Public Service Honors

• Grainger College of Engineering Award for Sustained Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (2022)