Zhichao Ma received his bachelor degree in mechanical engineering at Jilin University (China) in 2014. He then started his doctoral studies at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (Singapore) and received his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering in 2018. Then he worked as a postdoctoral researcher and Humboldt Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (Stuttgart, Germany). His current research interests include acoustic microparticle manipulation, ultrasound imaging, ultrasound guided intervention.

2010-2014, Jilin University, Bachelor

2014-2018, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Ph.D.

2018-2021, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Postdoctoral Researcher

2022-present, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Associate Professor

•      Acoustic microparticle manipulation

•      Ultrasound imaging

•      Ultrasound guided intervention

•      Humboldt Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation 

•      Chinese Government Award for Outstanding Self-Financed Students Abroad

Sorted by publication time, updated in March 2026.

Journal Articles

(1) Y. Su, J. Wu, Z. Deng, Y. Luo, Q. Yin, K. Chen, X. Liu, Q. Gao, W. Zhang, L. Wang*, Z. Ma*, Y. Zheng*. In Vivo Target Drug Enrichment Based on Spatiotemporal Acoustic Node Modulation (STANM) for Bladder Cancer Treatment. Advanced Materials, 32, e17740 (2026).
(2) Y. Luo, Q. Yin, K. Chen, Z. Deng, X. Liu, Y. Zhou, B. Zhu, W. Zhang*, Z. Ma*. Superselective embolic particle guidance in vessel networks via shape-adaptive acoustic manipulation. Nature Communications, 16, 254 (2025).
(3) Q. Yin, K. Chen, C. Zhou, Y. Su, X. Yu, S. Feng, X. Wang, Z. Ma*, W. Zhang*. Acoustofluidic pick-and-place operation for label-free spatial assembly of cellular spheroid. International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, 7, 045501 (2025).
(4) Z. Huang, Y. Zhou, Y*. Liu, Y. Qian, Q. Yin, Y. Luo, Y. Su, B. Zhou, W. Zhang, B. Zhu, Z. Ma*. Advancing cellular transfer printing: achieving bioadhesion-free deposition via vibration microstreaming. Lab on a Chip, 25, 296 (2025).
(5) Q. Yin, H. Song, Z. Wang, Z. Ma*, W. Zhang*. Acoustic black hole effect enhanced micro-manipulator. Microsystems & Nanoengineering, 10, 144 (2024).
(6) Z. Deng, Z. Ma*, X. Liu*. Nonlinear acoustic modulation utilizing designed acoustic bubble array. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 156, 3080 (2024).
(7) Q. Yin, Y. Luo, X. Yu, K. Chen, W. Li, H. Huang, L. Zhang, Y. Zhou, B. Zhu, Z. Ma*, W. Zhang*. Acoustic Cell Patterning for Structured Cell‐Laden Hydrogel Fibers/Tubules. Advanced Science, 11, 2308396 (2024).
(8) Q. Yin, X. Li, Z. Ma*, W. Zhang*. Acoustically Activated Nozzle for Microdroplet Generation and Dispensing. Physical Review Applied, 20, 2: 024067 (2023).
(9) R. Goyal, A. G. Athanassiadis*, Z. Ma*, P. Fischer. Amplification of acoustic forces using microbubble arrays enables manipulation of centimeter-scale objects. Physical Review Letters, 128, 25, 254502 (2022).
(10) Z Ma*, H Joh, DE Fan, P Fischer*. Dynamic ultrasound projector controlled by light. Advanced Science, 9, 9, 2104401 (2022).
(11) Z. Ma, K. Melde, A. G. Athanassiadis, M. Schau, H. Richter, T. Qiu*, P. Fischer*. Spatial Ultrasound Modulation by Digitally Controlling Microbubble Arrays. Nature Communications, 11, 1 (2020).
(12) Z. Ma, A. W. Holle, K. Melde, T. Qiu, K. Poeppel, V. M. Kadiri, P. Fischer*. Acoustic Holographic Cell Patterning in a Biocompatible Hydrogel. Advanced Materials, 32, 1904181 (2020).

Invited Review Articles

(1) M. Tian, Z. Ma*, G.-Z. Yang*. Micro/nanosystems for controllable drug delivery to the brain. The Innovation, 5, 1 (2024).

(2) Y. Liu, Q. Yin, Y. Luo, Z. Huang, Q. Cheng, W. Zhang, B. Zhou, Y. Zhou*, Z. Ma*. Manipulation with sound and vibration: A review on the micromanipulation system based on sub-MHz acoustic waves. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 96, 106441 (2023).

(3) Z. Ma*, P. Fischer*. Acoustic micro-manipulation and its biomedical applications. Engineering, 24, 13 (2023).

(4) A. G. Athanassiadis, Z. Ma, N. Moreno-Gomez, K. Melde, E. Choi, R. Goyal, P. Fischer*. Ultrasound-Responsive Systems as Components for Smart Materials. Chemical Reviews, 122, 5, 5165-5208 (2021).