以炎性肠道疾病（IBD）为目标，围绕疾病诊断、治疗及致病分子机理，开展以下工作：
1. IBD诊-疗一体化探针系统的构建。
2. IBD生物标记物检测与传感技术的研发。
3. 肠纤维化的预防和治疗。
2009.09－2014.06：华中科技大学；博士
2014.09－2017.10：美国佐治亚州立大学；博后
2017.11－2018.03：，美国佐治亚州立大学生物医学研究院，疾病诊断治疗中心；研究助理教授
2018年04月－至今： 研究员、博导，入选西安交通大学“青年拔尖人才B类计划”。
1.Zhang MZ*, Xu CL, Wen LQ, Han MK, Xiao B, Zhou J and Merlin D. A hyaluronidase responsive nanoparticle-based drug delivery system for targeting colon cancer cells. Cancer Research. 2016;76(24), 7208-7218. (Impact factor: 9.13)
2.Zhang MZ*, Viennois E, Prasad M, Zhang YC, Wang LX, Zhang Z and Merlin D. Edible ginger-derived nanoparticles: a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and colitis-associated cancer. Biomaterials. 2016;101:321-340. (Impact factor: 8.806)
3.Zhang MZ, Yu Y, Yu RN, Wan M, Zhang RY and Zhao YD*. Tracking the down-regulation of folate receptor-α in cancer cells through target specific delivery of quantum dots coupled with antisense oligonucleotide and targeted peptide. Small. 2013;9:4183-4193. (Impact factor: 9.598)
4.Zhang MZ*, Xiao B, Wang H, Han MK, Zhang Z, Viennois E and Merlin D. Edible ginger-derived nano-lipids loaded with doxorubicin as a novel drug-delivery approach for colon cancer therapy. Molecular Therapy. 2016;24(10):1783-96. (Impact factor: 7.0)
5.Zhang MZ*, Xu CL, Liu DD, Han MK, Wang LX and Merlin D. Oral delivery of nanoparticles loaded with ginger active compound, 6-shogaol, attenuates ulcerative colitis and promotes wound healing in a murine model of ulcerative colitis. Journal of Crohn’s and Colitis. 2018;12(2): 217-229. (Impact factor: 6.637)
