主要研究方向：(1)天然活性化合物的研究，侧重天然产物的提取分离新方法、生物活性、作用机理，及其在医药食品、化妆品、农业等方面的应用。(2)功能材料的研制与开发，侧重微环境调控材料、文物修护材料与技术等。先后承担纵横项项目，如国家863项目，国家“十一五”攻关项目，上海市重点科技攻关项目等多项，已在国内外学术期刊发表研究论文70余篇，中国发明专利10余项，曾获得上海市优秀产学研工程项目三等奖(2000年)，上海市科技进步二等奖(2003年)，上海市科技进步三等奖(2003年)，第十七届上海市优秀发明选拔赛一等奖，上海产学研合作项目三等奖(2017年), 上海市教学成果三等奖(2008年),上海市教学成果一等奖(2014年)，上海市教学成果一等奖(2018年)。

代表性论文：

（1） Mengqi Wu, Wei Li, Yilin Zhang, Lei Shi, Zhizhen Xu, Wei Xia*, Wenqing Zhang*. Structure characteristics, hypoglycemic and immunomodulatory activities of pectic polysaccharides from Rosa setate x Rosa rugosa waste. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2021, 253: 117190.

（2） Mengqi Wu, Huafeng Feng, Jinxing Song, Linxiao Chen, Zhizhen Xu, Wei Xia*, Wenqing Zhang*. Structral elucidation and immunomodulatory activity of a neutral polysaccharide from the Kushui Rose (Rosa setate x Rosa rugosa) waste. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2020, 232: 115804.

（3） Jinxing Song, Huafeng Feng, Mengqi Wu, Linxiao Chen, Wei Xia*, Wenqing Zhang*. Preparation and characterization of arginine-modified chitosan/hydroxypropyl methylcellose antibacterial film. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020, 145: 750-758.

（4） Shu Zhang, Hongyang Zhang, Zhizhen Xu, Mengqi Wu, Wei Xia*, Wenqing Zhang*. Chimonanthus Praecox extract/cyclodextrin inclusion complexes: selective inclusion, enhancement of antioxidant activity and thermal stability. Industrial Crops and Products, 2017, 95: 60-65.

（5） Shu Zhang, Hongyang Zhang, Linxiao Chen, Wei Xia, Wenqing Zhang∗ Phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of different varieties of Chimonanthus Praecox, Industrial Crops and Products, 2016, 85, 11-21.

（6）  Huafeng Feng, Wei Xia, Chi Shan, Tingting Zhou, Weiming Cai, Wenqing Zhang*.Quaternized chitosan oligomers as novel elicitors inducing protection against B. cinerea in Arabidopsis，International Journal of Biological Macromolecules，2015,72, 364-369.

（7）  Wenqing Zhang, Yulong Zhang, Shuying Fang, Xiyun Luo, Haiyang Jin, Zhizhen Xu, Wei Xia*. Preparation of acrylate copolymer modified by TiO2 nanoparticles with excellent photo-oxidative stability for application in ancient ivory conservation, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2016, 133(20), 43291.

（8） Wei xia,Shu-Qi Liu,Wen-Qing Zhang*,Guo-An Lu Luo.Structural features of a pectic polysaccharide from mulberry leaves.Journal of Asian Natural Products Research. 2008,10(9):857-865.

（9） Zhang Wenqing*, Xia Wei, Zhang Yuanxing. Chitosan with different molecular weights induced the growth of cells and defense response in panax ginseng.Natural Products，2006, (2) 2:51-56.

（10） Wuling Lin, Xiangyang Hu, Wenqing Zhang,W.John Rogers,Weiming Cai*. Hydrogen peroxide mediates defence responses induced by chitosans of different molecular weights in rice. Journal of Plant Physiology, 2005,162:937-944.

（11） Lingfan Zhang*, Wei Xia, Bo Teng, Xin Liu, Wenqing Zhang*, Zironium cross-linked chitosan composite: Preparation, characterization and application in adsorption of Cr(VI), Chemical Engineering Journal, 2013, 229, 1-8.

（12） Tianyi Zhu, Tianhong Zhu, Jie Gao, Lingfan Zhang*, Wenqing Zhang*, Enhanced adsorption of fluoride by cerium immobilized cross-linked chitosan composite, Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, 2017, 194, 80-88.

（13） Jie Gao, Lingfan Zhang*, Xin Liu, Wenqing Zhang*, Hierarchically structured, well-dispersed Ti⁴⁺ cross-linked chitosan as an efficient and recyclable sponge-like adsorbent for anionic azo-dye removal, RSC Advances, 2016, 6, 106260-106267.

（14） Zhang Yulong, Xu Zhizhen, Sun Huanghui, Qiu Qiaoli, Zhang Lingfan, Xia Wei, Zhang Wenqing*. Fabrication of Pd-loaded carbon spheres with magnetic properties as active catalysts[J]. Applied Physics A. 2015, 119(2): 603-608.

（15） Jin-Xing Song, Xin-Ying Tang, Dong-Ming Zhou*, Wenqing Zhang, Tony D. James, Xiao-Peng He* and He Tian. A fluorogenic 2D glycosheet for the simultaneous identification of human- and avian-receptor specificity in influenza viruses, Materials Horizons, 2017, 4, 431-436.