Research & Publications

Plasmonic photochemistry

Metallic nanoparticles act as nanoscale antennas that amplify and concentrate light in their vicinity. Our research group specializes in harnessing these unique optical properties to enhance and control photochemical processes. To achieve this, we engineer innovative metallic nanoparticle hybrid systems and investigate how their structure, composition, and plasmonic behavior influence light-driven reactivity. We then apply these nanomaterials toward photochemical and antimicrobial applications.

Singlet Oxygen

Singlet oxygen is an excited state of molecular oxygen generated through photosensitization. Due to its short lifetime and highly reactive nature, singlet oxygen acts locally at the site of production, making it an effective tool for targeted antimicrobial applications against pathogens ranging from viruses to bacteria. Our group is interested in harnessing singlet oxygen to address antimicrobial resistance through the development and optimization of new photosensitizers, as well as strategies to enhance singlet oxygen generation and efficacy.

Excited-state modulation

Our research group is interested in understanding and controlling excited-state pathways through unconventional approaches to triplet-state access. Using polymer-based systems, we investigate how polymer composition, thickness, and the incorporation of plasticizers or antiplasticizers influence excited-state behavior and relaxation processes. By establishing fundamental structure–property relationships, our goal is to develop design principles that enable the rational tuning of excited-state dynamics, reducing reliance on trial-and-error approaches in photochemical material design.

publications

Addressing personal protective equipment (PPE) decontamination: Methylene blue and light inactivate severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on N95 respirators and medical...

Lendvay, TS; et al. (52 authors). (2021). Addressing personal protective equipment (PPE) decontamination: Methylene blue and light inactivate severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on N95 respirators and medical masks with maintenance of integrity and fit. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 1-10. Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), underscoring the urgent need

Rationalizing the Plasmonic Contributions to the Enhancement of Singlet Oxygen Production

J. Phys. Chem. C 2020 (ASAP) The strong interaction between plasmonic metal nanoparticles and photosensitizers can significantly amplify their singlet oxygen (1O2) production. However, improving the performance of these hybrid plasmonic nanostructures is hampered by the lack of understanding of how their plasmonic properties impact the enhancement of 1O2 production. Here, we report that a Au core-based nanoparticle can outperform a Ag one. This result is striking as Ag is ref

Singlet oxygen partition between the outer-, inner- and membrane-phases of photo/chemotherapeut

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2019, 21, 25054-25064. Liposomes carrying membrane-embedded porphyrin-phospholipid (PoP) are capable of chemo- and photo-therapeutic modes of action, which make them a potential candidate material for next-generation cancer treatments. This study examines singlet oxygen (1O2) production and release by PoP liposomes carrying either no chemotherapeutic cargo (EMPTY), or those carrying either doxorubicin (DOX) or irinotecan (IRT) chemotherapy drugs. Herei

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