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

Hybrid Silver Nanocubes for Improved Plasmon-Enhanced Singlet Oxygen Production and Inactivatio

J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141 (1), pp 684–692. Plasmonic nanoparticles can strongly interact with adjacent photosensitizer molecules, resulting in significant alteration of their singlet oxygen (1O2) production. In this work, we report the next generation of metal-enhanced 1O2 nanoplatforms exploiting the lightning rod effect, or plasmon hot spots, in anisotropic (non-spherical) metal nanoparticles. We describe the synthesis of Rose Bengal decorated silica-coated silver nanocub

Visualizing Oncolytic Virus-Host Interactions in Live Mice Using Intravital Microscopy

Molecular Therapy Oncolytics, 2018, 10, 14-27. Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy is an emerging cancer treatment that uses replicating viruses to infect and kill tumor cells and incite anticancer immunity. While the approach shows promise, it currently fails most patients, indicating strategies to improve OV activity are needed. Developing these will require greater understanding of OV biology, particularly in the context of OV delivery and clearance, the infection process within

Assessment of encapsulated dyes’ distribution in silica nanoparticles and their ability to rele

Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 6320-6323 Working with silica nanoparticle encapsulated BODIPY and xanthene photosensitizers, we have determined that singlet oxygen spends up to 78% of its lifetime inside the nanocarriers. Our systematic investigation indicates that hydrophobicity rules the photosensitizer distribution in nanoparticles, which in turn dictates the ability of these structures to release singlet oxygen.

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