We present a novel perovskite core-multishell nanoparticle (PNCs@polymer) incorporating silica and poly-lactide-co-glycolic acid, that renders excellent water stability for days, thereby establishing their suitability for biomedical applications. Additionally, we created a dual emission ratiometric sensor by incorporating a nitric oxide (NO)-responsive dye within the polymer shell. These nanosensors showed enhanced emission at 586 nm with increasing NO concentration, while the fluorescence from PNCs at 510 nm remains constant. Furthermore, these nanosensors were used to quantify the extracellular NO concentration released from breast cancer cells pretreated with a NO donor, thereby offering dual advantages of both bioimaging and sensing capabilities.

We demonstrate here the facile synthesis of seed-mediated surfactant-free nanostars over a range of controlled spike lengths from 50 to 110 nm diameter and spike sharpness from 2 to 10 nm with a controlled morphology which can be achieved by changing the concentration of the chemicals required in this synthesis. To investigate the potential SERS sensing applications for point-of-care detection and real-time monitoring, we have utilized our gold nanostars for bacterial pathogens, and chronic disease biomarkers detection. Compared to other nanoparticle-based sensing applications, our optimized GNS promises to become a much more versatile and tunable SERS sensor.

Biofuel cell self-powered biosensor (BFC-SPB) represents an external-energy-equipment-free sensing system which is capable of continuously providing precious quantitative analytical information of various analytes. Recently, we focused on designing novel BFC-SPBs to realize the efficient disease early warning and timely treating. We developed the first ultra-sensitive self-powered cytosensors for the detection of acute leukemia CCRF-CEM cells. We also succeeded in constructing a self-powered system which could quantify two types of cancer-related biomarkers. And then, we developed a highly integrated self-powered sensing system by combining the BFC-SPB and the membrane separation technology. To advance the application of BFC-SPB in disease treatment, we have devised a high-compact and self-sustained theranostic platform which possessed triple cascaded “diagnosis-therapy- therapeutic evaluation” functions. The presented platform hints a sustainable cross-link between BFC and advanced theranostic, further offering guidance towards adjusting the preclinical medication to achieve preferable personalized medicine at an economical cost.

Inverted InP quantum dots emitting in the NIR-I window (700-900 nm) are promising fluorescent contrast agents for paired-agent imaging (PAI) due to their amenability to size-matching without compromising photoluminescence quantum yield. We present an optimized synthesis that uses drip addition of InP magic sized clusters (MSCs) as single source precursors. This method eliminates pyrophoric precursor from the shelling reaction and significantly reduces reaction time. We then synthesized a size-matched pair of NIR-I emitting inverted InP QDs for two-color PAI and then demonstrated two color NIR-I imaging of this QD pair in liquid phantoms and tumor spheroid models in vitro.

Liquid metal nanoparticles, particularly Eutectic Gallium Indium (EGaIn), hold great potential in medical applications such as biosensors, bioelectrodes, cancer treatment, and medical imaging. This study focuses on the synthesis of EGaIn nanoparticles using sonication without harsh chemicals. The nanoparticles are surface functionalized with hyaluronan and the photosensitizer benzoporphyrin derivative (BPD) for photodynamic therapy. EGaIn nanoparticles exhibit stability, good biocompatibility, and high optical absorption for photoacoustic imaging. The singlet oxygen generation of EGaPs is compared with free BPD under physiological conditions. Additionally, in vitro and in vivo investigations confirm the photodynamic efficacy of EGaPs, making them versatile nanoparticles for targeting, imaging, drug delivery, and photodynamic therapy

The increased transparency of biological tissues and fluids to near-infrared (NIR) light motivates the development of NIR fluorescence imaging. We are developing a promising new class of NIR emitters for fluorescence imaging, DNA-stabilized silver nanoclusters (Ag-DNAs), for bioimaging and sensing. By developing chemically-informed machine learning models, we map the sequence of the templating DNA oligomer onto silver nanocluster color, allowing us to discover new NIR-emissive Ag-DNAs. We also determine how nanocluster geometry influences photophysical and chiroptical properties. Finally, we report that Ag-DNAs can retain their chemical stability in biologically relevant solutions when protected by additional halide ligands. Together, this work has led to the development of new NIR-emissive Ag-DNAs for potential applications as fluorescent contrast agents in the NIR tissue transparency window.

We applied laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and Raman spectroscopy to assess the structural content of alginate solutions and gels prepared at various concentrations (1.0 to 40 mg/mL). Alginate is a natural biopolymer typically extracted from brown seaweed and has been applied in diverse biomedical applications. LIBS measurements in Alginate solutions show spectral lines that can be attributed to calcium (422.6, 393.3, and 396.8 nm), magnesium (279.5 nm), strontium (460.7 nm), and C-N bond (~388.3 nm). Crosslinking the alginate solutions into hydrogels tends to reduce emission intensity, and many LIBS lines are not discerned. Measured Raman spectra show several peaks in addition to those of water and dissolved oxygen and nitrogen. The higher the alginate concentration, the higher the intensity of the alginate peaks. We combined the intensity correlation analysis (ICA), principal component analysis, and first-order derivative method to assess changes of the Raman peaks. Altogether, the results demonstrate how both techniques can provide complementary insight for chemical analysis of alginate solutions and gels.

In this presentation, we will discuss our recent efforts to develop nanostructured materials that can be used as effective localized heating agents for biomedical applications. We will begin by discussing the design of plasmonic nanostructures, which can convert light to heat without emitting radiation. We will then touch on magnetic nanoparticles, which generate heat when exposed to radiofrequency magnetic fields. Our focus will be on optimizing these nanoparticles for nanowarming of cryopreserved biological samples. Additionally, we will present our recent progress in designing plasmonic/magnetic hybrid nanostructures that respond to both light and external magnetic fields. We will highlight their applications in biomedical imaging, such as photoacoustic imaging and optical coherence tomography imaging.

The biodistribution of nanoparticles becomes a critical concern for further clinical translation. Recent studies have demonstrated that, in addition to the liver and spleen, bone also plays a crucial role in nanoparticle distribution following systemic administration. However, the factors influencing the accumulation of nanoparticles in skeletal tissues remain unclear. We conducted an investigation into the distribution and retention of rare-earth nanocrystals with varying sizes and surface modifications using in vivo near-infrared IIb imaging. The findings revealed that within a few minutes after intravenous injection, the rare earth nanocrystals were swiftly concentrated in the bone marrow through the vascular system. Furthermore, there was a more pronounced accumulation observed for nanocrystals possessing carboxyl groups and smaller dimensions. Notably, the PEG-modified nanocrystals exhibit enhanced stability and biocompatibility, rendering them an ideal candidate for bone marrow imaging. This study lays a foundation for the development of nanoagents targeting bone-related diseases and elucidates some of the mechanisms underlying nanoparticles retention in the bone marrow.

Breath biopsy holds great potential for noninvasive and early-stage cancer detection and diagnosis. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are low molecular weight metabolites released in breath and biofluids as the result of pathophysiological changes such as cancer. Hundreds of VOCs are expired per breath, providing an information-rich resource of diagnostic potential. To pare down the complexity of the breath volatilome and detect low concentration (ppmV to pptV) cancer-associated VOCs from ubiquitous VOCs, we have engineered a combinatorial nanoplasmonic sensor array for multiplexed adsorption of VOCs. This dual-stage platform features (1) an engineered array of selectively sorbent core-shell nanostructures consisting of plasmonic nanoparticle cores encapsulated by tunable metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for more specific VOC capture, followed by (2) ultrasensitive readout via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), i.e., a “SERS-MOF” nanomaterial sensing array. This work focuses on the nanoscale materials synthesis efforts towards lead SERS-MOFs based on ZIF-8 MOF / gold nanourchin particles and preliminary testing of the platform on relevant VOC analytical standards.

We present a method to improve the radiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), within cancer cells and tissues. This involves coating the AuNPs with various biocompatible polymers and exposing them to X-ray irradiation in the therapeutic range. Under 6 MeV X-ray irradiation we observed ~250-300% enhancement in the production of ROS in presence of silica-coated AuNPs, compared to the controls. These findings emphasize the potential of polymer-coated AuNPs in enhancing the effectiveness of AuNP-mediated radiation therapy. By boosting the generation of ROS, these nanoparticles can improve the therapeutic efficacy of radiation therapy, particularly at low doses.