Nanostructured Luminescent Gratings for Sensorics

Two-dimensional holographic structures based on photopolymer compositions with luminescent nanoparticles, such as quantum dots, are promising candidates for multiresponsive luminescence sensors. However, their applicability may suffer from the incompatibility of the components, and hence aggregation of the nanoparticles. We showed that the replacement of an organic shell at the CdSe/ZnS quantum dots’ surface with monomer molecules of the photopolymerizable medium achieved full compatibility with the surrounding medium. The effect was demonstrated by luminescence spectroscopy, and steady-state and time-resolved luminescent laser scanning microscopy. We observed the complete spectral independence of local photoluminescence decay, thus proving the absence of even nanoscale aggregation, either in the liquid composition or in the nodes and antinodes of the grating. Therefore, nanostructured luminescent photopolymer gratings with monomer-covered quantum dots can act as hybrid diffractive–luminescent sensor elements

New Conjugates Based on AIS/ZnS Quantum Dots and Aluminum Phthalocyanine Photosensitizer: Synthesis, Properties and Some Perspectives

Today, fluorescent diagnostics and photodynamic therapy are promising methods for diagnosing and treating oncological diseases. The development of new photosensitizers (PS) is one of the most important tasks to improve the efficiency of both laser-induced diagnostics and therapy. In our study, we conjugated PS with AIS/ZnS triple quantum dots (QDs) to obtain non-aggregated complexes. It was shown that the conjugation of PS with QDs does not change the PS fluorescence lifetime, which is a marker of the preservation of PS photophysical properties. In particular, efficient resonant Förster energy transfer (FRET), from QDs to PS molecules in the conjugate, increases the PS luminescence response. The FRET from QD to PS molecules with different ratios of donor and acceptors are shown. It has been demonstrated that the average efficiency of FRET depends on the ratio of PS and QD and reaches a maximum value of 80% at a ratio of 6 PS molecules per 1 QD molecule. Thus, these studies could help to contribute to the development of new complexes based on QD and PS to improve the efficiency of phototheranostics