64 research outputs found

    Photonic molecules and spectral engineering

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    This chapter reviews the fundamental optical properties and applications of pho-tonic molecules (PMs) - photonic structures formed by electromagnetic coupling of two or more optical microcavities (photonic atoms). Controllable interaction between light and matter in photonic atoms can be further modified and en-hanced by the manipulation of their mutual coupling. Mechanical and optical tunability of PMs not only adds new functionalities to microcavity-based optical components but also paves the way for their use as testbeds for the exploration of novel physical regimes in atomic physics and quantum optics. Theoretical studies carried on for over a decade yielded novel PM designs that make possible lowering thresholds of semiconductor microlasers, producing directional light emission, achieving optically-induced transparency, and enhancing sensitivity of microcavity-based bio-, stress- and rotation-sensors. Recent advances in material science and nano-fabrication techniques make possible the realization of optimally-tuned PMs for cavity quantum electrodynamic experiments, classical and quantum information processing, and sensing.Comment: A review book chapter: 29 pages, 19 figure

    Multifunctional Magnetic-fluorescent Nanocomposites for Biomedical Applications

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    Nanotechnology is a fast-growing area, involving the fabrication and use of nano-sized materials and devices. Various nanocomposite materials play a number of important roles in modern science and technology. Magnetic and fluorescent inorganic nanoparticles are of particular importance due to their broad range of potential applications. It is expected that the combination of magnetic and fluorescent properties in one nanocomposite would enable the engineering of unique multifunctional nanoscale devices, which could be manipulated using external magnetic fields. The aim of this review is to present an overview of bimodal “two-in-one” magnetic-fluorescent nanocomposite materials which combine both magnetic and fluorescent properties in one entity, in particular those with potential applications in biotechnology and nanomedicine. There is a great necessity for the development of these multifunctional nanocomposites, but there are some difficulties and challenges to overcome in their fabrication such as quenching of the fluorescent entity by the magnetic core. Fluorescent-magnetic nanocomposites include a variety of materials including silica-based, dye-functionalised magnetic nanoparticles and quantum dots-magnetic nanoparticle composites. The classification and main synthesis strategies, along with approaches for the fabrication of fluorescent-magnetic nanocomposites, are considered. The current and potential biomedical uses, including biological imaging, cell tracking, magnetic bioseparation, nanomedicine and bio- and chemo-sensoring, of magnetic-fluorescent nanocomposites are also discussed

    Detection of ErbB2: nanotechnological solutions for clinical diagnostics

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    Effect of ZnS shell thickness on the phonon spectra in CdSe quantum dots

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    International audienceThe evolution of the optical phonon spectra of colloidal core/shell CdSe/ZnS quantum dots with an increase of the shell thickness from 0.5 to 3.4 monolayers has been studied by resonant Raman spectroscopy. The results obtained suggest that the ZnS shell changes its structure from amorphous to partly crystalline as the thickness increases. Simultaneously, an increase in Raman scattering by surface (core/shell interface) phonons and the redshift of the corresponding phonon band have been observed and assigned to variations in the shell structure. The disorder present in the shell provides a major contribution to the line shape of the Raman spectra at higher ZnS coverage. A method to control the quality of quantum dots based on Raman spectroscopy is proposed

    Versatile H2O2 driven mixed aerogel synthesis from CdTe and bimetallic noble metal nanoparticles

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    Mixed aerogels from semiconductor and metal nanoparticles represent an outstanding hybrid material with exceptional properties due to two striking advantages the creation of a huge quantity of semiconductor metal interfaces combined with a highly porous three dimensional nanostructured network. We present a versatile synthetic pathway towards hybrid aerogels built up by joint gelation of CdTe and noble metal nanoparticles Au, Pd and bimetallic Au Pd . A straightforward H2O2 treatment inducing a gel formation is developed as a more elegant alternative compared to the established photooxidation approach. The use of H2O2 allows a reproducible, simple and mild gel formation which can be easily upscaled. The tremendous influence of the H2O2 concentration on gelation mechanism and gelation kinetics is revealed by photoluminescence quantum yield PLQY determinations. Resulting gels are extensively characterized via transmission electron microscopy TEM , scanning TEM STEM , energy dispersive X ray analysis EDX as well as photoluminescence PL spectroscopy and PL lifetime measurements. By varying the composition of the herein presented noble metal nanoparticles in a controlled fashion the range of semiconductor metal hybrid aerogels is widened, which demonstrates the versatility and consistency of our approach. This synthetic flexibility grants access to a ariety of different mixed hybrid aerogels which are of high significance for catalytic, sensing and photonic application

    Highly sensitive single domain antibody-quantum dot conjugates for detection of HER2 biomarker in lung and breast cancer cells

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    International audienceDespite the widespread availability of immunohistochemical and other methodologies for screening and early detection of lung and breast cancer biomarkers, diagnosis of the early stage of cancers can be difficult and prone to error. The identification and validation of early biomarkers specific to lung and breast cancers, which would permit the development of more sensitive methods for detection of early disease onset, is urgently needed. In this paper, ultra-small and bright nanoprobes based on quantum dots (QDs) conjugated to single domain anti-HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) antibodies (sdAbs) were applied for immunolabeling of breast and lung cancer cell lines, and their performance was compared to that of anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies conjugated to conventional organic dyes Alexa Fluor 488 and Alexa Fluor 568. The sdAbs–QD conjugates achieved superior staining in a panel of lung cancer cell lines with differential HER2 expression. This shows their outstanding potential for the development of more sensitive assays for early detection of cancer biomarkers

    Whispering gallery mode emission from aluminosilicate microtube cavity

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    Immobilization of pH-sensitive CdTe Quantum Dots in a Poly(acrylate) Hydrogel for Microfluidic Applications

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    Abstract Microfluidic devices present the basis of modern life sciences and chemical information processing. To control the flow and to allow optical readout, a reliable sensor material that can be easily utilized for microfluidic systems is in demand. Here, we present a new optical readout system for pH sensing based on pH sensitive, photoluminescent glutathione capped cadmium telluride quantum dots that are covalently immobilized in a poly(acrylate) hydrogel. For an applicable pH sensing the generated hybrid material is integrated in a microfluidic sensor chip setup. The hybrid material not only allows in situ readout, but also possesses valve properties due to the swelling behavior of the poly(acrylate) hydrogel. In this work, the swelling property of the hybrid material is utilized in a microfluidic valve seat, where a valve opening process is demonstrated by a fluid flow change and in situ monitored by photoluminescence quenching. This discrete photoluminescence detection (ON/OFF) of the fluid flow change (OFF/ON) enables upcoming chemical information processing
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