Functional Luminescent Inorganic Nanomaterials: From Fundamentals to Applications

功能性发光无机纳米材料：从基础到应用

• 批准号: RGPIN-2022-04704
• 负责人: Capobianco, John
• 金额: $ 4.52万
• 依托单位: Concordia University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=748441
• 关键词: Functional; Luminescent; Inorganic; Nanomaterials; Fundamentals

Nanomaterials are characterized as being less than 100 nanometers along a single axis. This means these materials are 100,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair. The unique properties of these tiny materials have revolutionized science from biomedical applications to technological advancements in security (explosives detection, and anti-forgery of documents), energy storage (solar cells, new batteries), artificial intelligence and the environment. Despite the many advances which have occurred over the past century, society will continue to be faced with daunting challenges in the above-mentioned areas unless major scientific and technological breakthroughs are fostered. Overcoming many, if not all, of these challenges will depend on understanding the properties and behaviour of aggregates of atoms and molecules at a scale where properties differ significantly from those at the larger scale (macroscopic) and on the synthesis of new nanomaterials. Light-based technologies are particularly attractive for advancing the use of nanomaterials because of the high degree of control and versatility of light, as well as its non-invasive nature. The overriding objective of our research program is the synthesis of functional nanomaterials, and characterization of their photophysical, structural and chemical properties. The programme as a whole poses many challenges and breaks new ground in understanding the challenges faced by the community carrying out research on luminescent nanomaterials for biological applications (bioimaging, drug delivery, optical sensing, photodynamic therapy and photoswitching). The programme will also provide a fundamental understanding of the interaction of nanoparticles with X-rays for the purpose of advanced cancer treatment technologies in combination with light-based methods such as photodynamic therapy. This fundamental understanding of the interaction of the NPs with their environment and with different excitation energies will foster the long-term design of novel materials. We will also investigate the fundamental properties of smart nano-vehicles for the guided delivery of drugs using light without the production of toxic species like hydrogen peroxide. The goal of our research programme is to advance the development and understanding of light-based nanomaterials to create the next generation of smart technologies which will benefit Canadian society.

纳米材料的特点是沿单轴小于100纳米。这意味着这些材料比人类头发的宽度还小10万倍。这些微小材料的独特特性已经彻底改变了科学，从生物医学应用到安全（爆炸物探测和文件防伪）、能源储存（太阳能电池、新电池）、人工智能和环境方面的技术进步。尽管在过去的一个世纪中取得了许多进步，但除非促进重大的科学和技术突破，否则社会将继续在上述领域面临严峻的挑战。克服许多（如果不是全部的话）这些挑战将取决于对原子和分子聚集体的性质和行为的理解，这些性质与更大尺度（宏观）的性质有很大不同，以及新纳米材料的合成。基于光的技术对于推进纳米材料的使用特别有吸引力，因为光的高度控制和多功能性，以及它的非侵入性。我们研究项目的首要目标是合成功能纳米材料，并表征其光物理，结构和化学性质。该计划作为一个整体提出了许多挑战，并在理解社区在生物应用（生物成像，药物输送，光学传感，光动力治疗和光开关）上进行发光纳米材料研究所面临的挑战方面开辟了新的领域。该项目还将提供纳米粒子与x射线相互作用的基本知识，用于先进的癌症治疗技术，结合光动力疗法等基于光的方法。这种对NPs与环境和不同激发能相互作用的基本理解将促进新材料的长期设计。我们还将研究智能纳米载体的基本特性，用于用光引导药物递送，而不产生过氧化氢等有毒物质。我们的研究计划的目标是推进光基纳米材料的发展和理解，以创造下一代智能技术，这将有利于加拿大社会。