Spectral characterization of a blue light-emitting micro-LED platform on skin-associated microbial chromophores.

The therapeutic application of blue light (380 - 500nm) has garnered considerable attention in recent years as it offers a non-invasive approach for the management of prevalent skin conditions including acne vulgaris and atopic dermatitis. These conditions are often characterised by an imbalance in the microbial communities that colonise our skin, termed the skin microbiome. In conditions including acne vulgaris, blue light is thought to address this imbalance through the selective photoexcitation of microbial species expressing wavelength-specific chromophores, differentially affecting skin commensals and thus altering the relative species composition.

Biotinylated Photocleavable Semiconductor Colloidal Quantum Dot Supraparticle Microlaser.

Luminescent supraparticles of colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals can act as microscopic lasers and are hugely attractive for biosensing, imaging, and drug delivery. However, biointerfacing these to increase functionality while retaining their main optical properties remains an unresolved challenge. Here, we propose and demonstrate red-emitting, silica-coated CdSSe/ZnS colloidal quantum dot supraparticles functionalized with a biotinylated photocleavable ligand.

Surface Functionalisation of Self-Assembled Quantum Dot Microlasers with a DNA Aptamer.

The surface functionalisation of self-assembled colloidal quantum dot supraparticle lasers with a thrombin binding aptamer (TBA-15) has been demonstrated. The self-assembly of CdSSe/ZnS alloyed core/shell microsphere-shape CQD supraparticles emitting at 630 nm was carried out using an oil-in-water emulsion technique, yielding microspheres with an oleic acid surface and an average diameter of 7.3 ± 5.

Long-term ambient air-stable cubic CsPbBr perovskite quantum dots using molecular bromine.

We report unprecedented phase stability of cubic CsPbBr quantum dots in ambient air obtained by using Br as halide precursor. Mechanistic investigation reveals the decisive role of temperature-controlled generated, oleylammonium halide species from molecular halogen and amine for the long term stability and emission tunability of CsPbX (X = Br, I) nanocrystals.

A F radiolabelled Zn(ii) sensing fluorescent probe.

A selective fluorescent probe for Zn(ii), AQA-F, has been synthesized. AQA-F exhibits a ratiometric shift in emission of up to 80 nm upon binding Zn(ii) ([AQA-F] = 0.1 mM, [Zn(ii)Cl2] = 0-300 μM).

A Dual-Modal SERS/Fluorescence Gold Nanoparticle Probe for Mitochondrial Imaging.

A novel SERS/fluorescent multimodal imaging probe for mitochondria has been synthesised using 12 nm diameter gold nanoparticles (AuNP) surface functionalised with a rhodamine thiol derivative ligand. The normal pH-dependent fluorescence of the rhodamine-based ligand is inversed when it is conjugated with the AuNP and higher emission intensity is observed at basic pH. This switch correlates to a pK at pH 6.