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Control of the chemical composition and optical properties of molybdenum disulfide nanoparticles by laser ablation and fragmentation is demonstrated.

We elaborated a technique of pulsed laser ablation in gas mixtures (He-N2), maintained under residual pressures of 0.5–5 Torr to deposit silicon (Si)-based nanostructured films on a substrate. We show that the deposited films can exhibit strong photoluminescence (PL) emission with the position of peaks depending on the pressure of ambient gas and the ratio of gases in the mixture. Nanostructured films prepared in pure He gas exhibited a strong band in the infrared range (around 760 nm) and a weak band in the green range (550 nm), which were attributed to quantum-confined excitonic states in small Si nanocrystals and radiative transitions via the localized electronic states in silicon suboxide coating, respectively. In contrast, nanostructured films prepared in He-N2 mixtures exhibited more intense “green-yellow” PL band centered at 580 nm, which was attributed to a radiative recombination in amorphous oxynitride (a-SiNxOy) coating of Si nanocrystals. We also present a detailed analysis of morphology of nanostructures Si-based films prepared by laser ablation. Finally, we show that the nanocrystals can be removed from the substrate and milled by ultrasound to form aqueous solutions of colloidal Si nanopartiles. The fabricated Si-based nanocrystals present a promising object for theranostics, combining imaging functionality based on PL emission and a series of therapy functionalities (photo and radiofrequency hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy).

International audience; Nuclear medicine is expected to make major advances in cancer diagnosis and therapy; tumor-targeted radiopharmaceuticals preferentially eradicate tumors while causing minimal damage to healthy tissues. The current scope of nuclear medicine can be significantly expanded by integration with nanomedicine, which utilizes nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and therapy by capitalizing on the increased surface area-to-volume ratio, the passive/active targeting ability and high loading capacity, the greater interaction cross section with biological tissues, the rich surface properties of nanomaterials, the facile decoration of nanomaterials with a plethora of functionalities, and the potential for multiplexing several functionalities within one construct. This review provides a comprehensive discussion of nuclear nanomedicine using tumor-targeted nanoparticles for cancer radiation therapy with either pre-embedded radionuclides or nonradioactive materials which can be extrinsically triggered using various external nuclear particle sources to produce in situ radioactivity. In addition, it describes the prospect of combining nuclear nanomedicine with other modalities to enable synergistically enhanced combination therapies. The review also discusses advances in the fabrication of radionuclides as well as describes laser ablation technologies for producing nanoradiopharmaceuticals, which combine the ease of production with exceptional purity and rapid biodegradability, along with additional imaging or therapeutic functionalities. From a practical standpoint, these attributes of nanoradiopharmaceuticals may provide distinct advantages in diagnostic/therapeutic sensitivity and specificity, imaging resolution, and scalability of turnkey platforms. Coupling image-guided targeted radiation therapy with the possibility of in situ activation of nanomaterials as well as combining with other therapeutic modalities using a multifunctional nanoplatform could herald an era of exciting technological and therapeutic advances to radically transform the landscape of nuclear medicine. The review concludes with a discussion of current challenges and presents the authors’ views on future opportunities to stimulate further research in this rewarding field of high societal impact

Recent developments in the area of resonant dielectric nanostructures has created attractive opportunities for the concentrating and manipulating light at the nanoscale and the establishment of new exciting field of all-dielectric nanophotonics. Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with nanopatterned surfaces are especially promising for these tasks. Still, the fabrication of these structures requires sophisticated lithographic processes, drastically complicating application prospects. To bridge this gap and broaden the application scope of TMDC nanomaterials, we report here femtosecond laser-ablative fabrication of water-dispersed spherical TMDC (MoS2 and WS2) nanoparticles (NPs) of variable size (5 - 250 nm). Such nanoparticles demonstrate exciting optical and electronic properties inherited from TMDC crystals, due to preserved crystalline structure, which offers a unique combination of pronounced excitonic response and high refractive index value, making possible a strong concentration of electromagnetic field in the nanoparticles. Furthermore, such nanoparticles offer additional tunability due to hybridization between the Mie and excitonic resonances. Such properties bring to life a number of nontrivial effects, including enhanced photoabsorption and photothermal conversion. As an illustration, we demonstrate that the nanoparticles exhibit a very strong photothermal response, much exceeding that of conventional dielectric nanoresonators based on Si. Being in a mobile colloidal state and exhibiting superior optical properties compared to other dielectric resonant structures, the synthesized TMDC nanoparticles offer opportunities for the development of next-generation nanophotonic and nanotheranostic platforms, including photothermal therapy and multimodal bioimaging., 18 pages, 4 figures

Correction for ‘Tunable optical properties of transition metal dichalcogenide nanoparticles synthesized by femtosecond laser ablation and fragmentation’ by Anton S. Chernikov et al., J. Mater. Chem. C, 2023, 11, 3493–3503, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2TC05235K.

International audience; Combining photonic excitation and acoustic detection, photoacoustic imaging (PAI) presents one of the most promising noninvasive biomedical diagnostic modalities, but this technique still lacks efficient nano-sized contrast agents absorbing light in the region of relative tissue transparency (630–900 nm). Here, we explore the use of titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NPs) fabricated by methods of pulsed laser ablation in liquids as a contrast agent in PAI. When prepared in acetone, the NPs are spherical, have an average size of 25 nm, and exhibit a broad plasmonic absorption peak around 700 nm. We show that solutions of these NPs render possible a strong nonlinear photoacoustic response and the generation of photoacoustic images with 67 μm resolution within the biological transparency window. The observed effect is explained by a plasmonically enhanced two-photon absorption process in TiN NPs. Combined with earlier demonstrated capability of generating photothermal therapeutic effect, relative chemical purity, and excellent biocompatibility, laser-synthesized TiN NPs promise attractive applications in biomedical theranostics involving imaging modalities based on photoacoustics microscopy or tomography.

International audience; Due to particular physico-chemical characteristics and prominent optical properties, nanostructured germanium (Ge) appears as a promising material for biomedical applications, but its use in biological systems has been limited so far due to the difficulty of preparation of Ge nanostructures in a pure, uncontaminated state. Here, we explored the fabrication of Ge nanoparticles (NPs) using methods of pulsed laser ablation in ambient gas (He or HeN 2 mixtures) maintained at low residual pressures (1-5 Torr). We show that the ablated material can be deposited on a substrate (silicon wafer in our case) to form a nanostructured thin film, which can then be ground in ethanol by ultrasound to form a stable suspension of Ge NPs. It was found that these formed NPs have a wide size dispersion, with sizes between a few nm and hundreds of nm, while a subsequent centrifugation step renders possible the selection of one or another NP size fraction. Structural characterization of NPs showed that they are composed of aggregations of Ge crystals, covered by an oxide shell. Solutions of the prepared NPs exhibited largely dominating photoluminescence (PL) around 450 nm, attributed to defects in the germanium oxide shell, while a separated fraction of relatively small (5-10 nm) NPs exhibited a red-shifted PL band around 725 nm under 633 nm excitation, which could be attributed to quantum confinement effects. It was also found that the formed NPs exhibit high absorption in the visible and near-IR spectral ranges and can be strongly heated under photoexcitation in the region of relative tissue transparency, which opens access to phototherapy functionality. Combining imaging and therapy functionalities in the biological transparency window, laser-synthesized Ge NPs present a novel promising object for cancer theranostics.

Owing to a red-shifted absorption/scattering feature compared to conventional plasmonic metals, titanium nitride nanoparticles (TiN NPs) constitute a promising candidate for nanomedicine. However, their potential is still underexplored due to difficulties of synthesis of stable biocompatible colloids of TiN NPs. Here, we provide results of elaboration of laser-ablative synthesis of TiN NPs in liquids which can solve the problem. Laser-ablated TiN NPs have strong plasmonic peak in near-IR. We also present their first comprehensive biocompatibility assessment. The obtained results evidence high safety of laser-synthesized TiN NPs for biological systems, which promises a major advancement of phototheranostic modalities on their basis.

Radiation nanomedicine is an emerging field, which utilizes nanoformulations of high-Z elements and nuclear agents to improve therapeutic outcome and to reduce radiation dosage. This field lacks methods for controlled fabrication of biocompatible nanoformulations. Here, we present application of femtosecond laser ablation in liquids to fabricate stable colloidal solutions of ultrapure elemental Bi and isotope-enriched samarium oxide nanoparticles (NPs). The obtained spherical Bi and Sm oxide NPs have controllable size, while Bi NPs have remarkable absorption in the near-IR region. Exempt of any toxic by-products, laser-ablated Bi and Sm oxide NPs present a novel appealing nanoplatform for nuclear and radiotherapies.

Welcome and Introduction to SPIE Photonics West LASE conference 11675: Synthesis and Photonics of Nanoscale Materials XVIII

The presentation will overview our on-going activities on laser ablative synthesis of novel biocompatible colloidal nanomaterials (TiN, Si, Sm2O3, Bi, Au-Fe3O4 core-shells,) and their testing in tasks of bioimaging (optical non-linear imaging) and therapies (photo-hyperthermia, nuclear therapy)

International audience; Owing to strong plasmonic absorption and excellent biocompatibility, gold nanostructures are among best candidates for photoacoustic bioimaging and photothermal therapy, but such applications require ultrapure Au-based nanoformulations of complex geometry (core-shells, nanorods) in order to shift the absorption band toward the region of relative tissue transparency (650–1000 nm). Here, we present a methodology for the fabrication of Si@Au core-satellite nanostructures, comprising of a Si core covered with small Au nanoparticles (NP), based on laser ablative synthesis of Si and Au NPs in water/ethanol solutions, followed by a chemical modification of the Si NPs by 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) and their subsequent decoration by the Au NPs. We show that the formed core-satellites have a red-shifted plasmonic absorption feature compared to that of pure Au NPs (520 nm), with the position of the peak depending on APTMS amount, water−ethanol solvent percentage and Si−Au volume ratio. As an example, even relatively small 40-nm core-satellites (34 nm Si core + 4 nm Au shell) provided a much red shifted peak centered around 610 nm and having a large tail over 700 nm. The generation of the plasmonic peak is confirmed by modeling of Si@Au core-shells of relevant parameters via Mie theory. Being relatively small and exempt of any toxic impurity due to ultraclean laser synthesis, the Si@Au core-satellites promise a major advancement of imaging and phototherapy modalities based on plasmonic properties of nanomaterials.

International audience; Having plasmonic absorption within the biological transparency window, titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NPs) can potentially outperform gold counterparts in phototheranostic applications, but characteristics of available TiN NPs are still far from required parameters. Recently emerged laser-ablative synthesis opens up opportunities to match these parameters as it makes possible the production of ultrapure low size-dispersed spherical TiN NPs, capable of generating a strong phototherapy effect under 750–800 nm excitation. This study presents the first assessment of toxicity, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of laser-synthesized TiN NPs. Tests in vitro using 8 cell lines from different tissues evidenced safety of both as-synthesized and PEG-coated NPs (TiN-PEG NPs). After systemic administration in mice, they mainly accumulated in liver and spleen, but did not cause any sign of toxicity or organ damage up to concentration of 6 mg kg−1, which was confirmed by the invariability of blood biochemical parameters, weight and hemotoxicity examination. The NPs demonstrated efficient passive accumulation in EMT6/P mammary tumor, while concentration of TiN-PEG NPs was 2.2-fold higher due to “stealth” effect yielding 7-times longer circulation in blood. The obtained results evidence high safety of laser-synthesized TiN NPs for biological systems, which promises a major advancement of phototheranostic modalities on their basis.

International audience; Here we present a method of photoacoustic detection of nanoparticle degradation. To validate the method, we used biodegradable silicium nanoparticles, which can absorb light in the Uv-Vis region and generate acoustic waves in response. The photoacoustic method allows measuring kinetic of their degradation in real-time with high limit of detection up to a hundred ng of particles.

When combined with immunotherapy, image-guided targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents is a promising direction for combination cancer theranostics, but this approach has so far produced only limited success due to a lack of molecular targets on the cell surface and low therapeutic index of conventional chemotherapy drugs. Here, we demonstrate a synergistic strategy of combination immuno/chemotherapy in conditions of dual regioselective targeting, implying vectoring of two distinct binding sites of a single oncomarker (here, HER2) with theranostic compounds having a different mechanism of action. We use: (i) PLGA nanoformulation, loaded with an imaging diagnostic fluorescent dye (Nile Red) and a chemotherapeutic drug (doxorubicin), and functionalized with affibody ZHER2:342 (8 kDa); (ii) bifunctional genetically engineered DARP-LoPE (42 kDa) immunotoxin comprising of a low-immunogenic modification of therapeutic Pseudomonas exotoxin A (LoPE) and a scaffold targeting protein, DARPin9.29 (14 kDa). According to the proposed strategy, the first chemotherapeutic nanoagent is targeted by the affibody to subdomain III and IV of HER2 with 60-fold specificity compared with nontargeted particles, while the second immunotoxin is effectively targeted by DARPin molecule to subdomain I of HER2. We demonstrate that this dual targeting strategy can enhance anticancer therapy of HER2-positive cells with a very strong synergy, which made possible 1000-fold decrease of effective drug concentration in vitro and a significant enhancement of HER2 cancer therapy compared to monotherapy in vivo. Moreover, this therapeutic combination prevented the appearance of secondary tumor nodes. Thus, the suggested synergistic strategy utilizing dual targeting of the same oncomarker could give rise to efficient methods for aggressive tumors treatment.

International audience; Electrochemical energy converters based on biomass-based organic molecules such as glucose have recently demonstrated great potential for the development of functional bioimplantable devices such as pacemakers, but such converters lack efficient metal-based anode nanocatalysts, which could combine the stability of parameters with high performance. Here, we elaborate a technique of femtosecond laser ablation in water to synthesize bare (ligand-free) PdAu alloy nanoparticles with constituents having a variable ratio and explore these nanoparticles as electrocatalysts for glucose oxidation. Our data evidence that the combination of two metals in one bare nanoformulation can result in a strong synergetic effect, which makes the combination of high catalytic activity toward glucose oxidation with ultrafast kinetics at low potentials possible due to the presence of Au and Pd, respectively, while a bare uncontaminated surface ensures outstanding catalytic performance. We show that at an optimal ratio of constituents (50%/ 50%), PdAu nanoparticles can provide a mass activity of 60 A g −1 and an onset potential lower than 0.27 V vs. RHE, which outperform all currently existing nanoparticle-based electrodes. Our results show that bare nanomaterials prepared by laser-ablation synthesis can offer much improved characteristics as electrocatalysts for energy conversion and storage applications, while the versatility of laser synthesis can be extended to other alloy architectures in order to provide optimal characteristics for a concrete catalytic process.

Elemental bismuth (Bi) nanoparticles (NPs), with the high atomic density of the Bi nuclei, could serve as efficient targeted agents for cancer treatment, with applications such as contrast agents for computed tomography (CT) imaging, sensitizers for image-guided X-ray radiotherapy, and photothermal therapy. However, the synthesis of elemental Bi NPs suitable for biological applications is difficult using conventional chemical routes. Here, we explore the fabrication of ultrapure Bi-based nanomaterials by femtosecond laser ablation from a solid Bi target in ambient liquids and characterize them by a variety of techniques, including TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR, Raman, and optical spectroscopy. We found that laser-ablative synthesis using an elemental Bi solid target leads to the formation of spherical Bi NPs having the mean size of 20&ndash, 50 nm and a low size-dispersion. The NPs prepared in water experience a fast (within a few minutes) conversion into 400&ndash, 500 nm flake-like nanosheets, composed of bismuth subcarbonates, (BiO)2CO3 and (BiO)4CO3(OH)2, while the NPs prepared in acetone demonstrate high elemental stability. We introduce a procedure to obtain a stable aqueous solution of elemental Bi NPs suitable for biological applications, based on the coating of Bi NPs prepared in acetone with Pluronic&reg, F68 and their subsequent transfer to water. We also show that the laser-synthesized elemental Bi NPs, due to their vanishing band gap, exhibit remarkable absorption in the infrared range, which can be used for the activation of photothermal therapy in the near IR-to-IR window with maximum optical transparency in biological media. Exempt of any toxic synthetic by-products, laser-ablated elemental Bi NPs present a novel appealing nanoplatform for combination image-guided photoradiotherapies.

Nanotechnology promises a major improvement of efficacy of nuclear medicine by targeted delivery of radioactive agents to tumors, but this approach still needs novel efficient nanoformulations to maximize diagnostic and therapeutic functions. Here, we present a two-step method of laser ablation and fragmentation in water to produce non-radioactive 152Sm-enriched samarium oxide nanoparticles (Sm NPs), which can be converted to radioactive form of 153Sm beta-emitters by neutron capture reaction. We found that laser ablation in deionized water leads to the formation of NPs having diverse morphology and broad size dispersion. To improve size characteristics of formed NPs, we applied additional femtosecond laser fragmentation step, which made possible a good control of mean NPs size under a drastic narrowing of size dispersion, and the spherical shape of formed NPs. Obtained colloidal solutions of Sm NPs were stable for several weeks after the synthesis. The formed NPs present a very promising object for nuclear nanomedicine.

International audience; We present phase-responding Fourier nanotransducers based on plasmonic metamaterials for ultrasensitive control of dynamic characteristics of 2D materials and functional biosensing interfaces. These nanotransducers are designed in such a way that they can confine light in 2D plane contacting with a probed ultrathin sample, gathering information about its properties, and then transmitting the information into discrete optical beams with amplified phase relations. To demonstrate their potential of Fourier transducers in biosensing, we designed Fourier nanotransducers based on periodic gold nanostructures and applied it in a newly developed protocol for the detection of important antibiotic chloramphenicol (CAP). Such biosensing tests showed the lower detection limit at fg mL −1 level, which several orders of magnitude better than reported in the literature. The implementation of Fourier nanotransducers opens new opportunities for a radical improvement of current state-of-the art plasmonic biosensing technology.

Using methods of pulsed laser ablation from a silicon target in helium (He)-nitrogen (N2) gas mixtures maintained at reduced pressures (0.5&ndash, 5 Torr), we fabricated substrate-supported silicon (Si) nanocrystal-based films exhibiting a strong photoluminescence (PL) emission, which depended on the He/N2 ratio. We show that, in the case of ablation in pure He gas, Si nanocrystals exhibit PL bands centered in the &ldquo, red - near infrared&rdquo, (maximum at 760 nm) and &ldquo, green&rdquo, (centered at 550 nm) spectral regions, which can be attributed to quantum-confined excitonic states in small Si nanocrystals and to local electronic states in amorphous silicon suboxide (a-SiOx) coating, respectively, while the addition of N2 leads to the generation of an intense &ldquo, green-yellow&rdquo, PL band centered at 580 nm. The origin of the latter band is attributed to a radiative recombination in amorphous oxynitride (a-SiNxOy) coating of Si nanocrystals. PL transients of Si nanocrystals with SiOx and a-SiNxOy coatings demonstrate nonexponential decays in the micro- and submicrosecond time scales with rates depending on nitrogen content in the mixture. After milling by ultrasound and dispersing in water, Si nanocrystals can be used as efficient non-toxic markers for bioimaging, while the observed spectral tailoring effect makes possible an adjustment of the PL emission of such markers to a concrete bioimaging task.

International audience; Nanocrystalline silicon (Si) films were synthesized by nanosecond laser ablation of crystalline Si targets in low-pressure helium (He) and nitrogen (N2) gas mixtures. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the prepared samples were found to depend on the He/N2 ratio in the gas mixture. The ablation pure He atmosphere allowed us to prepare Si nanocrystals (NCs) exhibiting a PL band in red-near-IR range, while samples prepared in the presence of N2 exhibited a strong PL band with maximum in the green-yellow region. Such a modification of PL properties can be explained by the presence of amorphous Si oxynitride (a-SiNxOy) at the surface of Si nanocrystals. Structural studies of the prepared samples by means of the scanning electron microscopy revealed different morphology for Si-NCs produced under different gas mixtures. After treating of the films by ultrasound and dispersing in water, Si-NCs can be used as novel biodegradable markers for bioimaging, while the observed spectral tailoring effect makes possible an adjustment of the PL emission of such markers to a concrete bioimaging task.

A nonlinear photoacoustic (PA) response from solutions of 40 nm plasmonic titanium nitride nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by laser ablation in a liquid environment (acetone) is reported. Using a photoacoustic Z-scan with 5 ns pumping pulses, values of effective nonlinear absorption (NLA) coefficients β PA,eff were measured and found to be 3.27±0.17 × 10-8, 6.41±0.32 × 10-8, and 3.22±0.16 × 10-8 for 600, 700, and 800 nm pumping wavelengths, respectively. To take into account the influence of nonlinear scattering, absorption-dependent PA measurements were carried out together with the optical Z-scan, and the obtained data were compared. The origin of the effective absorptive nonlinearity is discussed based on combined NLA in NPs, nonlinear scattering, and bubble generation triggered by NP-mediated light absorption. Potential applications include biomedical diagnostics and therapy.

Nuclear nanomedicine is an emerging field, which utilizes nanoformulations of nuclear agents to increase their local concentration at targeted sites for a more effective nuclear therapy at a considerably reduced radiation dosage. This field needs the development of methods for controlled fabrication of nuclear agents carrying nanoparticles with low polydispersity and with high colloidal stability in aqueous dispersions. In this paper, we apply methods of femtosecond (fs) laser ablation in deionized water to fabricate stable aqueous dispersion of 152Sm-enriched samarium oxide nanoparticles (NPs), which can capture neutrons to become 153Sm beta-emitters for nuclear therapy. We show that direct ablation of a 152Sm-enriched samarium oxide target leads to widely size- and shape-dispersed populations of NPs with low colloidal stability. However, by applying a second fs laser fragmentation step to the dispersion of initially formed colloids, we achieve full homogenization of NPs size characteristics, while keeping the same composition. We also demonstrate the possibility for wide-range tuning of the mean size of Sm-based NPs by varying laser energy during the ablation or fragmentation step. The final product presents dispersed solutions of samarium oxide NPs with relatively narrow size distribution, having spherical shape, a controlled mean size between 7 and 70 nm and high colloidal stability. The formed NPs can also be of importance for catalytic and biomedical applications.

Using methods of pulsed laser ablation from a silicon target in helium (He)-nitrogen (N2) gas mixtures maintained at reduced pressures (0.5–5 Torr), we fabricated substrate-supported silicon (Si) nanocrystal-based films exhibiting a strong photoluminescence (PL) emission, which depended on the He/N2 ratio. We show that, in the case of ablation in pure He gas, Si nanocrystals exhibit PL bands centered in the “red - near infrared” (maximum at 760 nm) and “green” (centered at 550 nm) spectral regions, which can be attributed to quantum-confined excitonic states in small Si nanocrystals and to local electronic states in amorphous silicon suboxide (a-SiOx) coating, respectively, while the addition of N2 leads to the generation of an intense “green-yellow” PL band centered at 580 nm. The origin of the latter band is attributed to a radiative recombination in amorphous oxynitride (a-SiNxOy) coating of Si nanocrystals. PL transients of Si nanocrystals with SiOx and a-SiNxOy coatings demonstrate nonexponential decays in the micro- and submicrosecond time scales with rates depending on nitrogen content in the mixture. After milling by ultrasound and dispersing in water, Si nanocrystals can be used as efficient non-toxic markers for bioimaging, while the observed spectral tailoring effect makes possible an adjustment of the PL emission of such markers to a concrete bioimaging task.

We describe a laser-assisted methodology for the fabrication of Si@Au core-satellite nanostructures for photothermal therapy applications. The methodology consists in laser ablative synthesis of Si and Au NPs in water/ethanol solutions, followed by a chemical modification of the Si NPs by APTMS and their subsequent decoration by the Au NPs. We show that despite a relatively small size (< 40 nm) the formed core-satellites exhibit a strong plasmonic absorption peak centred around 610 nm and having a large tail over 700 nm overlapping with the first optical window of relative tissue transparency. Being relatively small and exempt of any toxic impurity due to ultraclean laser synthesis, the fabricated nanoparticles promise a major advancement of imaging and phototherapy modalities based on plasmonic properties of nanomatererials.

International Symposium and International School for Young Scientists on “Physics, Engineering and Technologies for Biomedicine” (PhysBioSymp) is an annually held event in National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (https://eng.mephi.ru/) (Moscow, Russia) since 2016. This symposium is conceived as the main conference of the Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio, https://physbio.mephi.ru/), which is one of new strategic academic units founded in 2016 in the course of transformation of MEPhI from the technical to a global university in order to extend its portfolio toward life sciences, chemical and biomedical engineering. Following the chosen strategy, PhysBio aims at the advancement of its international reputation in biomedical sciences and technologies, as well as the integration of latest research achievements into the educational process in order to contribute to the solution of global problems, such as early diagnostics and efficient therapy of socially significant diseases, including cancer. Conceived as an essentially interdisciplinary institution, PhysBio is unique in combining powerful background of MEPhI in physics, mathematics, engineering, material sciences, nanotechnologies and expertise in new areas in chemistry and biology in order to develop breakthrough technologies for biomedical applications. List of Committees are available in this pdf.

Temperature oscillations (pulsations) were detected in aqueous suspensions of silicon (Si) nanoparticles NPs under laser irradiation with highly absorbed light. The temperature pulsation frequency was found to depend on the NPs concentration in suspension and laser irradiation power. The observed phenomenon is assumed to be caused by the local overheating of Si NPs close to the boiling point of water, while the average heating of the surrounding liquid was insignificant. The observed phenomenon is discussed in view of potential applications in local photo-induced hyperthermia of cancer.

Nuclear nanomedicine forms a new research field based on the synergy of nuclear medicine and nanotechnology and implying the use of nanomaterials as carriers of diagnostic or therapeutic radionuclides. Such an approach promises a series of advantages over classical methods of nuclear medicine, including an increased surface area-to-volume ratio, passive/active delivery, high loading capacity, large cross-section in interactions with biological tissues, and unique properties of nanomaterials that make possible many functionalities within one construct. In this short review article, we will highlight our recent achievements in the development of nuclear nanomedicine technologies, which promise the advancement of methods for cancer treatment.