ChE Seminar Series: Designing Optically Active Semiconductor Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications

ChE Seminar Series Presents:

Dr. Allison Dennis

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering

Boston University

Abstract:

Although the unique optoelectronic properties of semiconductor nanoparticle quantum dots (QDs) enable a variety of commercial products including display technology, solid state lighting, and photovoltaics, different design criteria need to be considered to use these nanoparticles in biomedical devices. Here, I will discuss how we tailor the composition and optical properties of QDs for a variety of biosensing and bioimaging applications. For example, I’ll describe how we use bright red and green emitting QDs in a rapid, instrument-free assay to detect small molecules such as antibiotics in complex water samples and use near infrared and shortwave infrared emitters to improve the clarity and resolution of in vivo imaging in mice. Finally, I’ll describe how biodegradable and biocompatible plasmonic semiconductor nanoparticles could be used to overcome barriers to clinical translation for photoaccoustic imaging and photothermal therapy applications. Notably, the efforts to remove heavy metals from the nanoparticles compositions also reduces the environmental impact of QDs developed for energy applications. By carefully considering material properties and engineering design choices, we develop semiconductor nanoparticles for a wide variety of applications.

Bio:

Allison Dennis is an assistant professor in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at Boston University. After graduating with a B.S. in Bioengineering and B.A. in German from Rice University, Prof. Dennis pursued nanobiotechnology research with Prof. Achim Göpferich in the Department of Pharmaceutical Technology at the University of Regensburg in Germany as a Fulbright Scholar. This research direction was continued during her Ph.D. work with Prof. Gang Bao at the Georgia Institute of Technology and post-doctoral research with Dr. Jennifer Hollingsworth at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies at Los Alamos National Laboratory. At Boston University, the Dennis Lab engages the fundamental material properties of heterostructured semiconductor nanoparticles to optimize them for sensing, imaging, fundamental photophysical investigations, and energy applications. The Dennis Lab appreciates past and current support from intramural and extramural sources including the NIH, NSF, and the BU Clinical and Translational Science Institute.