Gold nanoparticle-based hybrid nanocomposites as promising photoactive materials for combined photothermal/photodynamic therapy - HyPhoto2

The development of methods and capabilities for the production of nanomaterials implies progress in the improvement and application of new medical procedures. Interdisciplinary research is being carried out at many levels to find effective diagnostic and/or therapeutic methods using, among others, metallic nanoparticles. Determining the photophysical properties of nanoparticles and studying their interactions with biological material provides important information for developing ever better drug or vaccine delivery systems and identifying the occurrence of potential side effects. The HyPhoto2 project proposes fundamental research on systems based on gold nanoparticles, which exhibit plasmonic resonance in the so-called therapeutic window (above 650 nm), associated with the interaction of light with the free electrons of metallic nanostructures. The interaction of surface plasmons with the dye can influence the efficiency of photophysical processes, which is relevant for potential applications of metal-dye hybrid systems in photomedicine. The results of the study will provide important information on the photophysical properties of the investigated functionalised nanoparticles and their hybrid systems and indicate their potential use in biomedical applications.