Integrated Experimental and computational studies on plasmonic nanoparticles

Abstract

A typical diagnosis of a medical condition takes time, and the start of therapy to cure or manage the condition can take even longer. This can be changed by using nanoparticles that are personalised for biomedical applications. Gold nanoparticles have optical properties suited for MRI scans, while polymeric nanoparticles can be used for drug delivery. By combining these two, targeted drug delivery can be achieved, allowing rapid diagnosis and an instant start of therapy.

An in-depth understanding of these nanoparticles is necessary for their controlled, safe, and repeatable use as a medical device. This work used experimental and computational tools to study these nanoparticles. The focus has been on understanding the underlying mechanisms that dictate their usage. This work aims to contribute to predicting the properties of such nanoparticles and ultimately lead to building a Swiss-army knife type of system for biomedical applications.