Exploring the Optical Properties of Anticancer Drugs/Metal Nanoclusters inside the Confined Environments and on the Graphene Oxide Surface

Abstract

Fluorescence spectroscopy is a sensitive tool to probe the modulation of optical properties of fluorophores by its surrounding environments compared to any other spectroscopic techniques. For drugs, which are fluorescent in nature, it is very essential to establish a relationship between their fluorescence properties and surrounding environment for designing novel drug carriers and bio-imaging purposes. My PhD work is mainly devoted to understand basic optical properties of anticancer, fluorescent drugs inside the biocompatible, bio-mimicking nano-confinements as well as on the graphene oxide (GO) surface. Utilizing the unique fluorescence switching properties of the anticancer drug, Ellipticine, we have successfully probed its loading on GO surface and inside mesoporous silica nanochannels (MCM-41), and subsequent release to biomolecules or cellular environments. In my thesis work, I have also developed a new strategy for the synthesis of highly stable and ultrabright fluorescent copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) within the nano-pool of reverse micelles. Moreover, we have investigated the ultrafast fluorescence dynamics of CuNCs using Time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) and femto-second fluorescence upconversion techniques. During my PhD, excited state proton transfer (ESPT) dynamics of another anticancer drug, Topotecan, has also been explored inside the bio-mimicking nano-cavity of reverse micelles using time-resolved fluorescence techniques.