My research is centered around the phenomenon of quantum dot fluorescence quenching.  Our group has discovered that hypochlorous acid (HOCl), commonly encountered as the active ingredient in household bleach, is able to rapidly quench the fluorescence emission of quantum dots.  HOCl is a 'biologically relevant' molecule: as a powerful germicidal agent, it is used in the body by some leukocytes (white blood cells) to kill pathogens and malfunctioning host cells that are phagocytosed (eaten).  HOCl may also be involved in the oxidation of LDL cholesterol ('bad' cholesterol), part of atherogenesis (heart disease).

There are two broad aims to my current work.  One aim is to fully determine the mechanism behind hypochlorous acid-mediated quantum dot quenching (HMQDQ).  This aim is being accomplished through high-precision measurements at both the bulk and individual particle level.  The other aim is to use HMQDQ as the basis of an sensor of oxidative activity.  This sensor could be applied as an assay for in vivo oxidative activity, or as an assay for scavengers of oxidative activity.

Publications and Presentation

Mancini, M.C. and Nie, S.  Cardiovascular Nanotechnology: Development of Nanoparticle Agents for Probing Oxidative Stress.  Annual Fall Meeting of the Biomedical Engineering Society, Los Angeles, CA, Sept. 26-29, 2007.

Cover image: Principles of Cellular Engineering: Understanding the Biomolecular Interface, 1st Ed.; King, M.R., Ed.; Academic Press, 2006.

Cover image: Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Minichannels and Microchannels, 1st Ed.; Kandlikar S., Garimella S., Li D., Colin S., and King M.R., Eds.; Elsevier, 2005.

2006-2008: Cell and Tissue Engineering Training Grant (NIH T32 GM08433)

1st Place (team): Forbes Engineering Entrepreneuership Competition for the Personally Adjustable Hearing Loss Simulator (PAHLS) senior design project business plan (2005)