Keynote talk by prof. Zhao
Photo-Responsive Self-Assembled Organic Nanoparticles for Bioimaging and Therapy
As the keynote talk of our symposium, prof. Yanli ZHAO, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, presented simple but excellent strategies to apply functional dyes to bioimaging systems on 31th Aug. The prof. Zhao’s research group have developed novel photo-responsive multifunctional nanoparticles for targeted bioimaging and controlled drug delivery in disease therapy. In order to overcome photon scattering and low optical response in biological tissues, they integrated nanoparticles as exogenous contrast agents for enhancing the capability of bioimaging modalities, and also utilized porous nanoparticles to prevent undesired aggregation of dyes. They have synthesized several types of photoresponsive nanoparticles for fluorescent and multi-photon, and photoacoustic bioimaging systems that can work in vivo. These photoresponsive nanoparticles can simultaneously target diseased cells, and enable the location to be imaged by optical methods, and release therapeutic drugs to the diseased cells by commands. The photoresponsive bioimaging and drug delivery strategies developed by the prof. Zhao’s research group could be applied to existing drugs or experimental compounds, and realize longer circulation time or better targeting. These research achievements pave the way for developing next generation of therapeutics.