IIN Frontiers in Nanotechnology Seminar Series – Paras Prasad

Professor Paras Prasad

SUNY Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Engineering & Medicine
Executive Director of the Institute for Lasers, Photonics and Biophotonics
University at Buffalo
Hosted by Chad Mirkin

Abstract

Multiphoton processes with highly efficient frequency upconversion of infrared (IR) light to shorter wavelengths open up opportunities for many technological applications.They can provide the function of on-demand and on-site optical transformers. The two types of materials being developed in our lab are nonlinear organics/inorganic crystals and rare-earth doped fluoride nanocrystals. These materials can transform deep penetrating near IR light to a shorter wavelength (covering visible to UV) in a selected deep volume spot to activate a desired photoprocess. The physics of manipulating excitation dynamics in optical nanotransformers will be discussed, along with its control by using nanochemistry to produce hierarchically built core-multiple shell nanostructures and tailor their interfaces. The applications of this photon upconversion technology being pursued in our lab include IR harvesting of photons for photovoltaics, high contrast bioimaging, functional photoacoustic imaging, photodynamic therapy, light activated drug release and optogenetics. Examples of these will be presented. I will also discuss thought provoking concepts of utilizing photons in brain research to quantify and augment the cognitive state and in rejuvenation therapy that may allow a human to live for thousand years.

Biography

Professor Paras N. Prasad is a (SUNY) Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Medicine. He is also the Samuel P. Capen Chair of Chemistry, and Executive Director of the Institute for Lasers, Photonics, and Biophotonics at the University of Buffalo. In 2005, he was named one the top 50 science and technology leaders in the world by Scientific American. Dr. Prasad has published over 740 scientific and technical papers in high-impact journals, as well as four monographs that practically defined the fields of organic nonlinear optics, biophotonics, and nanophotonics. He has also edited 8 books and holds numerous patents.  The scientific awards and honors Dr. Prasad has received include the: Morley Medal; Schoellkopf Medal; Guggenheim Fellowship, Sloan Fellowship; Western New York Health Care Industries Technology/Discovery Award; Excellence in Pursuit of Knowledge Award of the SUNY Research Foundation; Inaugural Innovation Impact Award; and is a Fellow of the APS, OSA, and SPIE.  He was on the Thompson Reuters “Highly Cited Researchers” list in 2014.

Dr. Prasad received an Honorary Doctorate from KTH Royal Institute of Technology (2013), Stockholm, Sweden, and a Doctor Honoris Causa from the Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France (2014). In 2015, Prasad received the University at Buffalo’s inaugural Innovation Impact Award for his work in developing the use of magnetic and laser-activated nanoparticles for cancer diagnosis and treatment. This technology was licensed to Nanobiotix, a publicly traded French company and leader in nanomedicine, valued at over 300 million dollars. As a pioneer in Nonlinear Optics, Biophotonics, Nanotechnology, Nanophotonics, and Nanomedicine, he is regularly invited to give plenary, opening, and keynote lectures worldwide on these topics.