Members

• ※Change [at] to @

Q＆A

What is your hot research topic?

Our main focus is metal nanoclusters composed of several to several tens of metal atoms. These metal nanoclusters have optical characteristics similar to those of semiconductor quantum dots, and exhibit intrinsic absorption and emission characteristics depending on the number of atoms that are formed when electrons are confined in a space of 1 nanometer or less. We are vigorously developing functionalized fluorescent probes by establishing nanocluster synthesis methods, elucidating luminescence mechanisms, and controlling the electronic state of nanoclusters via alloying and chemical modification.

What is your breakthrough or research progress in the last 5 years?

We have developed probes for biosensing and imaging, including fluorescent metal nanoclusters composed of platinum atoms and metal nanostructures that resonantly scatter light of a specific wavelength (called the plasmon effect). Until now, only blue fluorescence had been emitted, but by optimizing the synthesis conditions, we succeeded in synthesizing fluorescent platinum nanoclusters that emit green and yellow fluorescence. We have also clarified the formation mechanism of nanoclusters through various analyses. Furthermore, DNA structural changes due to transcription factors have been clarified at the nano-scale using the plasmon effect resulting from the dimeric structure of metal nanoparticles.

What kind of background do your lab members have？

We have been conducting research with members specializing in various research fields such as nano-photonics (spectroscopy, optical measurement, photochemistry), nanotechnology, biophysics, synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, and surface science.

Do you collaborate with other institutions and universities?

In Japan, research is being promoted in collaboration with the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Shizuoka University, the Toyohashi University of Technology, and overseas, with the Optics & Photonics Center at the Moroccan Foundation of Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MAScIR), and the Australian National University in Australia.

What kind of careers do your Lab's alumni go on to?

Manufacturers of precision instruments that handle optical instruments, measuring instruments, electronics, etc., and government agencies.

How do you develop your research?

In addition to the development of new probes that realize the sensing and imaging of biomolecules with high sensitivity and high spatial resolution by synthesizing metal nanomaterials such as fluorescent nanoclusters, measuring and evaluating optical properties, and elucidating the luminescence mechanism we would like to elucidate the kinetics of biomolecules at the nano-level by devising measurement methods and microscopic imaging methods that make maximum use of probe characteristics. We are also developing quantitative measurement and imaging methods using near-infrared spectroscopy, which is transparent to the living body, and aiming to establish a new method for monitoring metabolic processes.