Significance: Nanostructured metamaterials have been engineered to generate a wide range of optical phenomena, allowing an unprecedented control over the propagation of light. However, they are generally designed as single-purpose devices without a modifiable optical response, which can be a barrier to applications. In this work, we report the nontrivial infiltration of a nanostructured planar silica metalens with nematic liquid crystals. We then demonstrate a measurable change in the metalens optical response after infiltration. Since the orientation-dependent optical properties of liquid crystals can be controlled with external stimuli, this technology could potentially enable dynamic control of the metalens optical response.

Hydrogen (H₂) sensing is crucial in a wide variety of areas, such as industrial, environmental, energy and biomedical applications. In this work, aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) nanotubes are reported for optical hydrogen sensing.

In this contribution experimental evidence of plasmonic edge modes and acoustic breathing modes in gold nanostars (AuNSs) is reported. AuNSs are synthesized by a surfactant-free, one-step wet-chemistry method.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the deadliest and most aggressive cancers, remarkably resilient to current therapeutic treatments. Here, we report preliminary in vivo studies of GBM treatments based on photo-nanotherapeutics to activate synergistic killing mechanisms. Core-shell nanoparticles have been weaponized by combining photophysical properties of a new generation PDT agent (Ir(III) complex) with the thermoplasmonic effects of resonant gold nanospheres. In order to investigate the damages induced in GBM treated with these photoactivable nanosystems, we employed X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT). This high-resolution three-dimensional imaging technique highlighted a vast devascularization process by micro-vessels disruption, which is indicative of tumor elimination without relapse.

This work reports the study of two-photon induced properties of a highly luminescent cyclometalated Ir(III) complex, [Ir(ppy)₂(en)] OOCCH₃ (1), ppy = 2-phenylpyridine, en = ethylenediamine. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements were performed by exciting 1 at the biologically relevant wavelength of 800 nm, whereas, the generation of singlet oxygen (¹O₂) was evaluated using 9,10-Anthracenediyl-bis(methylene)dimalonic acid (ABDA) as a detection probe. Preliminary in vitro experiments with U87-MG cells were performed, showing the potential of this compound as a two-photon photodynamic therapy (2P-PDT) agent at NIR wavelengths.