Welcome

The Laboratory for Chemical Spectroscopy and Microscopy is located in the School of Chemistry and Physics at the University of Adelaide. We use a variety of techniques to conduct cutting edge experiments to answer key questions in Chemistry and Photo-Physics. In particular, we use steady state and time-resolved spectroscopic techniques to investigate the molecular processes in two significant systems.

The first system is the important medicinal pigment curcumin. We aim to provide molecular insight into the medicinal effects of curcumin, focusing on the role of excited state intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer and metal chelation.

Another system of interest is the highly fluorescent conjugated polymer nanoparticles. We focus on addressing several outstanding issues in this system, including the chemical and physical features that enable these nanoparticles to form a stable suspension in water, the photo-chemical and -physical processes they undergo and their applications in fluorescence imaging.

In addition to spectroscopy, we also have a research program in microscopy. Many biological structures including protein crystals possess nonlinear optical properties. We focus on using second harmonic generation (SHG) and coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy to image cardiomyocytes quantitatively.

Latest News

03 Nov 09 Our paper (in collaboration with the English group at Wichita State) is accepted by the Langmuir. We demonstrate that in a positively charged micelle or vesicle the strong interaction between the Cur-1 phenoxide ion results in a lowering of the apparent lowest pKa value of curcumin.
15 Sep 09 The paper "The Thioflavin T Fluorescence Assay for Amyloid Fibril Detection is Biased by the Presence of Exogenous Compounds" is now available in FEBS Journal.
26 Aug 09 Tak spends 10 days in the group of Prof. Jake Petrich in the Department of Chemistry at Iowa State University to work on current research and plan for future projects. Thanks Jake, Ram and Bose for hosting.
24 Aug 09 Tak presents a seminar at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on " Essential Oxidative Defects in the Highly Luminescent Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles; Quantitative Imaging of Cardiomyocytes using SHG Microscopy." Thanks Young and Marc for the invitation.
19 Aug 09 Tak is invited to present a talk, entitled " Essential Oxidative Defects in Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles & Photo-Induced Unfolding of MEH-PPV Nanoparticles," in the Division of Colloid & Surface Chemistry at the Fall 2009 American Chemical Society Meeting. Thanks Doug for the invitation.
17 Aug 09 A joint paper with the group of Prof. John Carver is accepted by FEBS Journal. We demonstrate that the thioflavin-T fluorescence assay must be used with caution in the presence of spectroscopically active anti-amyloidogenic agents including curcumin, quercetin, and resveratrol. Well done, Sean!
27 Jul 09 Alan is our newest Honours student. Welcome, Alan!
15 Jul 09 Sam attends the 2009 RACI Physical Chemistry Workshop in Melbourne and presents a poster entitled "Quantification of Myosin in Cardiomyocytes using Nonlinear Optical Microscopy"
12 May 09 Mandy's paper entitled “Effective Stabilization of Curcumin by Association to Plasma Proteins: Human Serum Albumin and Fibrinogen" is published in Langmuir.
05 May 09 Casey and Jason begin laboratory placement for three weeks. Welcome!
09 Apr 09 Tak's paper entitled “Excited-State Intramolecular Hydrogen Atom Transfer and Solvation Dynamics of the Medicinal Pigment Curcumin" is published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry B.
01 Apr 09 Sam gives a presentation entitled "Quantification of myosin filaments in cardiomyocytes using Two Photon Excitation Fluorescence & Second Harmonic Generation" at the Sydney Advanced Light and Optical Microscopy Meeting. Thanks Renee for the invitation.
31 Mar 09 Tak presents a seminar in the School of Chemistry at the University of Wollongong. Thanks Adam and Steve for hosting!
24 Mar 09 Nikki and Lauren begin laboratory placement for three weeks. Welcome!
20 Feb 09 Mandy's paper is accepted by Langmuir. We show that human serum albumin and fibrinogen can stabilize curcumin in buffer solution, implying their important roles in the wound healing effect of curcumin.
13 Feb 09 Tak's paper (in collaboration with the Petrich group at Iowa State) is accepted by the Journal of Physical Chemistry B. First demonstration of excited state intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer in curcumin!
04 Feb 09 Krystal and Rob join the group as Honours students. Welcome!
30 Jan 09 Tak presents a seminar entitled "Elucidating Medicinal Effects of Curcumin through Understanding of Excited State Photophysics" in the Department of Chemistry at the National University of Singapore. Thanks Qing-Hua for hosting!


Research Highlights


Curcumin interferes with the thioflavin T assay that is commonly used in Alzheimer's research. We demonstrate that the assay must be used with caution in the presence of chromophoric agents. Check out our paper in FEBS Journal.

 


The blood plasma proteins HSA and fibrinogen have stabilizing effects on curcumin in buffer solution. We believe these effects contribute to curcumin's wound healing properties. Check out our paper in Langmuir.

 


Femtosecond fluorescence upconversion spectroscopy results reveal the presence of excited state intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer (ESIHT) in curcumin. Check out our paper in J. Phys. Chem. B.

 


We demonstrate that ESIHT of curcumin has a time constant of 70 ps. Check out our paper in J. Phys. Chem. B.

Updated 19 Sep 09