Nanophotonic materials and platforms to tackle global health issues

Dr. Swarnapali (Pali) De Silva Indrasekara, Director of Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technologies at the United States Pharmacopeia (USP)

Presented in-person in Goergen 101 and on Zoom

Zoom Information

Zoom:https://rochester.zoom.us/j/95276747247?pwd=WlBieEFIWUg2N0Y3bDFsa25KcFZCQT09
Meeting ID: 952 7674 7247
Passcode: 964579

Abstract

Photonic nanomaterials, particularly plasmonic nanomaterials, have been widely explored as next generation optical materials for biomedical applications ranging from imaging to sensing and theranostics. However, achieving efficient clinical translation and field deployment of plasmonic technologies requires not only optimizing their optical performance but also a mechanistic understanding and control of their dynamic behavior in complex biological environments.

In this talk, I will share how we: (i) obtained more accurate information on the structure-function relationship of plasmonic materials using hyperspectral scattering microscopy at the single particle-level; (ii) leveraged correlated single-particle scattering and single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy to understand dynamic molecular-level interactions at the plasmonic-bio/polymer interfaces in situ; and (iii) integrated this comprehensive understanding of structure, function, and performance to devise globally accessible, reliable plasmonic platforms. Such platforms, exemplified by a point-of-care asymptomatic disease diagnosis using surface-enhanced spectroscopies, demonstrate universally high sensitivity. These advancements pave the way for field-deployable and affordable biophotonics technologies that can meet the demands of modern healthcare needs.

Biography

Dr. Swarnapali (Pali) De Silva Indrasekara currently serves as the Director of Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technologies at the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). In this role, she leads a global initiative to translate optical spectroscopy technologies across the spectrum of medicine manufacturing. Pali earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry with first-class honors from the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka and holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the Rutgers University, New Brunswick, with a focus on photonics nanomaterials. During her postdoctoral training at Rice University, she conducted research on single-molecule and single-particle spectroscopy, contributing to the foundational understanding of plasmonic nanomaterials and their interfaces. Subsequently, as a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Photonics at Duke University, she played a pivotal role in translating nanophotonic technologies into the clinical applications. Before joining USP, Pali was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at UNC Charlotte. There, she led an externally funded research group dedicated to innovating optical biosensors to understand molecular biological processes, with applications in bioimaging and point-of-care diagnostics. In general, Pali’s research interests center around developing field-deployable nanophotonic technologies for applications spanning biology, medicine, and sustainability.