Research projects in the Higgins labs are centered around the use of novel existing and emerging optical microscopic methods to probe the structure and dynamics of mesostructured materials.
We are currently investigating the structure and organization of lyotropic liquid crystal mesophases; the structure, organization and mass transport characteristics of mesoporous silica materials and the nanoscale properties of organically-modified silica thin film gradients. We also have projects investigating the electric-field-induced dynamics of DNA at electrode surfaces and are interested in understanding the blinking dynamics of CdSe nanorods dispersed in semiconducting organic polymer films.
Research:
- Single Molecule Polarity Studies
- Single Molecule Tracking and Dichroism Measurements
- Field-Induced DNA Dynamics
Research Specialities:
- Functional Materials, Catalysis, and Nanochemistry
- Energy, Environment, Agriculture, and Sustainability
- Spectroscopy, Imaging, and Dynamics
Our team is working on methods that rely on the ability of some drug molecules to simultaneously absorb multiple photons from intense pulses of laser light. The drugs we work on are well-known photo-oxidants and are easily modified to bind strongly to DNA.
Research: Chemistry – Studies the use of multiphoton methods to trigger anticancer drugs
