Objectif The development of gold nanostructures is a topic of high interest due to their extensive use in biomedical applications, biosensing and bioimaging because of their specific properties: high stability, ease of detection, facile synthesis and functionalization, etc. It would be of potential interest to predict the photobehaviour of AuNPs before introducing them in a biological environment. In this respect, when NPs interact in a living milieu, proteins will adsorb onto its surface generating a protein corona; this may provoke changes in the biological function of the protein and in the photophysical properties of the AuNP; thus, the photophysical behaviour of AuNPs in solution cannot be directly extrapolated to the biological media. These effects have been barely investigated up to now. The design of new gold nanoparticles whose photophysical behaviour can be extrapolated in a greater degree to a biological environment is of potential interest for in vivo applications due to the fact that their photobehaviour would be predictable within cells. Functionalization of AuNPs with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory 2-arylpropionic drugs is proposed. These drugs are widely prescribed and are able to generate cytotoxic singlet oxygen, which induces cell tumour death. Their photophysical properties have been well characterised in solution. However, to the best of our knowledge, functionalization of AuNPs with drugs of this family has never been performed. The photophysical properties of the new nanomaterials will be studied in different microenvironments that tend to mimic cellular milieus, such as micellar or microemulsion media. Investigation of their photobehaviour in the presence of proteins is also planned. Finally, studies in an intracellular environment and in vivo will also be performed in order to check the potential application of the new conjugates as biosensors or photodynamic therapy agents. Champ scientifique natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryalcoholsengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsspectroscopy Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Thème(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Appel à propositions H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinateur UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA Contribution nette de l'UE € 183 454,80 Adresse EARLHAM ROAD NR4 7TJ Norwich Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Région East of England East Anglia Norwich and East Norfolk Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Participation aux programmes de R&I de l'UE Opens in new window Réseau de collaboration HORIZON Opens in new window Coût total € 183 454,80