Home - Applied nanoPhysics Group

Center for Bionanoscience Research (CIBION), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)
Physics Department, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

Using optical methods, we explore the properties and technological applications of nanoparticles, single molecules, nanostructured materials, supramolecular assemblies, biological and hybrid nanosystems.

The Applied nanoPhysics Group was launched in October 2009 at the Physics Department, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA)

In 2012 we moved our labs to the Center for Bionanoscience Research (CIBION) of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), while Prof. Stefani still holds his position at the Physics Department of the University of Buenos Aires.

CURRENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Fluorescence nanoscopy.

Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, also known as fluorescence nanoscopy, has revolutionized biological imaging because they provide deep sub-wavelenght spatial resolution while keeping the low-invasiveness of far-field optical interrogation. We apply and optimize well-established methods like STED and STORM, and develop new ones, such as MINFLUX, and open-source software for fluorescence nanoscopy. With them, we address questions of cellular and neuronal biology.

Optical printing colloidal nanoparticles.

Colloidal chemistry enables the fabrication of nanoparticles of different shapes, sizes and material compositions, that exhibit unique physical and chemical properties, inexistent in bulk materials. In order to make use of those properties in devices and circuits, it is necessary to develope methods to bring the colloidal nanoparticles from the liquid phase to specific locations of solid substrates. We address this challenge using optical forces.

Self-assembled Nanophotonic Devices.

Semiconductor-based devices are approaching intrinsic limits of speed and heat dissipation.
Optical devices are faster and practically loss-less, but their size miniaturization is limited by the wavelength of light. Nanophotonics and Plasmonics deals with the manipulation of light at the nanoscale. We investigate light-matter interaction between single-photon emitters and metallic nanoparticles organized in nanodevices by self-assembly.

LATESTS NEWS

Super-resolved FRET imaging by confocal single-molecule localization and lifetime

nano_x7n4r02023-08-28T13:19:09+00:00May 25th, 2023|

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based approaches are unique tools for sensing the immediate surroundings and interactions of (bio)molecules. FRET imaging and Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (FLIM) enable the visualization of the spatial distribution of molecular interactions and functional states. However, conventional FLIM and FRET imaging provide average information over an ensemble [...]

Celebrating achievements

nano_x7n4r02024-08-18T17:22:33+00:00May 19th, 2023|

Today we gathered after work to celebrate publications, grants and awards received by group members. Many thanks to Piotr Zwandkowski for the delicious polish spirits!!

Konex Award 2023 to Prof. Fernando Stefani

nano_x7n4r02023-08-25T18:10:12+00:00May 2nd, 2023|

Since 1980, every 10 years, the Konex Foundation (https://www.fundacionkonex.org/) recognizes 100 remarkable personalities or institutions of Argentina for their work over one decade in different areas: Sports, Show Business, Visual Arts, Science and Technology, Literature, Popular Music, Humanities, Comunication, Journalism, Community and Institutions, Enterprises, and Classical Music. This year [...]

Visit and course on Advanced Fluorecence Imaging at the University of Fribourg

nano_x7n4r02023-08-28T17:42:32+00:00April 28th, 2023|

Prof. Stefani was invited to the University of Fribourg to give lectures and supervise ongoing collaboration projects with Prof. Guillermo Acuna. In addition, Prof. Stefani gave a short course on Advanced Fluorescence Imaging for graduate and undergraduate students of the University of Fribourg and the University of [...]

Lecture at the MPI for Multidisciplinary Sciences hosted by Prof. Stefan Hell and with the company of the great Dr. Tom Jovin

nano_x7n4r02024-08-16T16:19:06+00:00April 16th, 2023|

Prof. Stefan Hell invited Prof. Stefani to give a lecture at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences on the latest advances on super-resolution microscopy with sub-10 nm resolution. This was the first meeting in person after the COVID-19 pandemic with long term collaborators and mentors of [...]

Lecture at University of Göttingen hosted by Prof. Joerg Enderlein

nano_x7n4r02023-08-28T17:51:22+00:00April 14th, 2023|

Prof. Stefani was invited by Prof. Joerg Enderlein to a give a coloquium at the University of Göttingen and discuss future collaborations with his group. He also maintained promissing disscussions with Prof. Silvio Rizzoli and group leader Dr. Felipe Opazo. Thank you Joerg for the great time! [...]

Tutorial for the optimization and characterization of toroidal foci for super-resolution fluorescence microscopy

nano_x7n4r02023-08-25T16:52:19+00:00March 30th, 2023|

Several super-resolution methods make use of toroidal foci, i.e. light foci with a central minimum, ideally a zero, of intensity. For example, STED microscopy uses toroidal foci to suppress fluorescence emission in the periphery of the excitation focus through stimulated emission. Also, interrogating molecular position using a minimum of intensity [...]

Lecture and visit to Prof. Romain Quidant and Prof. Lukas Novotny at ETH

nano_x7n4r02023-08-28T17:40:58+00:00March 25th, 2023|

Prof. Stefani was invited to the ETH Zurich to give a lecture to graduate and undergraduate students, and visit the labs of world experts on nanophotonics Prof. Lukas Novotny and Prof. Romain Quidant. Thank you Romain and Lukas for the great time and discussions, as always. [...]