Postdoc Seminar by Dr. Marcus Johns on June 18th at 12:00 pm

Join us on Friday June 18th at 12:00pm for a presentation by Dr. Marcus Johns

Applying cluster-triggered fluorescent emission to bio-based nanomaterials analysis

Abstract: Cellulose nanomaterials are ideally suited for the development of advanced functional materials due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, and excellent tensile properties. However, their nanoscale dimensions make them challenging to track, especially in dynamic situations. Fluorescent dyes can overcome this but surface modification may inherently change the particle interaction with its environment. My research looks at how a recently discovered phenomenon – cluster triggered fluorescent emission – can be used to not only track these nanoparticles but also probe their physicochemical interactions. This opens new opportunities in bio-based materials analysis.

Meet the Speaker: Marcus received his PhD, which focused on the production of cellulose-based scaffolds for tissue engineering, from the University of Bath, UK. His first postdoc at the University of Bristol, UK, was spent researching cellulosic nanomaterials (CNMs), where he started to develop his research into fluorescence. He is now a Mitacs Accelerate Research Fellow in the Department of Wood Science investigating the interaction of small molecules with CNMs in collaboration with BC Research. All of his usual hobbies (acting, climbing) have been curtailed by the pandemic so he has been spending more time Geocaching and cycling.

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