# The NanoSensing Group - Comprehensive Knowledge Base

## Organization Details
- **Institution**: Ghent University (Universiteit Gent)
- **Faculty**: Faculty of Sciences (Faculteit Wetenschappen)
- **Department**: Department of Chemistry (Vakgroep Chemie)
- **Research Unit**: The NanoSensing Group
- **Address**: Krijgslaan 281-289, Building S3 (Campus Sterre), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- **Administrative Contacts**:
  - Kathleen Degroote: +32 9 264 44 21
  - Pierre Vanbocxstaele: +32 9 264 44 46
- **Website**: https://nanosensing.ugent.be/

## Group Leader & Principal Investigator
**Prof. dr. Anna Kaczmarek**
- Principal Investigator & Associate Professor
- Department of Chemistry, Ghent University
- Email: Anna.Kaczmarek@UGent.be
- Twitter / X: https://x.com/AnnaMKaczmarek1 (@AnnaMKaczmarek1)
- Research Focus: Lanthanide luminescence, nanothermometry, hybrid inorganic-organic sensing materials, cancer theranostics, smart nanocarriers.

## Core Research Vision & Methodology
The NanoSensing group is a newly funded research group at the Department of Chemistry, which focuses on studying the use of nano-sized materials for sensing applications – especially nanothermometry and ion sensing, employing luminescence phenomena for this purpose. These sensors are based on a various range of host materials (inorganic phosphors, hybrid inorganic-organosilica materials, etc.) and primarily lanthanide ions.

The lanthanides are a group of 15 elements located at the bottom of the periodic table (La – Lu). One of their most fascinating properties is bright and color pure luminescence, which explains their wide use for various applications (lasers, light applications, sensors, etc.).

### Research Pillars:
1. **Lanthanide Nanothermometry**:
   Traditional contact thermometers cannot measure fast-moving objects or resolve temperatures at the sub-micron/cellular scale. NanoSensing develops ratiometric luminescent nanothermometers that overcome these constraints, operating with high spatial and thermal resolution in microreactors, thermal coatings, and nanoelectronics.
2. **Biomedical Theranostics & Oncology**:
   Hyperlocal temperature monitoring during photothermal ablation (PTA) for melanoma cancer, distinguishing regulated cell death modalities (apoptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis), and combining thermometry with photodynamic therapy (PDT).
3. **Smart Hybrid Hosts & Polymer Platforms**:
   Silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanoparticles, core-shell nanostructures, UCST thermoresponsive polymers, and Periodic Mesoporous Organosilicas (PMOs) for ion detection and NIR luminescence.
4. **Enzymatic & Catalytic Hybrids**:
   Metal-organic framework (MOF) nano-hybrids functioning as artificial enzymes for proteomics.

## Group Directory
### Academic Staff
- Prof. dr. Anna Kaczmarek (Principal Investigator)

### Postdoctoral Researchers
- Dr. Ian Pompermayer Machado (Developing hybrid materials combining thermometry and photodynamic therapy)
- Dr. Syed Sibtay Razi (Developing degradable dye-based thermometers for clinical applications)

### PhD Researchers
- Ayse Alici (Silver sulfide-based hybrid nanoparticles for precise temperature sensing in melanoma therapy; co-promoter: Prof. Dmitri Krysko)
- Jordi Jaenen (Nanoheaters and nanothermometers for temperature control during photothermal ablation; co-promoter: Prof. Andre Skirtach)
- Simona Premcheska (Hybrid nanothermometers for theranostics – the bottom-up approach; co-promoter: Prof. Andre Skirtach)
- Zofia Petryna (Hybrid inorganic-UCST thermoresponsive polymer nanoplatforms for nanotheranostic applications; co-promoter: Prof. Richard Hoogenboom - FWO SB grant)

### PhD Researchers as Co-promoter
- Stijn Germonpré (Nano-hybrid materials based on MOFs as artificial enzymes for proteomics; main promoter: Prof. Kristof Van Hecke)

### Thesis Students
- Brianna Woolery (Hybrid nanomaterials combining thermometry and PDT; co-promoter: Dr. Ian Pompermayer Machado)
- Pouria Khodabakhsh (Nanocomposites comprising nanoheaters and nanothermometers)

### Alumni & Former Members
- Former Postdocs: Dr. Hannes Rijckaert, Dr. Kamila Maciejewska
- Former PhD Researchers: Dr. Chunhui Liu, Dr. Min Peng, Dr. Mirijam Lederer, Dr. Sonali Mohanty, Dr. Wanlu Liu
- Former Master Students: Ayse Alici, Elke De Grande, Jens Vroman, Jordi Jaenen, Pauline Rooms, Zofia Petryna