Exploring photophysical and photochemical properties of novel heptamethine cyanine dyes for photothernostics

Host laboratory: The Laboratoire Lorrain de Chimie Moléculaire, located in Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France, is a young laboratory dedicated to molecular chemistry and its applications. It brings together »70 members including synthetic chemists, physical chemists, nanomaterials specialists and biologists.

Project: Cyanine dyes, particularly near-infrared absorbing heptamethine cyanines (Cy7), possess outstanding photophysical and photochemical properties, making them highly attractive for phototheranostic applications such as photothermal therapy (PTT) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI). However, their limited photostability—manifested as rapid photobleaching—remains a major obstacle. Our research team focuses on the development of novel Cy7 derivatives and Cy7 aggregates with enhanced photostability and improved phototheranostic performances. To guide rational molecular design, a deeper understanding of the interplay between chemical structure, excited-state dynamics, and therapeutic efficacy is essential. References: Yuan, J. et al. Design Strategies

Work: The recruited person will be in charge of the characterization of photophysical and photochemical properties of custom-designed Cy7 derivatives using both steady-state and time-resolved absorption and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The candidate will also contribute to the development and optimization of dedicated experimental setups tailored to specific phototheranostic parameters (photobleaching resistance, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and photothermal conversion efficiency).

References: Yuan, J. et al. Design Strategies and Applications of Cyanine Dyes in Phototherapy. Chemical Society Reviews 2025, 54 (1), 341–366.; Ma, X. et al. The Aggregates of Near‐Infrared Cyanine Dyes in Phototherapy. ChemMedChem 2023, 18 (15), e202300204.

Profile: You should hold a Master 1 degree in physical chemistry or related field, with at least one practical experience in the lab. Interest/experience in spectroscopy studies of dyes would be appreciated. Autonomy, reliability, and organization skills are highly required. The project offers an opportunity for a highly motivated student to develop a broad range of competencies within research areas that hold significant academic.