Join us for Week 6 of the NanoExchange Summer Series. Each session brings together graduate researchers to share work-in-progress, explore new ideas, and engage in open discussion across disciplines.
This summer鈥檚 NanoExchange is chaired by IMS Graduate Students Jack Loken and Jojo Pearson.
Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Coffee and Snacks: 10:00 to 10:30 AM
NanoExchange Sessions: 10:30 to 11:30 AM
Location: 202 Light Hall
Vikash Khokhar |鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉补濒听Effect of听A尘尘辞苍颈补听Pressure on听Synthesis of听C辞濒濒辞颈诲补濒听M别迟补濒听Nitrides in听M辞濒迟别苍听Salts
Metal nitrides听represent听a large class of materials with extensive applications in optoelectronics, energy, and healthcare technologies. For example,听GaN听and related nitride semiconductors are key materials for solid-state lighting and high-power electronics; TiN and other early transition metal nitrides (TMNs) are widely used in wear-resistant alloys, tool coatings,听catalysts听and medical implants. Strong metal鈥搉itrogen bonds grant nitrides structural rigidity as well as chemical and thermal stability. However, the covalency of metal-nitrogen bonds听necessitates听high temperatures听to synthesize crystalline metal nitrides. The solution synthesis of colloidal nitride nanocrystals (NCs) is rare and particularly challenging because commonly used solvents and surfactants decompose at temperatures far below those听required听for crystallization of most metal nitrides. Here we report a general approach to solution synthesis of colloidal metal nitride NCs by reacting metal halides and ammonia dissolved in molten inorganic salts at elevated听Maybpressures. Successful syntheses of colloidal TiN, VN,听GaN,听NbN, Mo2N, Ta3N5, W2N, as well as ternary Ti1-xVxN NCs, are听demonstrated. These NCs expand the scope of solution-processable technologically important materials. We also explored, using DFT and AIMD, how molten salt and dissolved ammonia stabilize colloidal NCs.听
Mia Woodruff | Albumin-Hitchhiking Nanobody-Antigen Fusions for Inducing Antigen-Specific Immune Tolerance听
Autoimmune diseases (ADs) are a diverse group of disorders characterized by a dysregulated immune response, causing inflammation and tissue damage. Due to their heterogeneity, it is difficult to characterize the global prevalence rates of all ADs, but current research estimates that around one in ten people are affected. This rate is expected to increase, with certain diseases such as Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)听observing听robust increases in incidence rates over the past decade. Current treatments for ADs widely suppress T-cell and B-cell populations as well as their egress into the CNS, such as anti-CD20 antibodies and S1P inhibitors. With the chronic administration of these medications, patients typically suffer from immunosuppression and an increased infection risk. Here, we have developed albumin-based carriers for antigen-specific immunotherapy that can selectively tolerize autoreactive lymphocytes and minimize immunosuppression. Albumin has many tolerogenic properties due to its role in听maintaining听osmotic pressure in the blood; namely, it is highly expressed, non-inflammatory, and has a long half-life. We hypothesize that attaching antigens to albumin will extend their circulation time, thereby increasing exposure to antigen-presenting cells in a non-inflammatory context, creating the ideal environment for inducing immune tolerance. Our team has designed tolerizing