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WORLD AS SEEN THROUGH MY EYES

Life is full of challenges and science is full of unknowns. I challenge the life’s challenges and fight to know the unknowns.

My research interests lie at the interface of organic chemistry and materials science with focus on designing and synthesizing new photoresponsive materials such as molecular switches. These molecules change their structures and functions when triggered with light, electricity or chemical stimuli.

My goal is to integrate the photoresponsive molecules into drug delivery systems and use light as a trigger to selectively unmask small molecules for potential therapeutic applications.

In my early studies, I have introduced the concept of releasing singlet oxygen as a therapeutic agent from the surface of gold nanoparticles (here). The exposure of nanoparticles to light generates heat during the photothermal process and consequently triggers the singlet oxygen release. This new proof-of-concept study can open a new highway to improve the efficiency of photodynamic therapy in future. This study is highlighted in the Chemistry World News (here).

More recently, I have demonstrated that small molecules can be released from the surface nanoparticles using two colours of light and photoresponsive dithienylethene ligands (here). In this proof-of-concept study, I have demonstrated that the photothermal effect is not able to break bonds and release small molecules from the surface of SiO2–Au core–shell nanoparticles unless the nanosystem is first exposed to visible light. Similar to AND logic gate, this system requires both inputs (i.e NIR and visible light) to be present to achieve the derired output. This study represents a general and versatile approach to potentially address the limitations of technologies suchas drug delivery nanosysmtes.

I also demonstrated that the photochromic dithienylethene derivatives are useful organic molecules for controlling the properties of macromolecules (here). The integration of these molecular switches into the polymer backbone allows the end-user to control the properties of polymer ‘on-command’. In this study, I have synthesized a thermally self-healing polymer by the Diels-Alder reaction between dithienylfuran and maleimide monomers. I have demonstrated that the exposure of the polymer to UV and Visible light ‘gate’ the reversibility of the Diels-Alder reaction and turn the self-healing properties of the polymer ‘off’ and ‘on’, respectively. After exposure to UV light, the strength of the polymer as an adhesive is enhanced. Whereas, the visible light weakens the adhesive.

Positions

Education

  • Ph.D. 2010 - 2015

    Organic & Nanomaterials Science

    Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

  • B.Sc. 2007 - 2010

    Organic chemistry

    Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

  • B.Eng. 2000 - 2004

    Textile Chemistry and Fibre Science

    Arak University, Iran

Laboratory &

Technical Skills

  • Oragnic Synthesis

    Air & moisture Sensitive Reactions

    Organometallic Reactions

    Lithium-Halogen Exchange

    Cross-coupling Reactions

    Photochemical Syntehesis

    Pilot-scale Synthesis

  • Nanoparticles Synthesis

    AuNPs

    AuNRs

    SiO2NPs

    SiO2-Au Core-Shell NPs

    UCNPs

  • Air-free Techniques

    Schlenk Line

    Glove Box

    Degassing

    Cannula

  • Purification Techniques

    Column Chromatography

    Crystallization

    Vacuum Distillation

    Extraction

    TLC

    Titration

Instrumentation Skills

(operation & data analysis)

  • Spectroscopy

    FTIR

    1H NMR (1D & 2D)

    13C NMR

    Fluorescence

    Uv-vis

  • Chromatography & Spectrometry

    HPLC

    GPC

    LC-MS

    GC-MS

    ICP-MS

  • Surface & Thermal Analsysis

    TEM

    SEM

    SEM-EDX

    DSC

    DMA

    TGA

    PSA

    XRD

    DLS

Honors, Awards and Grants

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Molecular switches
  • Thermoresponsive materials
  • Photodynamic therapy
  • Photochromic materials
  • Thermochromic materials
  • Photoresponsive polymers
  • Nanoparticle synthesis
  • Polymer synthesis

FAVOURITE JOURNALS

List of Publications

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Photothermal release of an encapsulated therapeutic agent from polymer-wrapped gold Nanoparticles

Baker D. V.; Arafeh, K. M.; Amir Asadirad; Kaur B.; Raza R.; Branda, N. R. , Branda, N. R.
Journal Paper Nanoscale Adv., 2021, 3, 4669
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A ‘Plug and Play’ Method to Create Water-dispersible Nanoassemblies Containing an Amphiphilic Polymer, Organic Dyes and Upconverting Nanoparticles

Amir Asadirad, ‡Arafeh, K. M.;‡ Li, J. W.;‡ Wilson. D.;‡ Wu, T.;‡ Branda, N. R.
Journal Paper J. Vis. Exp. 2015, e52869 (‡Authors contributed equally)
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Two Colors of Light are Needed to Break Bonds and Release Small Molecules from the Surface of SiO2-Au Core-Shell Nanoparticles

Amir Asadirad, Branda, N. R.
Journal Paper J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 2824
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Controlling a Polymer Adhesive Using Light and a Molecular Switch

Amir Asadirad, Boutault, S.; Erno, Z.; Branda, N. R.
Journal Paper J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 3024
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Photothermal Release of Singlet Oxygen from Gold Nanoparticles

Amir Asadirad,Erno, Z.; Branda, N. R.
Journal PaperChem Commun. 2013, 49, 5639.
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Using Light and A Molecular Switch to 'Lock' and 'Unlock' the Diels-Alder Reaction

Amir Asadirad,‡ Lemieux, V.; Branda, N. R.
Journal PaperOrg. Biomol. Chem. 2012, 10, 2787(‡Authors contributed equally)

CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS

  • 2021

    ➤ Entegris Webinar: "Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery"

  • 2019

    ➤ SciFinder-n Trainign Webinar

    ➤ Mestrelab Research Webinar: "Mbook: an ELN for chemists, designed by chemists

  • 2016

    ➤ PerkinElmer - Nanolytica Educational Symposium, Burnaby, Canada – 2016

  • 2015

    ➤ 98th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC), Ottawa, Canada – 2015

    ➤ PerkinElmer - Nanolytica Educational Symposium, Burnaby, Canada – 2015

  • 2014

    ➤ 98th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC), Ottawa, Canada – 2015

    ➤ PerkinElmer - Nanolytica Educational Symposium, Burnaby, Canada – 2015

  • 2013

    ➤ International Symposium on Photochromism (ISOP), Berlin, Germany – 2013

    ➤ PerkinElmer - Nanolytica Educational Symposium, Burnaby, Canada – 2013

    ➤ Simon Fraser University Oral Presentation Competition, Burnaby, Canada – 2013

  • 2012

    ➤ 95th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CSC), Calgary, Canada – 2012

  • 2011

    ➤ Banff Symposium of Organic Chemistry, Calgary, Canada – 2011

    ➤ Simon Fraser University Poster Presentation Competition, 2011, Burnaby, Canada – 2011

Contact

If you should need my assistance with your research, please do not hesitate to contact me.