On August 25, 2025, the Institute of Applied Physics and Materials Engineering (IAPME) at the University of Macau welcomed Prof. Qing-Hua Xu (徐清華) from the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo, for an insightful seminar titled “Nanocomposite Materials with Enhanced Two-Photon Optical Properties for Biomedical Applications.” The event was hosted by Prof. Guichuan Xing, and it attracted around 30 participants including academic members, researchers, and students.
Prof. Xu received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in 2001. He joined NUS Chemistry in 2005 and became a tenured Associate Professor in 2011. He joined Eastern Institute Technology, Ningbo, as a Founding Professor in 2024. An internationally recognized expert in optical materials and nanotechnologies, Prof. Xu presented his group’s latest research on developing nanomaterials with enhanced two-photon properties through two major strategies: one based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer using conjugated polymers with large two-photon absorption cross-sections, which improved the efficiency of two-photon sensing, imaging, and photodynamic therapy by approximately 1000-fold; the other leveraging localized surface plasmon resonance from noble metal nanoparticles to enhance optical performance. He also introduced a combined approach that integrates plasmonic enhancement with conjugated polymer nanoparticles for broader biomedical applications.
Following the presentation, participants engaged in a lively Q&A session, with in-depth discussions on two-photon excitation mechanisms, biocompatibility of nanomaterials, single-particle spectroscopy, and their applications in vivo imaging. Doctoral students and members of IAPME’s nano-optics research group explored potential collaborations with Prof. Xu in interdisciplinary fields such as optoelectronics, energy, and biomedicine.
This seminar not only strengthened academic ties between both parties, but also highlighted IAPME’s leading role in cutting-edge research at the intersection of advanced materials and biomedical engineering. Prof. Xu’s pioneering work offers valuable insights for future collaborative R&D in functional materials and photonic technologies.
