We are developing photoswitches to modulate structure-function relationships in molecules and materials. Our chromophores interconvert between two isomers when exposed to two different colours of light, each isomer having unique electronic and structural properties.

We use them to:

• control reactivity,
• unlock potential therapeutics and catalysts,
• act as convenient visual detectors for toxic agents,
• release small molecules ‘on-demand’,
• reversibly turn ‘on’ and ‘off’ paralysis in living organisms,
• act as a photoresponsive mimic of the enzyme cofactor pyridoxal phosphate,
• control dry-adhesives based on the microstructures found in the natural wall-crawlers such as geckos,
• ‘lock’ and ‘unlock’ thermal reactions such as the Diels-Alder cycloaddition, and
• control the strength of polymer adhesives.

We take advantage of the fact that gold nanoparticles absorb green or red light and convert it to heat to break bonds in small molecules and release them from the surface of the nanoparticles. Our original studies focused on releasing fluorescent dyes and single-strands of DNA, and we have demonstrated this in live cells. We are using light to heat nanoparticles and release singlet oxygen (a known therapeutic), which has the advantage over traditional photodynamic therapy that the system brings the oxygen along with the nano-assembly and one does not have to rely on the presence and collision of molecular oxygen with the sensitizer. We are combining our photoswitches with our nanoparticles to show that two colors of light are needed to break bonds and release small molecules from the surface of the nanoparticles, providing (much like a ‘logic gate’) a heightened level of control over release processes.

We use lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) to convert multiple near infrared photons (again, less damaging to tissue and better penetration) into UV and visible light to trigger photochemistry on and near the surface of the nano-systems in a ‘remote control’ fashion. This approach is very general and can be used to “uncage” sequestered molecules, to trigger the dissociation of block copolymer micelles and release biomacromolecules from hydrogels. Our systems are also potentially useful as optical probes when combined with some of our photoswitches. The emission from the UCNPs can be turned on and off depending on which isomeric form the switch is in and this is effective in live organisms where the organic ligands reversibly quench the emission from the nanoparticles as a new motif for imaging technologies. We are developing advanced nano-systems where based on the power of the NIR light, either UV or visible light can be generated, which can be used for two-way photoswitching. This an illustrative example where only one nanoparticle and only one type of light are needed to induce selective photochemistry.

We are developing UCNPs that are water compatible but still allow organic photochemistry to take place. We achieve this by wrapping our UCNPs in amphiphilic polymer shells that provide nano-environments for organic species to be sequestered. This ‘plug-and-play’ strategy represents a relatively universal method to synthesize complex systems for use in imaging applications, where many photoreactions of organic compounds are suppressed (or the chromophore is simply not soluble in water).

Other materials we have investigated are:

• the materials in kidney stones,
• self-assembling structures made up of hydrogen bonds, and
• self-assembling structures made up of coordination chemistry.

Education
Ph.D. – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA – Chemistry (1994)
B.Sc. – University of Toronto, Toronto, ON – Chemistry (1989)

Current Professional Positions
Professor – Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University (since 2004)
Canada Research Chair in Materials Science (Tier I) – Simon Fraser University (since 2006)
Executive Director – 4D LABS (since 2007)
Founder & Chief Technology Officer – SWITCH Materials, Inc. (since 2007)
Affiliated Investigator – Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (since 2005)
Associate Faculty Member – Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University (since 2003)

Previous Professional Positions
Founder & Director – NanoCommunity Canada Research Network (2008-2013)
Director, Molecular Systems – 4D LABS (2004-2007)
Associate Professor – Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University (2001-2004)
Canada Research Chair in Materials Science (Tier II) – Simon Fraser University (2001-2004)
Assistant Professor – Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta (1996-2001)
NSERC Post-Doctoral Fellow – Laboratoire de Chimie Supramoleculaire, Université Louis Pasteur (1994-1996)

Awards and Honours
Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Materials Science (2013)
Beilstein Inaugural Lecturer – Regensburg, Germany (2012)
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship (2009)
New Journal of Chemistry Award Lecturer – Rennes, France (2008)
Canadian Who’s Who Biographee (2007)
Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 (2006)
Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in Materials Science (2006)
E.W.R. Steacie Memorial Fellowship (2005)
INNOVATEC Guest Chair – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/Universitaet Regensburg (2004)
Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Materials Science (2001-2005)
ICNC/UPAC Travel Award (2001)
Delta Chi Teacher’s Excellence Award (2001)
Petro-Canada Young Innovators Award (2000)
Ichikizaki Award for Young Chemists (1999)
Research Innovation Award, Research Corporation (1998)
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Post-Doctoral Fellowship (1994-1996)

Publications
You can view all of Neil’s publications on the 'publications' page of this web site.

Invited Book Chapters

• "Photochromic Materials in Biochemistry" Wilson, D.; Branda, N. R. Photochromic Materials: Preparation, Properties and Applications (edited by J. Zhang and H. Tian) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, in press.
• "Multifunctional Diarylethylenes" Warford, C.; Lemieux, V.; Branda, N. R. Molecular Switches (edited by B. L. Feringa and W. R. Browne) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, Chapter 1, pp 3-35.
• "Photoresponsive Thiophene-Based Molecules and Materials" Ubaghs, L.; Sud, D.; Branda, N. R. Thiophene-Based Materials for Electronics and Photonics (edited by I. Perepichka and D. Perepichka) 2009, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, Vol. 2, Chapter 21, pp 783-812.
• "Electrochemically Induced Ring-Closing and Ring-Opening Reactions of Photochromic Dithienylalkenes" Peters, A.; Branda, N. R. Mechanistic and Synthetic Aspects of Organic and Biological Electrochemistry (edited by D. G. Peters, J. Simonet and H. Tanaka) 2003, The Electrochemical Society, Inc. New Jersey, pp 85-88.

Patents

• "Novel Photochromic Polymers and Methods of Synthesizing Same" Branda, N. R.; Myles, A. J. CA2416016 (issued 26-01-2010), US7041763 (issued 9-05-2006), JP2002-512261 (pending, filed 13-07-2001).
• "Photochromic and Electrochromic Compounds and Methods of Synthesizing and Using Same" Branda, N. R.; Peters, A.; Wigglesworth, A. J. CA2494920 (pending, filed 11-08-2003), JP4410108 (issued 20-11-2009), US7777055 (issued 17-08-2010).
• "Photochromic and Electrochromic Compounds and Synthesis and Use Thereof" Branda, N. R.; Wuestenberg, B.; Lemieux, V.; Adams, M.; Gauthier, S. J. CA2609887 (pending, filed 25-05-2006), EP1888553 (pending, filed 25-05-2006), US2010190868 (pending, filed 25-05-2006).
• "Variable Transmittance Optical Filter and Uses Thereof" Branda, N. R.; Lam, D. WO2010/0315693 (pending, filed 10-06-2010) (US, CA, CN, KR, EP, IN, JP).
• "Variable Transmittance Optical Devices" Branda, N. R.; Lam, D.; Smitt, M. P.; von Hahn, P. A. WO (pending, filed 15-12-2011).
• "Variable Transmittance Optical Filter with Substantially Co-Planar Electrode System" Branda, N. R.; Lam, D. WO (pending, filed 15-12-2011).
• "Diarylethene Compounds and Uses Thereof" Branda, N. R.; Finden, J. G.; Gauthier, S. J.; Sviridov, S.; Hayek, A.; Senior, J. D.; Hope-Ross, K. A.; Spantulescu, A. US Provisional 61/541841 (filed 30-09-2011).
• "Optical Filter Stack" Branda, N. R.; Sargent, J. R.; Shippam, C. E.; Smitt, M. P. US Provisional 61/589153 (filed 20-01-2012).
• "Optical Filter with Light Source" Branda, N. R.; Finden, J. G.; Sargent, J. R. US Provisional 61/602203 (filed 23-02-2012).

• "Visible Light Triggered Activation of a Protein Kinase Inhibitor" Wilson, D.; Li, J. W.; Branda, N. R. ChemMedChem 2017, 12, 284-287.
• "Two-Colour Fluorescent Imaging in Organisms Using Self-Assembled Nano-Systems of Upconverting Nanoparticles and Molecular Switches" Wu, T.; Johnsen, B.; Qin, Z.; Morimoto, M.; Baillie, D.; Irie, M.; Branda, N. R. Nanoscale 2015, 7, 11263-11266.
• "From Slow to Fast – the User Controls the Rate of the Release of Molecules From Masked Forms Using a Photoswitch and Different Types of Light" Warford, C. C.; Carling, C.-J.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 7039-7042.
• "Two Colors of Light are Needed to Break Bonds and Release Small Molecules from the Surface of Si-Au Core-Shell Nanoparticles" Asadirad, A. M.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 2824-2827.
• "A Photoresponsive Biomimetic Dry-Adhesive Based on Doped PDMS Micro-Structures" Tannouri, P.; Arafeh, K. M.; Krahn, J. M.; Beaupré, S. L.; Menon, C.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 4330-4333.
• Fluorescent Quenching of Lanthanide-Doped Upconverting Nanoparticles by Photoresponsive Polymer Shells" Wu, T.; Wilson, D.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 4313-4320.
• "Controlling a Polymer Adhesive Using Light and a Molecular Switch" Asadirad, A. M.; Boutault, S.; Erno, Z.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 3024-3027.

• "Multimodal fluorescence modulation using molecular photoswitches and upconverting nanoparticles" Boyer, J.-C.; Carling, C.-J.; Branda, N. R. Org. Biomol. Chem. (10th Anniversary issue) 2012, 10, 6159-6168.
• "Using Light and a Molecular Switch to ‘Lock’ and ‘Unlock” the Diels-Alder Reaction" Erno, Z.; Asadirad, A. M.; Lemieux, V.; Branda, N. R. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2012, 22, 2787-2792 (Highlighted in Synfacts 2012, 8, 0730).
• "Turning ‘On’ and ‘Off’ a Pyridoxal 5’-Phosphate Mimic Using Light" Wilson, D.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chemie. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 5431-5434. (Highlighted in Nature Chemistry)
• "Reporting the Release of Caged Species by a Combination of Two Sequential Photoreactions, a Molecular Switch, and One Color of Light" Wu, T.; Tang, H.; Bohne, C.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chemie. Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 2741-2744.
• "Photomodulation of Fluorescent Upconverting Nanoparticle Markers in Live Organisms Using Molecular Switches" Boyer, J.-C.; Carling, C.-J.; Chua, S. Y.; Wilson, D.; Johnsen, B.; Baillie, D.; Branda, N. R. Chemistry – A European Journal 2012, 18, 3122–3126.
• "A Chemically-Gated Photoresponsive Compound as a Visible Detector for Organophosphorus Nerve Agents" Nourmohammadian, F.; Wu, T.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 10954-10956. (Highlighted in RSC’s “Chemistry World”, September 2011)

• "Charge Transfer and Intraligand Excited State Interactions in Platinum-Sensitized Dithienylethenes" Roberts, M. N.; Nagle, J. K.; Majewski, M. B.; Finden, J. G.; Branda, N. R.; Wolf, M. O. Inorg. Chem. 2011, 50, 4956-4966.
• "Multifunctional Photo- and Thermo-Responsive Copolymer Nanoparticles" Lim, S.-J.; Carling, C.-J.; Warford, C. C.; Hsiao, D.; Gates, B. D.; Branda, N. R. Dyes and Pigments 2011, 89, 230-235.
• "Two-Way Photoswitching Using One Type of NIR Light, Upconverting Nanoparticles and Changing Only the Light Intensity" Boyer, J.-C.; Carling, C.-J.; Gates, B. D.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 15766-15772.
• "Optical Control of Quantum Dot Luminescence via Photoisomerization of a Surface-Coordinated, Cationic Dithienylethene" Erno, Z.; Yildiz, I.; Gorodetsky, B.; Raymo, F. M.; Branda, N. R. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 2010, 9, 249-253.
• "Successful Bifunctional Photoswitching and Electronic Communication of Two Platinum(II) Acetylide Bridged Dithienylethenes" Roberts, M. R.; Carling, C.-J.; Nagle, J. K.; Branda, N. R.; Wolf, M. O. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 15966-16967.
• "A Photo-Controlled Molecular Switch Regulates Paralysis in a Living Organism" Al-Atar, U.; Fernandes, R.; Johnsen, B.; Baillie, D.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 15966-15967.

• "Remote-Control Photoswitching Using NIR Light" Carling, C.-J.; Boyer, J.-C.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 10838-10839.
• "Linker-Dependent Metal Sensitized Photoswitching of Dithienylethenes" Roberts, M. N.; Nagle, J. K.; Finden, J, G.; Branda, N. R.; Wolf, M. O. Inorg. Chem. 2009, 48, 19-21.
• "Regulation of Human Carbonic Anhydrase I (hCAI) Activity by a Photochromic Inhibitor" Vomasta, D.; Högner, C.; Branda, N. R.; König, B. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 47, 7644-7647.
• "High-Contrast Fluorescence Switching Using a Photoresponsive Dithienylethene Coordination Compound" Zhao, S.; Al-Atar, U.; Pace, T. C. S.; Bohne, C.; Branda, N. R. J. Photochem. Photobiol. A. 2008, 200, 74-82.
• "Modulating Chemical Reactivity Using a Photoresponsive Molecular Switch" Samachetty, H. D.; Lemieux, V.; Branda, N. R. Tetrahedron 2008, 64, 8392-8300.
• "Modulating the Lewis Acidity of Boron Using a Photoswitch" Lemieux, V.; Spantulescu, M. D.; Baldridge, K. K.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2008, 120, 5112-5115. (Special mention in Nature Chemistry, June 2008)

• "Reversible and Amplified Fluorescence Quenching of a Photochromic Polythiophene" Finden, J.; Kunz, T.; Neil R. Branda, N. R.; Wolf, M. O. Adv. Mater. 2008, 20, 1998-2002.
• "Creating a Reactive Enediyne Using Visible Light: Photocontrol of the Bergman Cyclization" Sud, D.; Wigglesworth, T. J.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 8017-8019.
• "Bidirectional Ring-Opening and Ring-Closing of Cationic 1,2-Dithienylcyclopentene Molecular Switches Triggered with Light or Electricity" Gorodetsky, B.; Branda, N. R. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2007, 17, 786-796.
• "Integrating Molecular Switching and Chemical Reactivity Using Photoresponsive Hexatrienes" Samachetty, H. D.; Branda, N. R. Pure Appl. Chem. 2006, 78, 2351-2359.
• "Selective and Sequential Photorelease Using Molecular Switches" Lemieux, V.; Gauthier, S.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2006, 45, 6820-6824. (Highlighted in Synfacts, 2007, 1, 0044)
• "A Family of Multi-Addressable, Multi-Colored Photoresponsive Copolymers Prepared Using ROMP" Wigglesworth, T. J.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Mater. 2005, 17, 5473-5480.

• "A Photoswitchable Donor–π–Acceptor System Based on a Modified Hexatriene Backbone" Wüstenberg, B.; Branda, N. R. Adv. Mater. 2005, 17, 2134-2138.
• "Photochromic Phosphine Ligands" Sud, D.; McDonald, R.; Branda, N. R. Inorg. Chem. 2005, 44, 5960-5962.
• "Reactivity-Gated Photochromism of 1,2-Dithienylethenes for Potential Use in Dosimetry Applications" Lemieux, V.; Branda, N. R. Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 2967-2972.
• "Chiral Discrimination in Photochromic Helicenes" Wigglesworth, T. J.; Sud, D.; Lekhi, V. S.; Norsten, T. B.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2005, 127, 7272-7273.
• "Photomodulation of Nucleophilicity in a Pyridine-Functionalized 1,2-Dithienylcyclopentene" Samachetty, H.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2005, 2840-2842.
• "High-Content Photochromic Polymers Based on Dithienylethenes" Wigglesworth, T. J.; Myles, A. J.; Branda, N. R. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2005, 1233-1238.

• "Photoswitching of Catalysis Using Metal-Dithienylethenes Complexes" Sud, D.; Norsten, T. B.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 44, 2019-2021.
• "Reductive Electrochemical Ring-Closing of a Photochromic 1,2-Dithienylcyclopentene Dication" Gorodetsky, B.; Samachetty, H. D.; Donkers, R. L.; Workentin, M. S; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2004, 43, 2812-2815.
• "Photoregulation of Luminescence Quenching in Photochromic Porphyrin-Phenoxynaphthacenequinone Co-Polymers" Myles, A, J.; Gorodetsky, B.; Branda, N. R. Adv. Mater. 2004, 16, 922-925.
• "Ultra-High-Density Photochromic Main-Chain 1,2-Dithienylcyclopentene Polymers Prepared Using ROMP" Wigglesworth, T, J.; Branda, N. R. Adv. Mater. 2004, 16, 123-125.
• "Structural Studies on Hydrogen-Bonding Receptors for Barbiturate Guests That Use Metal Ions as Allosteric Inhibitors" Al-Sayah, M. H.; McDonald, R.; Branda, N. R. Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2004, 173-182.
• "Photochromic Porphyrins" Gorodetsky, B.; Sud, D.; Norsten, T. B.; Myles, A. J.; Branda, N. R. J. Porphyrins Phthalocyanines 2003, 7, 313-317.

• "A Multi-Addressable Photochromic 1,2-Dithienylcyclopentene-Phenoxynaphthacenequinone Hybrid" Myles, A, J.; Wigglesworth, T, J.; Branda, N. R. Adv. Mater. 2003, 15, 745-748.
• "Electrochemically induced ring-closing of photochromic dithienylcyclopentenes" Peters, A.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2003, 954-955.
• "Electrochromism in Photochromic Dithienylcyclopentenes" Peters, A.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, 125, 3404-3405.
• "Novel Photochromic Compounds Based on the 1-Thienyl-2-vinylcyclopentene Backbone" Peters, A.; Vitols, C.; McDonald, R.; Branda, N. R. Org. Lett. 2003, 5, 1183-1186.
• "Synthesis, spectral and electrochemical investigations of bichromophoric pentads possessing tetraazaporphyrin and (bipy)2RuII/(phen)2RuII moieties" Prasad, A. R.; Murguly, E.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2003, 488-489.
• "Novel Photochromic Homopolymers Based on 1,2-Bis(3-thienyl)cyclopentene Derivatives" Myles, A. J.; Branda, N. R. Macromolecules 2003, 36, 298-303.

• "Regulating π-conjugated pathways using a photochromic 1,2-dithienylcyclopentene" Peters, A.; McDonald, R.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2002, 2274-2275.
• “1,2-Dithienylethene Photochromes and Non-Destructive Erasable Memory” Myles, A. J.; Branda, N. R. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2002, 12, 167-173.
• "Protons as the Trigger to Regulate Hydrogen-Bonding Receptors" Al-Sayah, M. H.; Branda, N. R. Org. Lett. 2002, 4, 881-884.
• "Controlling Allostery Using Redox Chemistry" Al-Sayah, M. H.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2002, 178-179.
• "Reversible [7]-Thiahelicene Formation Using a 1,2-Dithienylcyclopentene Photochrome" Norsten, T. B.; Peters, A.; McDonald, R.; Wang, M.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 7447-7448.
• "Nondestructive Data Processing Based on Chiroptic 1,2-Dithienylethene Photochromes" Murguly, E.; Norsten, T. B.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2001, 40, 1752-1755.

• "Axially-Coordinated Porphyrinic Photochromes for Nondestructive Information Processing" Norsten, T. B.; Branda, N. R. Adv. Mater. 2001, 13, 347-349.
• "Photoregulation of Fluorescence in a Porphyrinic Dithienylethene Photochrome" Norsten, T. B.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 1784-1785.
• "Controlling Photoinduced Electron Transfer within a Hydrogen-Bonded Porphyrin-Phenoxynaphthacenequinone Photochromic System" Myles, A. J.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123, 177-178.
• "Limited Photochromism in Covalently Linked Double 1,2-Dithienylethenes" Peters, A.; McDonald, R.; Branda, N. R. Adv. Mater. Opt. Electron. 2000, 10, 245-249.
• "Novel Synthesis of Photochromic Polymers via ROMP" Myles, A. J.; Branda, N. R. Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 2749-2751.
• "Metal Ions as Allosteric Inhibitors in Hydrogen-Bonding Receptors" Al-Sayah. M. H.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2000, 39, 945-947.
• "Porphyrinic Phenoxynaphthacenequinones" Myles, A. J.; Branda, N. R. Tetrahedron Lett. 2000, 41, 3785-3788.

• "Using low-energy near infrared light and upconverting nanoparticles to trigger photoreactions within supramolecular assemblies" Wu, T.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 8636-8644.
• "Two-Colour Fluorescent Imaging in Organisms Using Self-Assembled Nano-Systems of Upconverting Nanoparticles and Molecular Switches" Wu, T.; Johnsen, B.; Qin, Z.; Morimoto, M.; Baillie, D.; Irie, M.; Branda, N. R. Nanoscale 2015, 7, 11263-11266.
• "A ‘plug-and-play’ method to create water-dispersible nanoassemblies using a combination of an amphiphilic polymer, organic dyes and upconverting nanoparticles" Wu, T.; Wilson, D.; Asadirad, A.; Arafeh, M. K.; Branda, N. R. JoVE 2015, accepted.
• "Two Colors of Light are Needed to Break Bonds and Release Small Molecules from the Surface of Si-Au Core-Shell Nanoparticles" Asadirad, A. M.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 2824-2827.
• "Energy transfer between amphiphilic porphyrin polymer shells and upconverting nanoparticle cores in water-dispersible nano-assemblies" Wu, T.; Kaur, S.; Branda, N. R. Org. Biomol. Chem. 2015, 13, 2317-2322.
• "Fluorescent Quenching of Lanthanide-Doped Upconverting Nanoparticles by Photoresponsive Polymer Shells" Wu, T.; Wilson, D.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Mater. 2014, 26, 4313-4320.

• "A UV-Blocking Polymer Shell Prevents One-Photon Photoreactions While Allowing Multi-Photon Processes in Encapsulated Upconverting Nanoparticles" Wu, T.; Barker, M.; Arafeh, K. M.; Boyer, J.-C.; Carling, C.-J.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int Ed. 2013, 52, 11106-11109.
• "Photothermal Release of Singlet Oxygen from Gold Nanoparticles" Asadirad, A. M.; Erno, Z..; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 5639-5641. (Highlighted in Chemistry World)
• "A ‘Plug-and-Play’ Method to Prepare Water Soluble Photoresponsive Encapsulated Upconverting Nanoparticles Containing Hydrophobic Molecular Switches" Wu, T.; Boyer, J.-C.; Barker, M.; Wilson, D.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Mater. 2013, 25, 2495-2502.
• "Near Infrared Light Triggered Release of Biomacromolecules from Hydrogels Loaded with Upconversion Nanoparticles" Yan, B.; Boyer, J.-C.; Habault, D.; Branda, N. R.; Zhao, Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2012, 134, 16558-16561. (Highlighted in C&EN October 3, 2012.)
• "Multimodal fluorescence modulation using molecular photoswitches and upconverting nanoparticles" Boyer, J.-C.; Carling, C.-J.; Branda, N. R. Org. Biomol. Chem. (10th Anniversary issue) 2012, 10, 6159-6168.
• "Photomodulation of Fluorescent Upconverting Nanoparticle Markers in Live Organisms Using Molecular Switches" Boyer, J.-C.; Carling, C.-J.; Chua, S. Y.; Wilson, D.; Johnsen, B.; Baillie, D.; Branda, N. R. Chemistry – A European Journal 2012, 18, 3122–3126.

• "Photothermal Release of Small Molecules from Gold Nanoparticles in Live Cells" Zandberg, W.; Bakhtiari, A. B. S.; Erno, Z.; Hsiao, D. Gates, B. D.; Claydon, T.; Branda, N. R. Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology, and Medicine 2012, 8, 908–915.
• "NIR Light Triggered Dissociation of Block Copolymer Micelles Using Upconverting Nanoparticles" Yan, B.; Boyer, J.-C.; Branda, N. R.; Zhao, Y. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011, 133, 19714-19717.
• "Multifunctional Photo- and Thermo-Responsive Copolymer Nanoparticles" Lim, S.-J.; Carling, C.-J.; Warford, C. C.; Hsiao, D.; Gates, B. D.; Branda, N. R. Dyes and Pigments 2011, 89, 230-235.
• "Two-Way Photoswitching Using One Type of NIR Light, Upconverting Nanoparticles and Changing Only the Light Intensity" Boyer, J.-C.; Carling, C.-J.; Gates, B. D.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 15766-15772.
• "Photothermal Release of Single-Stranded DNA from the Surface of Gold Nanoparticles Through Controlled Denaturating and Au–S Bond Breaking" Poon, L.; Zandberg, W.; Hsiao, D.; Erno, Z.; Sen, D.; Gates, B. D.; Branda, N. R. ACS Nano 2010, 4, 6395-6403.
• "Remote-Control Photo-Release of 'Caged' Compounds Using Near Infrared Light and Upconverting Nanoparticles" Carling, C.-J.; Nourmohammodian, F.; Boyer, J.-C.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. 2010, 49, 3782-3785.

• "Optical Control of Quantum Dot Luminescence via Photoisomerization of a Surface-Coordinated, Cationic Dithienylethene" Erno, Z.; Yildiz, I.; Gorodetsky, B.; Raymo, F. M.; Branda, N. R. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 2010, 9, 249-253.
• "Remote-Control Photoswitching Using NIR Light" Carling, C.-J.; Boyer, J.-C.; Branda, N. R. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 10838-10839.
• "Hollow Metal Nanorods of Tunable Dimensions and Porosity" Sieb, N. R.; Wu, N.-c.; Majidi, E.; Kukreja, R.; Branda, N. R.; Gates, B. D. ACS Nano 2009, 3, 1365-1372.
• "A New Efficient Delivery Method Based on the Photothermal Release of Molecules from the Surface of Metal Nanoparticles" Bakhtiari, A. B. S.; Hsiao, D.; Jin, G.; Gates, B. D.; Branda, N. R. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2009, 48, 4166-4169.

• "Chiral and extended π-conjugated bis(2-pyridyl)phospholes as assembling N,P,N-pincers for the coordination-driven synthesis of supramolecular [2,2]paracyclophane analogs" Aranda Perez, A. I.; Biet, T.; Graule, S.; Agou, T.; Lescop, C.; Branda, N. R.; Crassous, J.; Réau, R. Chemistry – A European Journal 2011, 17, 1337-1351.
• "Calorimeteric and NMR Binding Studies of Hydrogen-Bonding Receptors for Carboxylates" Al-Sayah, M. H.; Branda, N. R. Thermochimica Acta 2010, 503-504, 28-32.
• "Mechanism of Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate Kidney Stones Formation: Layered Spherulitic Growth" Al-Atar, U.; Bokov, A.; Marshall, D.; Teichman, J.; Ye, Z.-G.; Gates, B.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Mater. 2010, 22, 1318-1329.
• "Selective Water Uptake in Calcium Oxalate Monohydrate Kidney Stones" Al-Atar, U.; Lewis, A.; Teichman, J. M. H.; Chew, B.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Mater. 2009, 21, 5016-5021.
• "Supramolecular Metal-polypyridyl and Ru(II) Porphyrin Complexes. Photophysical, EPR and Electrochemical Studies" de Biani, F.; Grigiotti, E.; Laschi, F.; Zanello, P.; Juris, A.; Prodi, L.; Chichak, K.; Branda, N. Inorg. Chem. 2008, 47, 5425-5440.
• "Electrochemical Reduction of an Imidazolium Cation: A Convenient Preparation of Imidazol-2-ylidenes and Implications for Chemistry in Ionic Liquids" Gorodetsky, B.; Ramnial, T.; Branda, N. R.; Clyburne, J. A. C. Chem. Commun. 2004, 1972-1973.

• "Synthesis, spectral and electrochemical investigations of bichromophoric pentads possessing tetraazaporphyrin and (bipy)2RuII/(phen)2RuII moieties" Prasad, A. R.; Murguly, E.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2003, 488-489.
• "Strong and directed association of porphyrins and iron(terpyridine)s using hydrogen bonding and ion pairing" Norsten, T. B.; Chichak, K.; Branda, N. R. Tetrahedron 2002, 58, 639-651.
• "The Construction of Ruthenium(II)salophen Assemblies Using Axial Coordination" Chichak, K.; Jacquemard, U.; Branda, N. R. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2002, 357-368.
• "A remarkably stable hydrogen-bonded porphyrin-iron(terpyridine) ion pair" Norsten, T. B.; Chichak, K.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2001, 1794-1795.
• "Rigid, Cross-conjugated Macrocycles: A Porous Alternative to 4,4'-Bipyridines in Supramolecular Chemistry" Campbell, K.; McDonald, R.; Branda, N. R.; Tykwinski, R. R. Org. Lett. 2001, 3, 1045-1048.
• "Coordination Complexes of β-Thioether Appended Tetraazaporphyrin" Prasad, R.; Kumar, A.; Murguly, E.; Branda, N. R. Inorg. Chem. Commun. 2001, 4, 219-222.

• "Chiral Discrimination in Hydrogen-Bonded [7]Helicenes" Murguly, E.; McDonald, R.; Branda, N. R. Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 3169-3172.
• "The metal-directed self-assembly of three-dimensional porphyrin arrays" Chichak, K.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 2000, 1211-1212.
• "Axially coordinated porphyrins as new rotaxane stoppers" Chichak, K; Walsh, M. C.; Branda. N. R. Chem. Commun. 2000, 847-858.
• "Tautomerism of 4-hydroxyterpyridine in the solid, solution and gas phases: an X-Ray, FT-IR and NMR study" Murguly, E.; Norsten, T. B.; Branda, N. R. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2. 1999, 2789-2794.
• "Self-assembly of a linear multi-component porphyrin array through axial coordination" Chichak, K.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 1999, 523-524.
• "The self-assembly and spontaneous resolution of a hydrogen-bonded helix" Norsten, T.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 1999, 719-720.
• "A starburst porphyrin polymer: a first generation dendrimer" Norsten, T.; Branda, N. R. Chem. Commun. 1998, 1257-1258.