- Prof. Simion ASTILEAN

Current position: Professor at the Faculty of Physics,  Head of Nanobiophotonics and Molecular Spectroscopy Center (Center of Execellence), Director of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Consortium at the Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

 

Address: Babes - Bolyai University
Faculty of Physics, Str. M. Kogalniceanu  1
400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
E-mail: simion[dot]astilean[at]phys[dot]ubbcluj[dot]ro
Phone:  +40 264  40 53 00 and +40 744 62 83 64
Fax:      +40 264  59 19 06

 

Education

1990-1993:  PhD in Physics, “Joseph Fourier” University, Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Moléculaire, Grenoble, France
Thesis: Transfert photoinduit de protons dans des cristaux mixtes pentacene/acide benzoique caracterise par spectroscopie optique (superviser Dr H. P. Trommsdorff)
1980-1981:  MSc. in Physics,   Faculty of Physics, “Babes-Bolyai” University, Cluj, Romania
1976-1980: BSc in Physics, Faculty of Physics, “Babes-Bolyai” University, Cluj, Romania

 

Academic Positions

2003-: Professor, Head of Molecular Spectroscopy Dept. and Nanobiophotonics Center. Faculty of Physics, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca,   Romania;
1996 – 2002: Associate Professor, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
1994 - 1996: Lecturer, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
1986 - 1994: Assistant Professor, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

 

Visiting Scientist

1-30.06 /2007, University „Denis Diderot” Paris VII, Paris(invited professor)
Project: Plasmonic nanostructures for Surface-Enhanced Vibrational Spectroscopy   (Ref. Prof Jean Aubard)
1/06-31/06 (2006):Laboratoire d’Etudes des Propriétés Electroniques des Solides, CNRS, Grenoble, France (invited professor)
Project:  Designing new experiments for single-molecule optical detection (Ref : Dr Tomas-Lopez Rios)
1/06-30/08 (2003):University Joseph Fourier, Laboratoire de Spectrométrie Physique, Grenoble, France (invited professor)
Project: Photoinduced structural modifications  in organic crystals(Ref: Prof. Roger Casalegno)
1/01 (2001) – 31/12 (2002):  University of Exeter, Photonics Group, UK (visiting scientist)
Project: Photonic control of light-molecule  interactions. (Prof WL Barnes)
1/01-31/12 (2000): The Weizmann Institut of Science, Rehovot, Israel  (visiting scientist)
Project: Single-molecule detection by Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy  (Ref: Dr Gilad Haran)
01/02-31/11 (1997): Institut d’Optique Theorique et Appliquee, Paris, France (post-doc researcher)
Project: Design and fabrication of periodically nanostructured films for diffractive elements(Ref: Dr. Philippe Lalanne)

Research Experience

-Optical spectroscopy (confocal Raman and fluorescence microscopy, FT-Raman, SERS, FT-IR, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence, UV-VIS electronic spectroscopy, dark-field microscopy, ‘hole-burning” optical spectroscopy, etc) 
-Methods of nanofabrication and characterization (chemical synthesis of noble metal nanoparticles, coloidal self-assembly, nanosphere lithography, thin film deposition, plasma cleaning and etching, reactive ion etching; surface activation and functionalization; spin-coating; atomic force microscopy, electron microscopy, etc)
-Methods of simulation in optics and photonics (RCWA-rigorous coupled wave analysis, DDA-discrete dipole approximation, FDTD-finite-difference time-domain).
Current Research
1. Design, fabrication and surface (bio) functionalization of various nanoparticles and nanostructures based on noble-metals, polymers, semiconductors and composites.
2. Biomedical applications of surface plasmons resonances.
3. Development of plasmonics-based methods in (bio)sensing  and (bio) imaging via surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), surface-enhanced IR absorption (SEIRA), local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and metal-enhanced fluorescence (SEF)).

Academic Achievements

- Co-author of more than 95 scientific articles published in international referred journals (ISI)
- Total number of citations: 977
- Hirsch index = 14.
- Co-author of a scientific monograph published by Springer Verlag.
- Contributor to 2 invited chapters in international books.
- Co-author of 3 books published in Romanian.
- Invited speaker in 7 International Conferences and Universities.
- Director of 6 national research projects and 1 international project (bilateral).
- Supervisor of 8 PhD students, 2 in international join program, more than 10 master  students.

 

List of Selected Publications

30. Evidence of a surface plasmon-mediated mechanism in the generation of the SERS background, C. Farcau, S. Astilean,  Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 3861-3864 (Invited paper),
29. Solution-phase, dual LSPR-SERS plasmonic sensors of high sensitivity and stability based on chitosan coated anisotropic silver nanoparticles M. Potara, A. Gabudean and S. Astilean  J. Mater. Chem.  2011, 21, pp 3625-3633
28. Chitosan-coated triangular silver nanoparticles as a novel class of biocompatible, highly effective photothermal transducers for cancer treatment Sanda C. Boca , Monica Potara , Ana-Maria Gabudean, Aurelie Juhem , Patrice L. Baldeck , Simion Astilean Cancer Letters, acceptat 2011, doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2011.06.022 
27. Synergistic Antibacterial Activity of Chitosan–Silver Nanocomposites on Staphylococcus AureusMonica Potara, Endre Jakab, Annette Damert, Octavian Popescu, Valentin Canpean, Simion Astilean Nanotechnology, 2011, 22, article number: 135101 (9pp)
26. Spectroscopic studies on pH- and thermally-induced conformational changes of Bovine Serum Albumin adsorbed onto gold nanoparticles  Monica Iosin, Valentin Canpean, Simion Astilean, Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 2011, 217,  pp 395-401
25 Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies of 4-aminothiophenol adsorption on gold  nanorods  A.M. Gabudean, D. Biro and S. Astilean Journal of Molecular Structure, 2011, 993, pp 420-424
24. Simple colloidal lithography approach to generate inexpensive stamps for polymer nano-patterning Cosmin Farcau , Simion Astilean Materials Letters, 2011, 65, pp 2190-2192
23. Flower-shaped gold nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization and their application as SERS-active tags inside living cells,  Sanda Boca, Dumitrita Rugina, Adela Pintea, Lucian Barbu-Tudoran and Simion Astilean  Nanotechnology 22 (2011) 055702 (7pp)
22. Uptake and biological effects of chitosan-capped gold nanoparticles on Chinese Hamster Ovary cells,  Sanda C. Boca, Monica Potara, Felicia Toderas, Olivier Stephan, Patrice L. Baldeck and Simion Astilean,  Materials Science and Engineering C 31 (2011) 184–189
21. Detoxification of gold nanorods by conjugation with thiolated poly(ethylene glycol) and their assessment as SERS-active carriers of Raman tags S. Boca, S. Astilean,   Nanotechnology  Vol 21 p 235601 (8pp)  2010
20. Mapping the SERS Efficiency and Hot-Spots Localization on Gold Film over Nanospheres Substrates,  Cosmin Farcau and Simion Astilean, J. Phys. Chem. C 2010, 114, 11717–11722
19. Study of the interaction between CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots and bovine serum albumin by spectroscopic techniques, Milohum Mikesokpo Dzagli, Valentin Canpeana, Monica Iosin, Messanh Agbeko Mohou, Simion Astilean Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry 215 (2010) 118–122
18. Study of tryptophan assisted synthesis of gold nanoparticles by combining UV–Vis, fluorescence, and SERS spectroscopy,  Monica Iosin, Patrice Baldeck, Simion Astilean,  J. Nanoparticle Research, Vol. 12, Number 8, 2843-2849 (2010)
17. Disentangling SERS Signals from Two Molecular Species: A New Evidence for the Production of p,p’-Dimercaptoazobenzene by Catalytic Coupling Reaction of p-Aminothiophenol on Metallic Nanostructures  V. Canpean, M. Iosin and S. Astilean, Chemical Physics Letters, Vol 500, Issues 4-6, 277-282 (2010)
16. Multifunctional plasmonic sensors on low-cost subwavelength metallic nanoholes arrays, Canpean, V; Astilean, S,  LAB CHIP 9 (2009) 3574-3579.
15. Silver half-shell arrays with controlled plasmonic response for fluorescence enhancement optimization, Farcau, C; Astilean, S,  APPL PHYS LETT 95 193110 (2009)
14. Extending nanosphere lithography for the fabrication of periodic arrays of subwavelength metallic nanoholes  Canpean, V; Astilean, S,  MATER LETT 63 (2009) 2520-2522.
13. The synthesis of biocompatible and SERS-active gold nanoparticles using chitosan, Potara, M; Maniu, D; Astilean, S,  NANOTECHNOLOGY 20  315602 (2009)
12. Study of protein-gold nanoparticle conjugates by fluorescence and surface-enhanced Raman scattering  Iosin, M; Toderas, F; Baldeck, PL; Astilean, S,  J MOL STRUCT 924-26 (2009) 196-200.
11. Multilayer Structures of Self-Assembled Gold Nanoparticles as a Unique SERS and SEIRA Substrate  Baia, M; Toderas, F; Baia, L; Maniu, D; Astilean, S,  CHEMPHYSCHEM 10 (2009) 1106-1111.
10. Noble-metal nanostructures for controlling surface plasmons and sensing molecules,  S. Astilean,  Radiation Physics and Chemistry, Vol 76, 436-440 (2007).
9. Controlling Gold Nanoparticle Assemblies for Efficient Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) and Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) Sensors Felicia Toderas, Monica Baia, Lucian Baia and Simion Astilean,  Nanotechnology Vol. 18, (25), 255702, (2007).
8. Surface-Enhanced-Raman-Spectroscopy (SERS) of truncated tetraedral Ag nanoparticles arrays mediated by electromagnetic coupling, M. Baia, L.Baia, J.Popp, S. Astilean,  Applied Physics Letters, 88, pag 143121-143123 (2006).
7. Probing the enhancement mechanisms of SERS with p-aminothiophenol molecules adsorbed on self-assembled gold colloidal nanoparticles, M. Baia, F. Toderas, L. Baia,  J. Popp, S. Astilean,  Chemical Physics Letters 422 pag. 127–132 (2006)
6. Gold films deposited over regular arrays of polystyrene nanospheres  as highly effective SERS substrates from visible to NIR,  L. Baia, M. Baia, J. Popp, S. Astilean Journal of Physical Chemistry B  110, 23982 (2006).
5. Understanding self-assembled nanosphere patterns Ferenc Jarai-Szabo, Simion Astilean, and Zoltan Neda Chemical Physics Letters, Vol 408, 241-246 (2005),
4. Gold nanostructured films deposited on polystyrene colloidal crystal templates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy M. Baia , L. Baia, S. Astilean Chemical Physics Letters Vol 404, 3–8 (2005)
3. The transition from localized surface plasmon resonance to extended surface plasmon-polariton as metallic nanoparticles merge to form a periodic hole-array W. A. Murray, S. Astilean, and W. L. Barnes Phys Rev B 69, 165407, 2004
2. Controlling  the fluorescence lifetime of dyes in nanostructured geometries,  S. Astilean, S. Garrett, P. Andrew, and W.L. Barnes,  J. Molecular Structure, Vol 651-653, 277-283 (2003)
1. Quantum efficiency and the photonic control of molecular fluorescence in the solid state
S. Astilean and W. L. Barnes,Applied Physics B, 75, 1-4, (2002)

International Monograph
1. Raman and SERS investigation of pharmaceuticals,   M. Baia, S. Astilean, T. Iliescu,   Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, 2008.

 

Simion Astilean                                                          10/10 / 2012  Cluj-Napoca