Nano but Mighty: Innovations in confined spaces

Peter Banzer (left) und Jan Enenkel - Photo: Uni Graz / Maschera

At the University of Graz, Peter Banzer and his team (OpNaQ group) are controlling light in extremely confined spaces, enabling entirely new applications in physics, biology, and medicine. By precisely tailoring light fields at the nanometer scale, they can exert forces, extract information, and make hidden features visible.

This expertise is now being applied in a new FFG Spin-off Fellowship project. Led by Jan Enenkel, the project is developing an optical measurement platform designed to analyze individual circulating tumor cells. The approach combines custom-tailored light fields, field-enhancing nanostructures, and Raman spectroscopy. The aim is not only to detect ‘biomarkers’ on tumor cells, but also to visualize their functional organization on the cell surface, a potential key to more precise, personalized cancer therapies.

The research impressively demonstrates how nanostructured light can become a versatile tool, opening up new avenues from fundamental physics to medical studies. Read Jan’s and Peter’s guest contribution to the APA Science series “Changing the world on a small scale—research projects show how micro and nano innovations can lead to major breakthroughs.”

Contact: peter.banzer(at)uni-graz.at

Link to the project: https://projekte.ffg.at/projekt/5150091

APA Science article: https://science.apa.at/power-search/10041568197504050347

OpNaQ group: https://opnaq.uni-graz.at/en/

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