Indrajit Srivastava has been named a 2025 Rising Star in Nanoscience by the American Chemical Society (ACS)
Indrajit Srivastava, assistant professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas Tech University has been named a 2025 Rising Star in Nanoscience by the American Chemical Society (ACS).
The distinction honors exceptional early-career researchers whose innovative work is shaping the future of nanoscience and nanotechnology.
As part of this recognition, Srivastava authored an open-access feature article in ACS Nanoscience Au titled “Ultrabright NIR-II Nanoprobes for Ex Vivo Bioimaging: Protein Nanoengineering Meets Molecular Engineering.” The study introduces ultrabright nanoprobes that operate in the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window (1000–1700 nm), allowing deep-tissue bioimaging with exceptional signal strength and clarity.
By integrating protein nanoengineering with molecular design, the research demonstrates improved optical performance and reduced background noise compared to current clinical dyes. The team validated the findings through ex vivo imaging of ovine brain and porcine lungs, where the nanoprobes achieved significantly higher image contrast and penetration depth than the FDA-approved fluorophore indocyanine green.
“These results lay the foundation for the next generation of optical diagnostic and biomedical imaging tools,” Srivastava said.
Isabella Vasquez, an undergraduate student in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and a Barry Goldwater Scholar, served as the paper’s first author and was instrumental in leading the experimental research. Her leadership highlights the collaborative and student-centered research culture in Srivastava’s lab.
“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized as a Rising Star in Nanoscience by the American Chemical Society,” Srivastava said. “As a new faculty member, this award reflects my lab’s early successes and the dedication of my students and collaborators who are helping build our research program in optical bioimaging and diagnostics.”
Srivastava’s independent research has been supported by the American Heart Association and the Robert A. Welch Foundation. His lab’s work has appeared in leading journals including ACS Nano and Advanced Functional Materials. His selection as a 2025 Rising Star in Nanoscience underscores the growing impact and promise of his research in high-resolution bioimaging.
Read the full paper: Ultrabright NIR-II Nanoprobes for Ex Vivo Bioimaging: Protein Nanoengineering Meets Molecular Engineering – ACS Nanoscience Au