Plasmonic heating finds multiple applications in cell manipulation and stimulation, where heat generated by metal nanoparticles can be used to modify cell adhesion, control membrane currents, and suppress neuronal action potentials among others. Metal nanoparticles can also be easily integrated in artificial extracellular matrices to provide tunable, thermal cueing functionalities with nanometer spatial resolution. In this contribution, we present a platform enabling the combination of plasmonic heating with localized temperature sensing using quantum dots (QDs). Specifically, a functional nanocomposite material was designed with gold nanorods (AuNRs) and QDs incorporated in a cell-permissive hydrogel (e.g., collagen) as well as an optical set-up combining optical heating and temperature imaging, respectively. Specific area stimulation/readout can be realized through structured illumination using digital micromirror device (DMD) projection.
