In this study, we present an advanced nanofabrication approach to produce gradient-index photonic crystal structures based on nanoporous anodic alumina. An apodization strategy is for the first time applied to a sinusoidal pulse anodisation process in order to engineer the photonic stop band of nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) in depth. Four apodization functions are explored, including linear positive, linear negative, logarithmic positive and logarithmic negative, with the aim of finely tuning the characteristic photonic stop band of these photonic crystal structures. We systematically analyse the effect of the amplitude difference (from 0.105 to 0.840 mA cm), the pore widening time (from 0 to 6 min), the anodisation period (from 650 to 950 s) and the anodisation time (from 15 to 30 h) on the quality and the position of the characteristic photonic stop band and the interferometric colour of these photonic crystal structures using the aforementioned apodization functions. Our results reveal that a logarithmic negative apodisation function is the most optimal approach to obtain unprecedented well-resolved and narrow photonic stop bands across the UV-visible-NIR spectrum of NAA-based gradient-index photonic crystals. Our study establishes a fully comprehensive rationale towards the development of unique NAA-based photonic crystal structures with finely engineered optical properties for advanced photonic devices such as ultra-sensitive optical sensors, selective optical filters and all-optical platforms for quantum computing.

Herein, we present a method for storing binary data within the spectral signature of nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. A rationally designed multi-sinusoidal anodisation approach makes it possible to engineer the photonic stop band of nanoporous anodic alumina with precision. As a result, the transmission spectrum of these photonic nanostructures can be engineered to feature well-resolved and selectively positioned characteristic peaks across the UV-visible spectrum. Using this property, we implement an 8-bit binary code and assess the versatility and capability of this system by a series of experiments aiming to encode different information within the nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. The obtained results reveal that the proposed nanosized platform is robust, chemically stable, versatile and has a set of unique properties for data storage, opening new opportunities for developing advanced nanophotonic tools for a wide range of applications, including sensing, photonic tagging, self-reporting drug releasing systems and secure encoding of information.

Herein, we present a rationally designed advanced nanofabrication approach aiming at producing a new type of optical bandpass filters based on nanoporous anodic alumina photonic crystals. The photonic stop band of nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) is engineered in depth by means of a pseudo-stepwise pulse anodisation (PSPA) approach consisting in pseudostepwise asymmetric current density pulses. This nanofabrication method makes it possible to tune the transmission bands of NAA at specific wavelengths and bandwidths, which can be broadly modified across the UV-visible-NIR spectrum through the anodisation period (i.e. time between consecutive pulses). First, we establish the effect of the anodisation period as a means of tuning the position and width of the transmission bands of NAA across the UV -visible-NIR spectrum. To this end, a set of nanoporous anodic alumina bandpass filters (NAA-BPFs) are produced with different anodisation periods, ranging from 500 to 1200 s, and their optical properties (i.e. characteristic transmission bands and interferometric colours) are systematically assessed. Then, we demonstrate that the rational combination of stacked NAABPFs consisting of layers of NAA produced with different PSPA periods can be readily used to create a set of unique and highly selective optical bandpass filters with characteristic transmission bands, the position, width and number of which can be precisely engineered by this rational anodisation approach. Finally, as a proof-of-concept, we demonstrate that the superposition of stacked NAA-BPFs produced with slight modifications of the anodisation period enables the fabrication of NAA-BPFs with unprecedented broad transmission bands across the UV-visible-NIR spectrum. The results obtained from our study constitute the first comprehensive rationale towards advanced NAA-BPFs with fully controllable photonic properties. These photonic crystal structures could become a promising alternative to traditional optical bandpass filters based on glass and plastic.

TPS591 Background: Neoadjuvant cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy improves survival in cisplatin-eligible patients (pts) with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). An unmet need exists in cisplatin-ineligible pts with MIUC who are offered upfront surgery. Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been demonstrated to be safe and active although the benefit may not extend to the majority of pts. The combination of GCa and an ICI has been demonstrated to be safe and active in cisplatin-ineligible metastatic urothelial carcinoma. In the neoadjuvant setting, combination GCa and an ICI may improve outcomes across a broad group of MIUC by delivering early systemic therapy to pts with cisplatin-ineligible MIUC. We hypothesized that the combination of GCa and avelumab, a PD-L1 inhibitor, may improve pathologic complete remissions (pCR) and long-term outcomes compared to upfront surgery for MIUC (S2011, NCT04871529). Methods: This multicenter, randomized (1:1), open-label phase II trial is comparing the combination of GCa and avelumab (Arm A) as neoadjuvant therapy vs. upfront surgery (Arm B) for pts with cisplatin-ineligible MIUC including MIBC and high-risk upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Adjuvant therapy following radical cystectomy, nephroureterectomy or ureterectomy is deferred to investigator discretion in both arms. Eligible pts include those with MIBC or high-grade UTUC with a predominant urothelial component who are cisplatin-ineligible (≥1 of: Zubrod performance status [PS] = 2, creatinine clearance [CrCl] 30 to < 60 ml/min, neuropathy > grade 1, hearing loss > grade 1, congestive heart failure > grade 2). The primary objective is pCR. The stratification factors include clinical stage (cT2N0M0 vs cT3-4aN0M0), Zubrod-PS (0-1 vs 2), CrCl (30 to < 60 vs ≥ 60 ml/min). With 178 evaluable pts, the trial will have a power of 90% (using a 1-sided alpha 0.05) to detect pCR rate improvement from 15% to 35%. The secondary objectives are toxicities, resectability rates, surgical complications, event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS). Correlative studies include tumor molecular profiling, blood immune studies, circulating tumor-DNA profiling and radiomics. Arm A receives gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 IV days 1, 8 every 3 weeks x 4 cycles, carboplatin AUC 4.5 (escalated to AUC 5 from cycle 2 if tolerated in cycle 1) IV day 1 every 3 weeks x 4 cycles and avelumab 800 mg IV day 1 every 2 weeks x 6 cycles. Surgery is performed 4-8 weeks after the last neoadjuvant administration. The trial is funded by NIH/NCI grants U10CA180888, U10CA180819, U10CA180821, U10CA180820, U10CA180868, and in part by EMD Serono, as part of an alliance between the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (CrossRef Funder ID: 10.13039/100009945) and Pfizer. Clinical trial information: NCT04871529.