In this research line, we develop and design plasmonic nanostructures for applications in high-throughput screening and/or real-time analysis of environmental-relevant analytes (such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), of chemical reactions, for H2 sensing using surface-enhanced Raman scattering, SERS, or localized surface plasmon resonance, LSPR, technologies. These two techniques can provide rapid and quantitative detection of unknown analytes binding/close to a plasmonic nanostructure.
For instance, we are interested in investigating through SERS the possibility of label-free and multiplexed identification of biomolecules without sample processing, which is of interest for diagnosis purposes or understanding different biological processes occurring. Moreover, we are working on the development of different SERS-encoded particles (or SERS tags) as labeling contrast agents for multiplex diagnostic/sensing assays and optical imaging.
