Researchers from INESC TEC and the Centre for Research on Nanomaterials and Biomedicine (CINBIO) at the University of Vigo recently secured approval for an exploratory project funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), aiming to make optical sensors more accessible and robust. The goal is for these sensors to be used in the detection of contaminants such as glyphosate and BPA, efficiently and at lower costs.
Glyphosate is an herbicide, and BPA is a compound found in plastics and resins. What they have in common is that they are contaminants posing risks to public health – glyphosate has even been classified as potentially carcinogenic to humans.
The project ELIANA – Electric Field Assisted Immobilisation of Anisotropic Nanoparticles for Surface Plasmon Excitation, proposes a disruptive approach to contribute to the protection of public health and water quality by detecting these contaminants more efficiently. The goal is to significantly improve the sensitivity and applicability of plasmonic sensors, especially for detecting water contaminants, with potential applications in biosensors.
Let’s break it down. Plasmonic sensors detect molecules through surface plasmons, which are collective oscillations of electrons induced by light. However, current solutions present limitations when used for detection.
To overcome these challenges, the researchers intend to modify the plasmon excitation mechanism through vertically oriented immobilisation of anisotropic nanoparticles, such as nanorods and nanobipyramids – induced by an electric field. This exposes regions of strong field amplification and facilitates practical use.
In other words, the nanoparticles will be deposited vertically using an electric field, allowing light to be concentrated in very small spaces, which in turn enables the detection of very small molecules. Because anisotropic nanoparticles act like mirrors for light, when light hits them, it can be concentrated and amplified – a process that helps detect contaminants.
“We aim to provide innovative solutions for environmental monitoring, particularly for contaminant detection, in an efficient, sensitive, and cheaper way. By enhancing optical sensors to be more accessible and robust, we contribute to protecting public health, water quality, and addressing key regulatory challenges in Portugal and Europe,” explained Paulo Santos.
According to the INESC TEC researcher, this is a “novel methodology” that will allow studying the role of geometry, orientation, and nanoparticle–film distance, combining theoretical development with numerical and experimental studies.
INESC TEC leads the project, coordinating all stages from the theoretical development of the physical model to experimental implementation and dissemination of results. “We are responsible for designing the optical platform, preparing the plasmonic substrates, and integrating the detection systems,” added Paulo Santos.
In addition, the researcher explained that alongside the goal of experimentally improving the sensitivity and applicability of plasmonic sensors, the ELIANA project will also develop the theory explaining a phenomenon recently discovered by this research group – Nanoparticle-Induced Surface Plasmon Resonance (NPI-SPR).
The ELIANA project brings together multiple scientific areas, including plasmonics, nanotechnology, optics, fundamental physics, and chemistry, while promoting advanced training for young researchers and fostering international collaboration. The project has a duration of 18 months and is funded by the FCT.
The researcher mentioned in this news piece is associated with INESC TEC
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