Functionalized nanoparticles and chiral nanoparticles for inkjet-printed SERS sensors.

• Grant number: 25/05043-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: August 18, 2025
• End date: August 17, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Italo Odone Mazali
• Grantee: Lucas Magno Freitas Oliveira
• Supervisor: Isabel Pastoriza-Santos
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Vigo, Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/06463-4 - Paper-based SERS sensors for the detection of forever chemicals, BP.DR

Abstract

This proposal for a research internship abroad focused on developing innovative Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) sensors for the detection of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and chiral molecules. The research aims to inkjet-print SERS substrates with plasmonic nanoparticles, functionalized for selective detection of PFAS, and explore chiral nanoparticle printing for enantiomer detection. PFAS are found in many everyday products, and are called "forever chemicals" because they are difficult to degrade in the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified some PFAS members as potential carcinogens and linked them to other health issues, resulting in the establishment of strict guidelines for safe levels of these chemicals in drinking water. Chiral molecules, defined by their non-superimposable mirror images, play a crucial role in fields such as biology, chemistry, and environmental science. Therefore, their detection is of great importance. This research will be conducted at the University of Vigo in Spain, leveraging the expertise in nanoparticle synthesis and surface modification of the Biomedical Research Center (CINBIO), which is led by professors Isabel Pastoriza-Santos and Jorge Pérez-Juste. The internship is expected to advance the national project's objective of detecting PFAS using SERS and contribute to the development of chiral-specific SERS substrates, with potential applications in various fields, especially environmental monitoring.