Plasmonic biosensors in environmental monitoring using computer vision and machine learning: approaches for pesticide detection

• Grant number: 24/21703-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: November 30, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Henrique Capparelli Mattoso
• Grantee: Pedro Ramon Almeida Oiticica
• Host Institution: Embrapa Instrumentação Agropecuária. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Biosensors have become important in promoting health, well-being, and monitoring the environment and industrial processes. A promising approach to developing new optical biosensors is the use of plasmonic substrates. Plasmonic sensors enable detection without the need for markers, by means of light interaction with metallic nanostructures in close proximity to the analyte. Among the challenges of this type of biosensor in large-scale applications and point-of-care (PoC) use, the high cost of manufacturing plasmonic substrates and the need for spectrometers or other optical measurement equipment, which are only available in specialized laboratories, stand out. In this postdoctoral project, we aim to develop low-cost plasmonic biosensors for detecting analytes of interest in environmental monitoring, specifically for pesticide detection. We will employ computational techniques in computer vision and machine learning to analyze sensor image data using optical microscopy as the detection method. We seek to combine artificial intelligence methods in data analysis, contributing to make plasmonic biosensors more accessible and feasible for application with real samples outside the laboratory. This project aims to contribute to the development of more accessible and effective environmental monitoring technologies, enabling the real-time detection of pesticides in the field, which can aid in the preservation of ecosystems and public health.