DESIRE · Gold nanoparticle films for universal biosensors

Gold nanoparticle films for universal biosensors

The motivation behind DESIRE stems from the need for simple, cost-efficient, and scalable biosensing platforms capable of analyzing multiple targets simultaneously (multiplexing). Such technologies are essential for early disease diagnostics, monitoring antimicrobial resistance, and ensuring safe water. Current plasmonic sensors, while promising, face key obstacles: the difficulty of fabricating reproducible nanostructures at low cost, the lack of standardized calibration methods, and limited adaptability to diverse sensing applications. The DESIRE project (Gold Nanoparticle Films for Universal Biosensors) addresses these challenges by developing innovative fabrication strategies for plasmonic sensors based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). The project’s main objective was to develop reliable and scalable ways to create gold nanostructures by combining metallographic, electrochemical, and thin-film methods — bridging macroscopic material processing with precise nanofabrication. This multidisciplinary approach enabled the exploration of complementary fabrication routes and the creation of high-performance plasmonic sensors with tunable optical properties. While fabrication remained the project’s core goal, the research naturally expanded toward developing standardization and evaluation protocols for LSPR sensors, including procedures for calibration, data analysis, and reproducibility testing. These efforts laid the groundwork for a more unified framework in the LSPR sensing field, enabling cross-laboratory comparison and improving the reliability of experimental data. The developed LSPR platforms have potential impact in several areas — from low-cost point-of-care tests and personalized medicine to automated environmental monitoring of water contaminants. The project thus contributes to EU priorities in clean water and soil, public health, and sustainable technological development, supporting broader goals under the European Green Deal and Horizon Europe missions. Beyond the scientific results, the fellowship enhances European expertise in nanophotonics and fosters collaboration between academia and industry. The developed methods are already being extended through international partnerships and projects focused on environmental sensing and water analysis, demonstrating the pathway from fundamental research to practical, real-world impact.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union