The main objective of the project Designing new plasmonic aptasensors for detection and monitoring of infections is to provide the proof of concept for a new aptamer-modified plasmonic nanobiosensor able to offer relevant solutions for the detection and quantification of C-reactive protein (CRP) with high sensitivity, high specificity and portability.

Following specific and operational objectives will be achieved during the project:

1. Preparation of colloidal solutions of Raman encoded PNPs with well-defined optical properties;

2. Evaluation and optimization of colorimetric (aggregation/etching), spectroscopic (SERS) and photothermal response of Raman encoded PNPs in the absence/presence of salt solution/chloride ions;

3. Designing aptamer-Raman encoded-PNPs nanoconjugates (aptasensors) with high affinity for C-reactive protein (CRP);

4. Characterization of the prepared aptasensors;

5. Assessing the sensibility and specificity of the prepared aptasensors for the colorimetric/SERS/thermoplasmic detection of CRP via target-mediated aggregation of PNPs;

6. Assessing the sensibility and specificity of the prepared aptasensors for the colorimetric/SERS/thermoplasmic detection of CRP via target-mediated etching of PNPs.

Two strategies of detection will be explored:

(1) The first strategy will explore the target-triggered aggregation of PNPs of spherical shape upon the specific aptamer-CRP binding

(2) The second strategy will explore the target-mediated shape transformation (etching) of PNPs of anisotropic shape upon the specific aptamer-CRP binding.