NANODETECTOR · Ultrasensitive plasmonic detection of single nanoparticles

Controlled or uncontrollabel disposing of nanoparticles in various components of man made or biological matter, may have wanted or undesired consequences. Developing the diagnostic tools to detect and characterize the ’grey goo’ is one of the challeneges of nanotech-era. A development of general technology for detection and analysis of single nanoparticles in complex environment and a development of a laboratory prototype of the device based on this technology and its application are the goal of this project. The proposal is based on the new experimental phenomenon discovered recently by a project partner: single subwavelength objects give rise to giant optical signals in surface plasmon resonance microscopy. This provides a unique possibility for ultrasensitive on-line detection of engineered nanoparticles. Within the project a development of the device for detection of nanoparticles and its application for a number of practically important tasks will be performed. The work includes a development of theoretical description of the new effect, optimization of main components of the detection system, development of sophisticated software for effective image analyses and isolation of nanoparticle signals from background optical signals and noise. Preliminary experiments demonstrated a possibility to use surface modification to distinguish different types of nanoparticles. Within the project this approach will be used for identification of nanoparticles. Measurements will be performed in aqueous media as well as in air. Inorganic, plastic and protein nanoparticles will be examined. At the final step of the project monitoring of nanoparticles in simple (drinking water, mineral water, air) and complicated (wine, juice and other transparent non-colloidal drinks) will be performed. The end users will test the developed experimental system for monitoring of workplaces and waste during production of inorganic and protein nanoparticles.