Gold nanoparticle films for universal biosensors

Project Information

DESIRE

Grant agreement ID: 101109232

DOI

10.3030/101109232

Project closed

EC signature date 24 April 2023

Start date 4 September 2023

End date 3 September 2025

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 173 847,36

Coordinated by

LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUER PHOTONISCHE TECHNOLOGIEN E.V.
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DESIRE (Gold nanoparticle films for universal biosensors)

Reporting period: 2023-09-04 to 2025-09-03

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

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.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The project began with the establishment and optimization of experimental infrastructure, including the setup of customized anodization and LSPR measurement systems. Initial progress was slowed by administrative and technical constraints, but once these were overcome, the work focused on developing and comparing several fabrication strategies for plasmonic substrates.
– Electrochemical anodization was employed to produce nanopatterned aluminum templates for nanoparticle synthesis. During this phase, a dipping anodization method was designed and thoroughly tested. Despite only partial success, the experiments yielded valuable know-how that will be crucial for future development and optimization.
– Physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques, including evaporation, magnetron sputtering, and ion-assisted deposition, were systematically compared for producing gold nanoisland films. These studies led to the realization of homogeneous and microarray-type LSPR standards with well-controlled morphology and optical response.
– Nanoparticle growth studies investigated post-deposition enlargement and reshaping of gold nanoparticles directly on solid substrates, establishing a foundation for tunable plasmonic properties.
Parallel to the fabrication work, the project expanded into the development of standardized procedures for LSPR sensor characterization and calibration. A set of standard operating protocols (SOPs) was introduced for sensitivity testing, enabling reproducible evaluation of sensor performance. These activities also improved understanding of the relationship between nanoparticle geometry, film morphology, and plasmonic response.
The research culminated in functional LSPR sensor prototypes fabricated by solid-state dewetting of thin gold films. These sensors were successfully used in optical performance tests and served as benchmark samples for calibration of imaging-based LSPR setups. Several results were validated and further developed through collaboration within two international water-monitoring projects, which extended the work towards data processing and potential commercial applications.
Despite some delays caused by technical challenges and cybersecurity disruptions, the main scientific objectives were largely achieved. The project delivered:
– validated fabrication methods for reproducible LSPR substrates;
– standardized testing and calibration protocols;
– new insights into nanoparticle growth, film transfer, and stability;
– and a solid foundation for future development of multiplex LSPR biosensors.
Overall, DESIRE significantly advanced the methodological basis of LSPR sensor fabrication and evaluation, establishing both technical expertise and conceptual groundwork for next-generation plasmonic sensors in environmental and biomedical applications.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The DESIRE project achieved significant progress in the development of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) sensing technologies, delivering results that extend well beyond the state of the art. The research covered the full technological spectrum of LSPR — from sensor fabrication and calibration protocols to data acquisition, analysis, and visualization — establishing a comprehensive methodological framework for plasmonic biosensing.
Experimentally, the project developed reproducible nanofabrication approaches for producing gold nanoparticle films with well-controlled optical properties. These substrates now serve as reference materials for calibration and benchmarking in LSPR measurements, providing a key element for comparability and future standardization efforts.
In parallel, the project produced software tools and data-processing pipelines for LSPR imaging (LSPRi). Together with the optimization of measurement setups — performed in collaboration with commercial partners — these developments form the foundation for the transition from laboratory experiments to robust analytical instruments.
To ensure further uptake and broader impact, several directions have been identified:
– Demonstration of biosensing applications using the developed microarrayed sensors in real assays, such as pathogen detection or heavy-metal ion monitoring in water. These applications represent the next critical step toward technological validation and market readiness, in direct alignment with the ongoing MIKA and HeavySense projects.
– Advancement of LSPR imaging instrumentation, integrating microfluidics, improved illumination, and automated analysis, which could lead to prototype systems suitable for industrial testing and commercialization.
– Continuation of standardization efforts, promoting interoperability of sensor data and protocols within the research community and among industrial partners.
These outcomes create a strong foundation for future commercial exploitation of LSPR sensors—both as reference standards and as analytical tools for environmental and biomedical applications—contributing directly to European goals in clean water, soil protection, and health innovation.