Biomedical Physics: Nanomedicine, Biosensors
Recently, nanomedicine and the development of optical and magnetic nano-biosensors have emerged as primary research activities within the Department, and throughout the University of Pavia. The main research directions are:
(a) Development of optical nano-biosensors able to detect few specific target molecules, with the
goal of early tumoral detection. Nano-biosensors are based on metallic nano-antennas supporting
plasmonic excitations, coupled to photonic crystals. The work is done in collaboration with
IIT (Italian Institute of Technology), BIONEM Laboratory at the University Magna Graecia in Catanzaro,
the TASC-INFM Laboratory based at the Trieste Syncrotron radiation source.
(b) Development of nano-biosensors based on nanostructured surfaces, such as metals (Ag, Au) with photonic
lattices and organic nano-pillars able to link biological molecules and detect them through optical signals.
This research is carried out in collaboration with the European Joint Research Center (JRC) at Ispra (Varese).
Within this activity, the Department supports the academic spin-off company PLASMORE, located in Varese.
Staff: G. Guizzetti, F. Marabelli, M. Patrini