Rosalba Pitruzzella
University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Italy
Sensing for Biodefense via Plastic Optical Fiber Bio/Chemical Sensors
Abstract:
Plastic Optical Fiber (POF)-based bio/chemical sensors that exploit surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena combined with selective receptor layers are promising for Biodefense applications, enabling fast, highly sensitive, and label-free detection of pathogens and other hazardous substances. This sensing strategy can be integrated with defence systems, such as those that emit safe electromagnetic pulses to inactivate respiratory viruses. Several SPR-POF platforms combined with selective receptors will be reported to demonstrate rapid detection (approximately 10 minutes), as well as specificity, sensitivity, portability, and IoT connectivity, highlighting their potential for decentralised diagnostics and integration with other systems.
Biography:
Rosalba Pitruzzella has a PhD in Industrial and Information Engineering from the University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, where she currently conducts research. She obtained a master’s degree in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies from the University of Naples Federico II in 2022. Her current research focuses on the development and characterisation of optical biosensors and optical-chemical sensors for environmental, food, biomedical, security, and biodefence applications.