Microgel-nanoparticles colorimetric sensor for pesticide detection

The MICROSENS POC proposal aims to realize a novel naked-eye assay to detect Paraquat (PQ), a harmful pesticide, that has been banned in Europe since 2007, but is still employed in many countries, endangering health and the environment globally.

PQ is present at very low concentrations and, hence, there is an urgent need for sensors with high detection capability.

To this end, building on the knowledge gained during the PIs recent ERC grant, we will exploit the thermoresponsivity of microgels combined with plasmonic nanoparticles integrated in a microfluidic device, to improve current detection limits.

Our sensing platform will be realised in a portable format, to provide a simple, ready-to-use and cheap test, with a response visible to the naked-eye, as in a simple COVID test, that will be designed to enhance detection capability, production time and costs.

The resulting platform will therefore be an important tool for environmental and health surveillance that can also be made available to common people, such as farmers and people living in rural areas.

Moreover, it will be based on a simple scheme that, in principle, can be easily extended to the detection of other water contaminants, making this proposal highly promising for future industrial actions with direct relevance to society.