Surface-enhanced multipurpose nanosensing with microneedle-shaped fiber optics

In a broad sense, nanodevices are the critical enablers that will allow exploiting the ultimate technological capabilities of chemical, pharmaceutical, and biological systems. In this scenario, surface- enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy is one of the most promising analytical techniques for identification of molecular species, able to detect several kinds of sample under different environmental conditions and a good potential with respect to low-concentration analytes. We illustrate here the possible uses of a surface-enhanced microneedle-shaped fiber optics acting as a multipurpose nanosensor. The optical probe takes advantage from SERS to improve its sensibility. It adopts an active substrate obtained by immobilization of nanoparticles on the manufactured fiber substrate. The multipurpose nanosensing capabilities of the optical probe will be highlighted by illustrating selected examples.