Tracking viral outbreaks through wastewater just took a massive leap forward. Traditional molecular methods like PCR are reliable but often slow, expensive, and logistically demanding.
Our latest research introduces a game-changing solution: a cutting-edge SERS-based biosensor combined with Supervised Machine Learning (SVM) that detects Rotavirus in real-world wastewater samples in about an hour—completely bypassing the need for complex RNA extraction!
Here is how this innovative platform works and why it is a breakthrough for public health:
- High-Performance Nanotechnology: The sensor utilizes highly uniform gold nanoparticle (Au NP) monolayers assembled via the Marangoni effect, ensuring incredible spatial reproducibility and stability.
- Cost-Effective & Durable: Fabricated at an estimated cost of just €15 per substrate, these sensors retain 90% of their signal efficiency even after 3 months of storage.
- Unmatched Sensitivity: It achieves an ultra-low Limit of Detection (LOD) of 3.9 TCID₅₀/mL in standard buffer solutions.
- AI-Driven Accuracy in the Field: When tested on real wastewater from treatment plants along the Amalfi Coast, the automated SERS–SVM model classified samples with an outstanding 89.3% accuracy, validated side-by-side with digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).
This platform opens the door to cost-effective, near-real-time epidemiological surveillance, allowing cities to spot and react to viral threats much faster than before.
Acknowledgments:
A special and heartfelt thank you to our group leader, Dr. Lucia Petti from ISASI – CNR – Pozzuoli, for her fundamental leadership, vision, and expert supervision, which served as the inspiring driving force behind this incredible team achievement.
🔗 Read the full scientific article here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2026.118880
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