We are proud to announce that Dr. Lucia Petti, Principal Investigator of the Nano Smart Lab at CNR-ISASI, has been awarded the prestigious Daniela Pucci Prize during the Nanoplasm Conference.
The award, sponsored by the journal Nanophotonics, recognizes outstanding contributions in the fields of plasmonics, metamaterials, and biophotonic technologies. This important recognition highlights the scientific excellence and interdisciplinary research activities carried out by the Nano Smart Lab team in the areas of nanophotonics, smart materials, plasmonic biosensing, and advanced diagnostic technologies.
Over the past years, the Nano Smart Lab has developed innovative Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS)-based sensing platforms for applications ranging from biomedical diagnostics to food safety and environmental monitoring. These research efforts have been made possible through the collaboration of a multidisciplinary network of researchers and institutions committed to translating cutting-edge scientific discoveries into practical solutions for societal challenges.
A special acknowledgment goes to Prof. Maurizio Brigotti (University of Bologna) and Dr. Stefano Morabito (Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome), whose collaboration has significantly contributed to advancing the group’s research activities on toxin detection and public health applications.
Looking Ahead: From Diagnosis to Prediction
Building upon recent advances in nanophotonic biosensing, the Nano Smart Lab is currently developing rapid, portable, and AI-assisted diagnostic platforms capable of detecting and profiling Shiga toxins directly in complex food and clinical samples.
The long-term vision of this research extends beyond conventional diagnostics. The team aims to establish an innovative toxin-centric surveillance framework capable of connecting food contamination, toxin exposure, and disease risk. Such technologies could enable on-site monitoring and early warning systems, helping reduce human exposure to harmful toxins and potentially preventing severe diseases such as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS).
This award represents not only a recognition of past achievements but also an encouragement to continue pursuing innovative research at the intersection of nanotechnology, photonics, artificial intelligence, and public health.
The Nano Smart Lab team would like to express its sincere gratitude to Prof. Giuseppe (“Pino”) Strangi for presenting the award and for his longstanding support of scientific innovation in nanophotonics and biophotonics.
Congratulations to Dr. Lucia Petti and all members and collaborators of the Nano Smart Lab for this remarkable achievement.
Editorial Note: Portions of the information reported in this news article were adapted from a public communication originally shared by Dr. Lucia Petti in LinkedIN. The present editorial version and web publication have been prepared and curated by Bryan Roberto Guilcapi Alulema, editor of the Nano Smart Lab website.
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