logo Future diagnOstic RaMan devIce
for detection of medical and environmental pathogenic bacteria
Formi

Project

The aim of this project is to develop a novel, portable device (FORMI) based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-active nanostructures and microfluidics for sensitive, simple, quick and on-site detection of pathogenic bacteria from clinical and environmental samples.

The proposed SERS-based device for bacteria identification challenges the standard biochemical methods in terms of simplicity, specificity and rapidity (maximum 60 s for a single SERS measurement). In the presented FORMI device the direct SERS analysis of bacteria (even a single bacteria cell) is performed directly from SERS-active nanostructures incorporated into a microfluidic module. The recorded SERS data of bacteria will be categorized (assigned to a particular bacterial species) using data analysis software based on a SERS database created for bacteria. The long-time of incubation of bacteria will be eliminated and the total analysis including numerical analysis of the recorded SERS data will exceed 15 minutes. In addition, we will establish:

  1. method of modification of SERS platform by suitable linkage molecules for selective immobilizations of antibodies
  2. method of gold nanoparticles synthesis and their subsequent modification with selected Raman reporters and/or antibodies for developing the multiplex and specific (qualitative and quantitative) analysis of different pathogens in complex fluid.

The proposed FORMI device can be introduced to International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards for bacteria identification, to avoid the time-consuming methods routinely used in laboratories and, as a result, the time of analysis will be dramatically reduced.

The FORMI device will open a new path in microbiological diagnostics for sensitive, simple, quick, and on-site detection of pathogenic bacteria, including environmental and clinical microbiology (hospitals, health centres), food industry, and environmental protection.


Agnieszka Kamińska

Prof. Agnieszka Kamińska

Principal Investigator at the Group of Biospectroscopy

Department of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
Institute of Physical Chemistry
Polish Academy of Sciences www.bio-sers.pl www.researchgate.net/profile/Agnieszka_Kaminska5
email iconakaminska
Jacek Waluk

Prof. Jacek Waluk

Professor at the Department of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy

Institute of Physical Chemistry
Polish Academy of Sciences

Scientific interests: photochemistry, physical chemistry, spectroscopy

www.researchgate.net/profile/J_Waluk
email iconjwaluk
Evelin Witkowska

dr Evelin Witkowska

PostDoc at the Institute of Physical Chemistry

Department of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
Polish Academy of Sciences

Scientific interests: microbiology, SERS, analytical chemistry

www.researchgate.net/profile/Evelin_Witkowska
email iconewitkowska
Aneta Kowalska

dr Aneta Aniela Kowalska

Research Assistant at the Institute of Physical Chemistry

Polish Academy of Sciences

The Lewinski Group: Organometallic and Materials Chemistry

Scientific interests: synthesis and characterisation of ZnO, SERS, Principal Component Analysis

www.researchgate.net/profile/Aneta_Kowalska2
email iconakowalska
Tomasz Szymborski

dr inż. Tomasz Szymborski

PostDoc at the Institute of Physical Chemistry

Department of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
Polish Academy of Sciences

Scientific interests: materials science and engineering, soft matter, microfluidics, SERS

www.researchgate.net/profile/Tomasz_Szymborski
email icontszymborski
Ariadna Nowicka

dr inż. Ariadna Nowicka

PostDoc at the Institute of Physical Chemistry

Department of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
Polish Academy of Sciences

Scientific interests: SERS, nanomaterials, composites

www.researchgate.net/profile/Ariadna_Nowicka
email iconanowicka
Sylwia Berus

mgr Sylwia Berus

Ph. D. student at the Institute of Physical Chemistry

Department of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
Polish Academy of Sciences

Scientific interests: SERS, Principal Component Analysis

www.researchgate.net/profile/Sylwia_Berus
email iconsberus
Krzysztof Niciński

mgr Krzysztof Niciński

Ph. D. student at the Institute of Physical Chemistry

Department of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy
Polish Academy of Sciences

Scientific interests: SERS, nanotechnology, analytical chemistry, carbon nanomaterials

www.researchgate.net/profile/Krzysztof_Nicinski
email iconknicinski
Julia J. Wieruszewska

Julia J. Wieruszewska

M. Sc. student

Department of Physics
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań

Scientific interests: biochemistry and biophysics, SERS, dielectrophoresis

Title of Master's Thesis:
TBD

Previous Members within FORMI project


Patrycja Piecyk

mgr inż. Patrycja Piecyk

M. Sc. student

Department of Chemistry
Warsaw University of Technology

Scientific interests: SERS, dielectrophoresis, rocket propellants

Title of Master's Thesis:
"Krzemowe podłoża do powierzchniowo-wzmocnionego efektu Ramana (SERS) uzyskane przy pomocy lasera femtosekundowego."

Bartłomiej Dominiak

mgr inż. Bartłomiej Dominiak

M. Sc. student

Alumnus of Department of Biology
Warsaw University of Life Sciences

Title of Master's Thesis:
"Detection of Campylobacter spp. from food samples by using of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy"


Nanoplasmonic sensor for foodborne pathogens detection. Towards development of ISO‐SERS methodology for taxonomic affiliation of Campylobacter spp.

Evelin Witkowska, Krzysztof Niciński, Dorota Korsak, Bartłomiej Dominiak, Jacek Waluk and Agnieszka Kamińska

Journal of Biophotonics Volume 13, Issue 5, 2020, e201960227 doi: 10.1002/jbio.201960227

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering as a discrimination method of Streptococcus spp. and alternative approach for identifying capsular types of S. pneumoniae isolates

Sylwia Berus, Evelin Witkowska, Krzysztof Niciński, Ewa Sadowy, Weronika Puzia, Patrycja Ronkiewicz and Agnieszka Kamińska

Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy Volume 233, 5 June 2020, 118088 doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2020.118088

Photovoltaic cells as a highly efficient system for biomedical and electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy analysis

Krzysztof Niciński, Evelin Witkowska, Dorota Korsak, Krzysztof Noworyta, Joanna Trzcińska-Danielewicz, Agnieszka Girstun and Agnieszka Kamińska

RSC Advances 2019, 9, pp. 576–59 doi: 10.1039/C8RA08319C

Sources of variability in SERS spectra of bacteria: comprehensive analysis of interactions between selected bacteria and plasmonic nanostructures

Evelin Witkowska, Krzysztof Niciński, Dorota Korsak, Tomasz Szymborski, and Agnieszka Kamińska

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry April 2019, Volume 411, Issue 10, pp. 2001–2017 doi: 10.1007/s00216-019-01609-4

Steel Wire Mesh as a Thermally Resistant SERS Substrate

Tomasz Szymborski, Evelin Witkowska, Krzysztof Niciński, Zuzanna Majka, Tomasz Krehlik, Tomiła Deskur, Katarzyna Winkler and Agnieszka Kamińska

Nanomaterials 2018, Volume 8, Issue 9, p. 663 doi: 10.3390/nano8090663

List of conferences

List of Conferences in PDF file


Number P.436251

The method for determining the presence of venereal disease pathogens.

Sylwia Berus, Beata Młynarczyk-Bonikowska, Monika Adamczyk-Popławska, Tomasz Szymborski, Evelin Witkowska-Iwan, and Agnieszka Michota-Kamińska


We have developed a novel approach for detection pathogens responsible for sexually transmitted disease (STD). The present method is based on a SERS technique combined with chemometric analysis (PCA, PLS-DA). Since a new method enable fast (ca. 15 minutes), simple, label-free and accurate identification of pathogens, this new invention may significantly influence the future of diagnosis STD in real clinical samples.



Number P.434300

The method of manufacturing a silicon platform for SERS measurements, silicon platform for SERS measurements and the use of a silicon platform for SERS measurements of biological samples.

Tomasz Szymborski, Yuriy Stepanenko, Patrycja Piecyk, Krzysztof Niciński, and Agnieszka Michota-Kamińska


The first object of the invention is the method of manufacturing a silicon platform with femtosecond laser. The second object of the invention is a silicon platform for SERS measurements. Another object of invention is the application of the platform for direct detection and/or identification of biological or chemical samples using a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).



Number P.433801

The method of deposition of microorganisms or cancer cells on the SERS platform using a dielectrophoretic effect and identification of microorganisms or cancer cells on the SERS platform.

Tomasz Szymborski, Ariadna Nowicka, Marta Czaplicka, Joanna Trzcińska-Danilewicz, Agnieszka Girstun, and Agnieszka Michota-Kamińska


The subject of the invention is the method of deposition of microorganisms (mainly bacteria) or cancer cells with the use of the negative dielectrophoretic effect (n-DEP). In the proposed patent application we apply an alternating electric field between two electrodes. Main electrode is a flexible SERS platform on which the examined objects are deposited due to dielectrophoretic force. After depositing with the use of n-DEP technique we identify bacteria/cancer cells via surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique. The invention is used in microbiological laboratories.



Number P.430767

Flexible platform for surface-enhanced Raman effect, method of preparing such a platform, method of determining substances and/or microorganisms using such a platform, using such a platform for direct detection and/or identification of substances and/or microorganisms, especially bacteria and cancer cells using the technique surface enhanced Raman effect.

Marta Czaplicka, Ariadna Nowicka, Tomasz Szymborski, Aneta Kowalska, Joanna Trzcińska-Danilewicz, Agnieszka Girstun and Agnieszka Michota-Kamińska


The goal of the invention was to develop a platform with a high enhancing factor, high repeatability, stability, and ease of processing, e.g. by cutting and bending. The platform would allow the application of electrical potentials (deposition of bacteria or cancer cells using dielectrophoretic effect), and thus capable of measuring microorganisms, and especially bacteria, using the SERS technique.



Number P.430701

Method for detecting thermotolerant bacteria of the genus Campylobacter spp. in food.

Evelin Witkowska, Krzysztof Niciński, Bartłomiej Dominiak, Dorota Korsak, Jacek Waluk and Agnieszka Michota-Kamińska


We have developed a new approach applying novel silver/photovoltaic-based (Ag/PV) SERS substrates in the detection of foodborne bacteria, namely thermotolerant Campylobacter spp., in different poultry samples. The presented method of bacteria identification based on the SERS technique challenges the standard biochemical methods in terms of simplicity, specificity and rapidity, and thus may significantly influence the future of microbiology and medical diagnosis.



Number P.426643

Platform for surface-enhanced Raman effect, method of preparing such a platform, method for determining substances and/or microorganisms using such a platform, use of such a platform for direct detection and/or identification of substances and/or microorganisms, especially bacteria, using the surface-enhanced Raman effect technique or in combination with electrochemical measurements.

Krzysztof Niciński, Evelin Witkowska, Dorota Korsak, Joanna Trzcińska-Danilewicz, Agnieszka Girstun, Tomasz Szymborski and Agnieszka Michota-Kamińska


We have developed a SERS platform with a high enhancement factor, high repeatability and stability that would allow for the electrical potential to be applied (i.e. useful for spectroelectrochemical measurements) and capable of providing suitable surface for measuring spectra of microorganisms, especially bacteria, using the surface-enhanced Raman scattering technique (SERS). The platform can be used for SERS measurements of various biological and organic samples. Main element of a platform is photovoltaic cell of which bottom layer consist of metal, constituting the bottom electrode. Upper part is covered with a layer of doped silicon equipped with a anti-reflective layer, on the surface of which the electrode leads are located. Additionally SERS-active metallic layer is deposited on the anti-reflective surface.



Currently we are not looking for a MSc/PhD students or PostDocs within the FORMI project.