ABSTRACT
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.
