Giusy Finocchiaro

Research Interests

Plasmonic biosensors for medical diagnostics. Investigation of biomolecular interactions in complex media. Nonspecific adsorption of blood plasma proteins on sensing surfaces. Nanotechnologies for biomedical applications.

Education

2022 – present: internship at the Laboratory of Matter and Complex System, Université Paris Cité

Topic: Investigation of the antioxidant activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNP), investigation of the protein corona surrounding CNP upon contact with blood plasma.

Supervisor: prof. Jean-François Berret.

2020 – present: doctoral studies at the University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Faculty of Chemical Engineering. 

Study program: Physical chemistry.

Thesis title: Plasmonic biosensors for the investigation of biomolecules and their interactions.

Supervisor: prof. Ing. Jiří Homola, CSc., DSc.

2019: internship at the Institute of Photonics and Electronics, Czech Academy of Science.

Topic: Development of a plasmonic sensor for the detection of a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Supervisor: prof. Ing. Jiří Homola, CSc., DSc.

2017 – 2019: Master degree in Biomolecular Chemistry at the University of Catania, Italy.

Thesis: Plasmonic methods for medical diagnostics.

Supervisor: prof. Giuseppe Spoto.

2014 – 2017: Bachelor degree in Chemistry at the University of Catania, Italy.

Thesis: Selective anchoring of proteins to bioactive surfaces.

Supervisor: prof. Giovanni Marletta.

Publications

Journal papers:

1. T. Špringer, E. Hemmerová, G. Finocchiaro, Z. Krištofiková, M. Vyhnálek, J. Homola: Surface plasmon resonance biosensor for the detection of tau-amyloid beta complex, Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical, 316, Article Number: 128146 (2020).