title: Alternative SERRS probes for the immunochemical localization of ovalbumin in paintings: an advanced mapping detection approach.
abstract: In the field of analytical chemistry, many scientific efforts have been devoted to develop experimental procedures for the characterization of organic substances present in heterogeneous artwork samples, due to their challenging identification. In particular, performances of immunochemical techniques have been recently investigated, optimizing ad hoc systems for the identification of proteins. Among all the different immunochemical approaches, the use of metal nanoparticles - for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection - remains one of the most powerful methods that has still not been explored enough for the analysis of artistic artefacts. For this reason, the present research work was aimed at proposing a new optimized and highly efficient indirect immunoassay for the detection of ovalbumin. In particular, the study proposed a new SERRS probe composed of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalised with Nile Blue A and produced with an excellent green and cheap alternative approach to the traditional chemical nanoparticles synthesis: the laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASiS). This procedure allows us to obtain stable nanoparticles which can be easily functionalized without any ligand exchange reaction or extensive purification procedures. Moreover, the present research work also focused on the development of a comprehensive analytical approach, based on the combination of potentialities of immunochemical methods and Raman analysis, for the simultaneous identification of the target protein and the different organic and inorganic substances present in the paint matrix. An advanced mapping detection system was proposed to achieve the exact spatial location of all the components through the creation of false colour chemical maps.
authors.affiliation: Microchemistry and Microscopy Art Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Bologna, Via Guaccimanni 42, 48121 Ravenna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sciutto
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Litti
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lofrumento
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prati
authors.forename: Marilena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbo
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castellucci
authors.forename: Moreno
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meneghetti
authors.forename: Rocco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazzeo