– INL presents a highlight oral contribution on SERS-on-a-chip technology for antibiotic and pathogen monitoring 

– ONE-BLUE also featured through a scientific poster on microdropletbased antibiotic detection in seawater 

Researchers from the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), partner of the Horizon Europe project ONE-BLUE, presented key advances in antibiotic detection and environmental monitoring at the 18th FEMS EUROMAT Congress, held from 14 to 18 September 2025 in Granada, Spain. The congress, Europe’s largest event in materials science and technology, gathered more than 1,800 participants and over 1,000 oral presentations across multiple thematic areas. 

One of the central contributions from INL to EUROMAT 2025 was a highlight oral presentation entitled “SERS-on-a-chip as an excellent tool for the One Health approach of AMR monitoring.” The talk, prepared by Dr. Laura Rodríguez-Lorenzo, was delivered by INL researcher Dr. Bernardo A. Nogueira and focused on the application of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) integrated into microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices. This technology enables highly sensitive SERS detection of antibiotics and pathogens in nanolitre volumes, supporting the One Health approach to combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). 

The presentation highlighted the relevance of this platform for ONE-BLUE, where INL is developing an autonomous sensor for real-time detection of antibiotics in marine environments, contributing to the evaluation of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in ocean waters.

Alongside the oral session, ONE-BLUE was also represented through the scientific poster “Integrated SERS-based microdroplet platform for antibiotics detection in water”, presented by Bruna Alves (INL). The work introduced a hybrid microdropletSERS platform capable of detecting antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, in seawater with high sensitivity. The study described the fabrication of stable PEGylated hybrid organic-plasmonic nanocomposites encapsulated in microdroplets, enabling fast, automated and multiplexed SERS-based detection in nanolitre volumes using a very compact Raman system. 

This technological development is directly aligned with ONE-BLUE’s goal of implementing advanced analytical tools for monitoring marine pollution and assessing the impact of CECs on biodiversity under changing environmental conditions. 

INL’s participation in EUROMAT 2025 underscores the project’s contribution to innovative sensing technologies, bridging materials science with marine environmental protection. By combining SERS, microfluidics, and novel analytical frameworks, ONEBLUE continues advancing towards a comprehensive understanding of emerging contaminants across European marine regions and supporting evidence-based ocean sustainability.  

ONE-BLUE

ONE–BLUE is a pioneering project funded by the Horizon Europe programme, launched in 2024 with a budget of €6.2 million. Its main goal is to protect aquatic ecosystems from emerging pollutants and climate change by fostering transnational cooperation between regions sharing seas and marine-related challenges. Through close collaboration between science and policy, the project strengthens collective efforts to restore and preserve European marine ecosystems, contributing to the development of a more sustainable blue economy. For more information, visit www.one–blue.eu and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X to stay up to date with the latest project news.

About Finnova Foundation

Finnova Foundation is a European foundation based in Brussels, committed to promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and EU funding as key tools to address major social, environmental, and economic challenges. Through its work, it supports public and private entities in accessing EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, LIFE, Interreg and Erasmus+, facilitating the creation of consortia, project development, and the transfer of best practices.

With extensive experience in EU project communication, startup acceleration, and training in EU funds, Finnova acts as a bridge between innovative ideas and European Union funding opportunities. For more information, visit www.finnova.eu and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and Instagram to stay informed about our activities and open calls.