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Welcome to the Ghasemi Research Group!

   Where Chemistry and Plasmonic/Luminescent Nanoparticles Meet to Design Colorimetric/Fluorometric Sensors for Environmental, Agricultural, and Medicinal Applications …

 

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Education

• Post-doctorate

Sharif University of Technology, Tehran-Iran, 2017-2018

Thesis: “Design of ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobes for naked-eye detection”

• Post-doctorate

Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran, 2016-2017

Thesis: “Design and fabrication of nanostructured substrates for the detection of biomolecules”

• Sabbatical leave

Bionanoplasmonics laboratory, Professor Luis M. Liz-Marzan, CIC biomaGUNE, Spain, 2016

Thesis: “Recognition of biologically relevant glycans by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy”

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry

Sharif University of Technology, Tehran-Iran, 2012-2016

Thesis: “Colorimetric sensor array design for classification and detection of nanoparticles and biomolecules”

• MS in Analytical Chemistry

Sharif University of Technology, Tehran-Iran, 2010-2012

Thesis: “Determination of protein absorption profile at the surface of biocompatible superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles using gel electrophoresis”

• BS in Applied Chemistry

University of Kharazmi, Karaj-Iran, 2006-2010

 

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Honor, Awards, and Scholarships

• Kazemi Ashtiani Award, Iran's National Elites Foundation, 2022
• Research and Innovation Award, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran, 2022
• Post-doctorate grant, Iran National Science Foundation, 2018
• Post-doctorate grant, Iran Science Elites Federation, 2017
• Outstanding Student Award, Sharif University of Technology, 2016
• Education (Shahid Vezvaei) Award, Iran's National Elites Foundation, 2015
• Scholarship Award, Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (Iran), 2015
• Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council Award, 2014
• Education (Shahid Vezvaei) Award, Iran's National Elites Foundation, 2014
• Iran Nanotechnology Initiative Council Award, 2011
• First rank student among BS chemistry students, and member of Brilliant Talents, University of Kharazmi, 2007-2010

 

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Research Interest

• Design of nanoparticle-based optical sensors
• Design of sensor arrays
• Plasmonic and luminescent nanoparticles
• Organic synthesis (magnetite nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, gold nanorods, quantum dots, and carbon dots)
• UV/Visible, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopy
• Chemometric methods for multivariate data analysis
• Protein corona
• Gel electrophoresis
• Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

 

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The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of plasmonic nanoparticles arises from the interaction between incident light and free electrons in the NPs' conduction band, which drives free electrons to oscillate collectively. SPR depends on the physicochemical properties of plasmonic nanoparticles including size, shape, composition, surface coating, and electrical charge of nanoparticles. These physicochemical properties determine the potential application of plasmonic nanoparticles in different fields (Green Plasmonic Nanoparticles, In Encyclopedia of Green Materials, Springer, 2022).

 

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Plasmonic Nanosensors

Colorimetric sensors rely on changes in the optical properties of nanoparticles due to their aggregation, formation, enzyme-like activity, etching, anti-aggregation, and growth. As a result of these mechanisms, a redshift/blueshift/increase/decrease occurs in the SPR band of nanoparticles and consequently visible color change of the sensor (Analytica Chimica Acta, 1238, 2023, 340640).

 

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Nanoparticle-Based Optical Sensor Arrays

Critical decisions on the treatment of diseases, food/drug quality control, pollution issues, criminal investigations, explosive detections, and many other medical, environmental, industrial, and security concerns require the development of effective assays, capable of simultaneous determination of various analytes of interest. Moving from specific individual lock-and-key sensors toward cross-reactive sensor arrays enables the recognition and discrimination of groups of target species. The presence of cross-reactive sensing elements not only leads to increase in the number of detectable analytes, but also allows make use of non-specific interactions for recognition. This so-called “differential sensing” has been inspired by nature’s use of arrays of receptors in the senses of taste and smell. Each receptor (sensing element) has a semi-selective response to a particular analyte and the specificity of the sensor is accomplished by pattern-based recognition in which distinct response patterns are attained for each analyte. Developing a sensor array seems like employing a detective whom gathers clues from several evidences to reveal the truth (Nanoscale, 9, 2017, 16546).

Nanoscale, 9, 2017, 16546.

 

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Ratiometric Fluorescent Nanoprobes

Signal generation mechanisms for naked-eye detection of analytes are becoming increasingly popular in various sensing fields. These approaches are mainly advantageous when instrumentation is not available, such as for on-site assays, point-of-care tests, and healthcare diagnostics in resource-constrained areas. Among various naked eye detection approaches currently being explored for non-invasive quantitative measurements, ratiometric fluorescence sensing has received particular attention as a potential technique to overcome the limitations of intensity-based probes. This technique relies on changes in the intensity of two or more emission bands (induced by the analyte), resulting in an effective internal referencing which improves the sensitivity. Taking advantage of this self-calibration, together with the unique optophysical properties of nanoparticles (NPs), in ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobes, high sensitivity and reliability can be obtained, allowing precise naked-eye detection of the analytes. Over the past few years, a vast number of ratiometric sensing probes using nanostructured fluorophores have been designed and reported for a wide variety of sensing, imaging, and biomedical applications (Analytica Chimica Acta, 1079, 2019, 30-58).

Analytica Chimica Acta, 1079, 2019, 30-58.

 

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• F. Ghasemi, M. Sepahvand, H. Mir Seyed Hosseini, Colorimetric Kit Based on Gold Nanoparticles for Qualitative and Quantitative Detection of Nitrite Ion, Patent number: 105997, 2021.

 

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Books/Book Chapters

• F. Ghasemi, S. Abbasi-Moayed, Z. Jafar-Nezhad Ivrigh, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, Array-based sensing using gold and silver nanoparticles. In Gold and Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Applications, pp. 165-203. Elsevier, 2023.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323994545000081?via%3Dihub

• F. Ghasemi, A. Naseri, M. Sepahvand, Green Plasmonic Nanoparticles. In Encyclopedia of Green Materials, Springer, 2022.

https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-16-4921-9_23-1

• N. Fahimi-Kashani, F. Ghasemi, A. Bigdeli, S. Abbasi-Moayed, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, Nanostructure-based optical sensor arrays: principles and applications. In Sensing and Biosensing with Optically Active Nanomaterials, pp. 523-565. Elsevier, 2022. ​

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323902441000033

• A. Naseri, F. Ghasemi, Green Photocatalysts as Sustainable Materials for Removing Wastewater Pollutants. In Encyclopedia of Green Materials, Springer, 2022.

https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-16-4921-9_41-1

 

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Research Papers

• M. Sepahvand, F. Ghasemi, Colorimetric silver ion detection based on silver metallization of gold nanorods, ChemistrySelect, 9 (2024) e202400080. 

https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/slct.202400080

 

• M. Koushkestani, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, Ratiometric dual-mode optical sensor array for the identification and differentiation of pesticides in vegetables with mixed plasmonic and fluorescent nanostructures, ACS Applied Nano Materials, 7 (2024) 2764-2774.

​https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsanm.3c04982

 

• M. Abdali, F. Ghasemi, H. Mir Seyed Hosseini, V. Mahdavi, Different sized gold nanoparticles for array-based sensing of pesticides and its application for strawberry monitoring, Talanta, 267 (2024) 125121.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S003991402300872X

 

• M. Sepahvand, H. Mir Seyed Hosseini, F. Ghasemi, Nitrate concentration measurement in cress plant using a colorimetric sensor based on gold nanoparticles, Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research, 54 (2023) 1147-1157.

https://ijswr.ut.ac.ir/article_93583.html?lang=en

 

• A. Orouji, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, Machine learning-assisted colorimetric assay based on Au@Ag nanorods for chromium speciation, Analytical Chemistry, 95 (2023) 10110-10118.

​https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.analchem.3c01904

 

• S. Hoseinniya, A. H. Rezayan, F. Ghasemi, M. Malekmohamadi, et al., Fabrication and evaluation of optical nanobiosensor based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of gold nanorod for detection of CRP, Analytica Chimica Acta, 1237 (2023) 340580.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003267022011515

 

• A. Orouji, S. Abbasi-Moayed, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, A wide-range pH indicator based on colorimetric patterns of gold@silver nanorods, Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 358 (2022) 131479. 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0925400522001216

• Colorimetric assay for chromium speciation using Au@Ag nanorods with machine learning assistance, A. Orouji, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, The 6^th National Congress and Workshops on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NCWNN6), 2024.

 

• Nanoplasmonic sensor arrays, F. Ghasemi, The 4^th Digital Congress on Nanobiotechnology and Bioengineering (4^th CDNB), Brazil, 2023.

 

• Gold nanorod-based colorimetric sensor for quantitative and qualitative detection of ferric ion in tilapia fishponds, E. Ghorbanian Gazafroudi, F. Ghasemi, K. Rezaei Tavabe, The 6^th International Congress of Developing Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism of Iran, 2022.

 

• Monitoring of chlorpyrifos pesticide in water and soil samples using developed colorimetric sensor based on Gold Nanoparticles, M. Abdali, F. Ghasemi, H. Mir Seyed Hosseini, The 8^th Scientific and Research Conference on the Development and Promotion of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources of Iran, 2022. 

 

• Nanolitmus paper: A wide range colorimetric pH sensor based on formation of gold@silver nanorods, A. Orouji, S. Abbasi-Moayed, F. Ghasemi, M. Reza Hormozi-Nezhad, The 27^th Iranian Seminar of Analytical Chemistry, 2022.

 

• Nanoplasmonic sensor arrays: Principles and applications, F. Ghasemi, The 21^st International Conference on Nanotechnology, Switerzland, 2022.

 

• F. Ghasemi, Royal Society of Chemistry-Tokyo International Conference 2021 (RSC-TIC2021): Spectroscopic imaging and sensing, 2021.

 

• Multicolorimetric probe based on gold nanorods for nitrite and nitrate detection, F. Ghasemi, Iran-Philippines International Virtual Symposium on Agricultural Nanotechnology, 2021.

 

• Design of colorimetric sensor based on plasmonic nanoparticles for detection and measurement of nitrate in soil solution, M. Sepahvand, F. Ghasemi, H. Mir Seyed Hosseini, The 17^th Iranian Soil Science Congress and 4^th National Conference on Farm Water Management, 2021.

 

• F. Ghasemi, The 1^st Chemometrics Symposium of Iranian Chemical Society, University of Tabriz, 2020.

 

• Design of a fluorometric sensor array for visual detection and discrimination of nitroaromatic explosives, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad. The 8^th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2020.

 

• Development of a colorimetric probe based on gold nanorods for visual detection of spermidine, A. Orouji, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad. The 8^th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2020.

 

• Detection and identification of paraquat and bifenazate pesticides in citrus using gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric sensor array, M. Mirghafouri, S. Abbasi-Moayed, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad. The 8^th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2020.

 

• Silver nanoparticles-based optoelectronic tongue for detection and classification of asinphosmethyl and thiometon pesticides, M. Koushkestani, S. Abbasi-Moayed, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad. The 8^th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2020.

 

• Visual detection of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) in aqueous solution based on aggregation of gold nanoparticles, Z. Taefi, F. Ghasemi, and M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad. The 26^th Iranian Conference of Analytical Chemistry, 2019.

 

• Nanoparticle-based optical sensors for naked-eye detection, F. Ghasemi, Symposium of Biosensors and Nanobiosensors, 1^st BIONA, Shahid Beheshti Student Scientific Association of Biotechnology, and Sharif Student Scientific Association of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2019.

 

• Colorimetric sensor array based on plasmonic nanoparticles, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, and F. Ghasemi. The 7^th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2018.

 

• F. Ghasemi, USERN Spring Conference, Tehran University of Medical Science, 2018.

 

• An optoelectronic tongue for simultaneous detection of β-Amyloid40 and β-Amyloid42, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, and M. Mahmoudi. The 25^th Iranian Seminar of Analytical Chemistry, 2018.

 

• Gold nanoparticle-based sensor array for detection and classification of metal ions, F. Najafzadeh, F. Ghasemi, and M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad. The 7^th International Conference on Nanostructures, 2018.

 

• Design of fluorescent ratiometric probe for detection of Hg(II) ions, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, and M. Mahmoudi. The 7^th International Conference on Nanostructures, 2018.

 

• Visual enantioselective recognition of aminoacids based on unmodified CdTe quantum dots, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, and M. Mahmoudi. The 24^th Iranian Chemical Society Seminar of Analytical Chemistry, 2017.

 

• Label-free colorimetric detection of methiocarb insecticid based on aggregation of gold nanoparticles, A. A. Mohammadi, F. Ghasemi, and M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad. The 19^th Iranian Chemistry Congress, 2017.

 

• Array-based sensing of catecholamine neurotransmitters using optical property of alkali-oxidized catecholamines, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, and M. Mahmoudi. The 23^th Iranian Seminar of Analytical Chemistry, 2016.

 

• Array-based detection of glutathione and glutathione disulfide in human serum plasma, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, and M. Mahmoudi. The 6^th International Conference on Nanostructures, 2016.

 

• Detection and classification of gold nanoparticles with different size and shape using a simple colorimetric sensor array, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, S. Mirsadeghi, and M. Mahmoudi. The 21^st Iranian Analytical Chemistry Conference, 2015.

 

• Determination of protein adsorption profile at the surface of magnetic nanoparticles using gel electrophoresis, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, and M. Mahmoudi. The 19^th Iranian Seminar of Analytical Chemistry, 2013.

 

• Large-scale synthesis of narrow-sized magnetite nanorods, F. Ghasemi, M. R. Hormozi-Nezhad, and M. Mahmoudi. The 14^th Iranian Inorganic Chemistry Conference, 2013.

 

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