Development of optical (SERS) and electrochemical (EC) sensors for analysis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e., diclofenac) in aquatic environments (i.e., surface water). Specifically:
- Developing an optical sensor (Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy - SERS) based on the application of silver nanoparticles to determine non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e., diclofenac) in surface water with high sensitivity.
- Developing an electrochemical sensor based on the application of graphene material combined with metal nanoparticles to identify non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e, diclofenac) in surface water environment.
- Initial integration of capillary electrophoresis (CE) separation to treat water samples before determining pharmaceutical substances on developed analytical systems

- In this work, the combination of the advantages of the highly enhanced SERS effect from Ag nanoparticles and the magnetic property provided by Fe3O4 was fully investigated. The results show that Ag/Fe3O4 hybrid material has been successfully synthesized with a particle size of about 80 nm and a distance between particles of less than 20 nm. The intensity of the plasmon resonance peak produced by Ag nanoparticles is quite strong although the position of the peak is slightly blue-shifted. The saturation magnetization is sufficient so that the hybrid nanocomposite structure can self-align under the magnetic field of an external magnet. The SERS substrate based on the Ag/Fe3O4 hybrid nanocomposite can detect diclofenac with a detection limit of 10-12 M and an enhancement factor of up to 1010. 
- In our next research, this hybrid nanocomposite material will continue used to enable easy and reversible immobilization of metallic nanostructures within microfluidic devices on which a SERS detector is integrated and coupled to capillary electrophoretic separation.
- Improve the research capacity of the research team.
- Consolidate and strengthen cooperation in scientific research and training of the Institute for Tropical Technology with research and training institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
- 01 article VAST 1 accepted for publication (Passed): Bui Duy Hai, Pham Do Chung, Magdalena Osial, Marcin Pisarek, Anna Tycova, Pham Thi Nam, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Nguyen Thi Thanh Ngan, Vu Thi Thu. Ag/Fe3O4 bifunctional nanocomposite for SERS detection of non-steroidal anti-inflammation drug diclofenac. Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology xx(x) (2024) xxx – xxx accepted for publication on May 9, 2024).
- Contribute to training 01 bachelor at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi.

The hybrid nanocomposite material system designed and fabricated in this project has great potential for application in reusable, compact and highly portable SERS sensors. These are prerequisite studies for the development of CE-SERS chips (a new technology that combines electrophoretic separation (commonly seen in CE) with Raman characteristic analysis (in SERS)) serving various applications in future research.

- Publication: Bui Duy Hai, Pham Do Chung, Magdalena Osial, Marcin Pisarek, Anna Tycova, Pham Thi Nam, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Nguyen Thi Thanh Ngan, Vu Thi Thu. Ag/Fe3O4 bifunctional nanocomposite for SERS detection of non-steroidal anti-inflammation drug diclofenac. Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology xx(x) (2024) xxx – xxx, accepted for publication May 9, 2024.
- Training: 01 bachelor

The project team has successfully designed and manufactured a hybrid nanocomposite material system with great potential for application in reusable, compact and highly portable SERS sensors. These are prerequisite studies for the development of CE-SERS chips (a new technology that combines electrophoretic separation (commonly seen in CE) with Raman characteristic analysis (in SERS)) serving different applications.
The research team sincerely thanks the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, and hopes to continue receiving support from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to enhance collaborative research with the Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Czech Republic in the near future.