In this contribution we illustrate different industrial applications in the RFID context, developed by IES S.r.l. Company. Two different devices for a system called "IGTR System" (Identificion Geografica con Tag Radio) have been designed. Both of them operate in the Ultra High Frequency range, at different frequencies (865-928 MHz and 2400 MHz respectively). For the lower frequencies (865-928 MHz) a passive tag was used. Instead, for the higher frequencies an active tag using Bluetooth Low Energy protocol has been designed. These systems have been successfully tested in South America for access control applications. Currently, IES is working to realize technical solutions that employ metamaterial technology, in order to reduce the antenna dimensions. In this context, furthermore, as a research topic, IES intends to study the possibility to use micro metamaterials that operate in the S-C band such as RFID readers antennas.

The use of nanodevices for biomedical applications has recently been object of study by researchers. Novel prospectives can be envisaged in the field of nanomedicine, also supported by innovative nanodevices with specific properties. In this chapter, we present the electromagnetic properties of different metal nanoparticles (i.e., nanocube, nanocylinder, nanorod, bow-tie, biconical nanoparticle, etc.), opportunely functionalized for sensing applications, as well as drugged with medicament to be released to specific locations, for innovative therapeutic treatments. After modeling the design of such nanoparticles, we investigate the channel model adopted in electromagnetic nanonetworks. Basically, we focus on the nanoparticle transmission, diffusion and reception processes, both for extra- and in-vivo applications i.e., for the detection of target cells in a biological tissue sample, and for drug delivery via nanoparticle adsorption, respectively. Numerical results obtained through full-wave simulations have shown the effectiveness of electromagnetic nanoparticles for specific biomedical applications (e.g., DNA alteration detection). Finally, we highlight that in this chapter the electromagnetic properties that are described are used for sensing and drug delivery, and not for communication among nanoparticles.

In this contribution we propose a numerical and experimental verification of a high power amplifier operating in the V-UHF (Very-Ultra High Frequency) regime. The designed amplifier has a push-pull configuration without negative feedback network in order to have low-distortion using high-level of AM (Amplitude Modulation). It is shown from the numerical and experimental results that the amplifier exhibits an output power of more than 100W CW (Continuous Waveform) and 200W PEP (Peak Envelope Power) over the entire frequency band from 30 to 512MHz. The amplifier can find application in military communication systems.

In this paper, an analytical and numerical investigation for modified gold nanorod particles, operating in the visible and in the infrared regime is proposed. The modified particles consist in a core/shell structure (dielectric core/metallic shell) embedded in a dielectric environment. Their electromagnetic properties, in terms of extinction cross section (absorption and scattering) for both longitudinal and transverse modes excitation, are evaluated. In particular, new analytical models are developed, describing their resonant behavior. Good agreement among the analytical, numerical, and experimental results was achieved. Exploiting the obtained models, the nanoparticle sensitivity was studied. Analytical and full wave results validate the high sensitivity performances and the potential role of such structures to be used for sensing applications.

In this paper we propose a new approach to study the electromagnetic field in Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) meta-structures. The geometry is a planar structure infinitely extended with a pulse excitation current embedded in the substrate. The general solution has been applied to a specific geometry that is frequently employed to model practical problems. The minimization of the thickness changes spectral Green's function in a more efficient form, suitable for calculations. Plasmon electric field expression on interface plane is obtained. This kind of meta-structures is suitable in various fields of application (e.g. optoelectronics and electromagnetic sensors).

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to contribute an analytical and numerical study of a new type of nanoshell particles operating in the visible regime. Design/methodology/approach – The structure consists of a core/shell particle, arranged in a planar array configuration, with a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-graphene core and gold thin shell. Findings – By exploiting the proposed analytical model the design of a metamaterial-based sensor, operating in the optical frequency range, for the detection of tissue diseases is shown. Originality/value – Full-wave simulations confirm the capability of the proposed sensor to identify different compounds by refractive index measurement.

In this work electromagnetic properties of a new type of graphene nanoparticles are investigated.The particles consist of graphene circular and square rings, embedded in a dielectric environment.The electromagnetic behavior in terms of resonant frequency position, magnitude and amplitude width for the absorption cross-section and the near electric field distribution are evaluated.Moreover, the influence of the geometrical parameters is also evaluated.The electromagnetic analysis is derived through proper full-wave numerical simulations.Numerical results show that the nanoparticles can be successfully used for the development of future graphene-based antennas operating in the TeraHertz Band.

The interconnection of nanoscale devices (i.e., nanonodes) within a nanonetwork with existing communication networks, as well as the Internet, defines a new networking paradigm, namely the Internet of Nano-Things. Within this context, the definition of a nanonode requires specific features, especially for what concerns novel nanomaterial and components. Graphene-enabled wireless communications is emerging as a novel paradigm, which has been proposed to implement wireless communications among nanosystems. Indeed, graphene-based plasmonic nanoantennas, namely graphennas, are just a few micrometers in size, and are accordingly tuned to radiate electromagnetic waves in the terahertz band. In this work, the important role of the graphene conductivity in the contest of the characteristics of graphene-based nanoantennas is analyzed. Basically, we propose a particular shape for a nanoantenna (i.e., a bow-tie nanoantenna), and we study its radiation performance both in transmission, and reception. The resonance frequency of this kind of antenna is achieved by full-wave simulation. Moreover, the influence of the geometrical parameters is also evaluated. Numerical results will prove useful for designers of future graphene-based antennas, which are estimated to enable wireless communications in nanosystems.

In this contribution the stimulus complications in DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation) are evaluated and discussed. In particular we present a new method to predict the network response when a DBS stimulus is applied. A neural network similarly to ipsi-contralateral nerve topology is presented. The network consists of 175 neurons arranged in three layers. To validate the DBS stimulus propagation extensive numerical analyses have been conducted through Neuron software simulations. Results confirm the possibility to predict the correct stimulation parameters.

In this contribution a nanodevice based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) phenomenon for biological characterization operating in the Visible and Near Infrared frequency Regime is proposed. The device consists of coupled biconical nanoparticles deposited on a silica substrate. By using a very small inter-particle distance it is possible to obtain a strong near electric field enhancement at the resonant wavelength suitable for ultra-sensitive biosensing applications. Full-wave simulations confirm the possibility to use the device as an optical sensor to detect in a ultra-sensitive way different cholesterol concentrations of the lipid membrane.

In this paper plasmonic nanoparticles arranged in an array configuration for the detection of glycerol concentration in aqueous solution, are presented. Glycerol concentration measurement is crucial for several application fields, such as biomedical engineering, medicine and biofuels fabrication. The detection of glycerol presence in aqueous solution is not simple, due to the fact that its refractive index shows small changes when different concentrations are considered. For this purpose, an LSPR (Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance) sensor, based on near field interaction of non-spherical dielectric-filled metallic particles (nanoshell) deposited on a silica substrate, is proposed. In this configuration an enhancement of the LSPR phenomenon with high sensitivity performances and a uniform near electric field distribution are obtained. In this way a shift in the position of the sensor response is related to the different concentration of the material under test. Numerical results, performed by full-wave simulations, show that the sensor can be used for the recognition of glycerol and its concentration in a highly accurate and sensitive way.

In this paper, we present a multi-source nanonetwork model for biomedical diagnosis applications, based on the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance by different shape gold nanoparticles (i.e., cylinder, cube, and rod).We present the process of multi-source emission, diffusion, and reception of nanoparticles, based on the ligand/receptor binding.Then, a multi-detection process of DNA alterations is accomplished when nanoparticles are captured at the receiver.The colloidal particles are selectively functionalized with specific splice junctions of gene sequences to reveal simultaneously different alteration that could be associated to an early disease condition.Particularly, full-wave simulations have been carried out for the multi-detection of alternative splice junctions of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1.The proposed application is verified through numerical results and expressed in terms of Extinction-Cross Section, in the case of synchronous and asynchronous nanoparticles detection.We show that the proposed approach is able to detect DNA alterations, based on a selective nanoparticle reception process.

In this contribution we will present our research activities recently developed at Roma Tre University in the field of plasmonic nanoparticles for biosensing applications. We show several innovative sensing platforms, operating in the visible and near-infrared frequency regime. The contribution of our group regards to the electromagnetic modeling of such nanoparticles and their applications for the analysis and recognition of organic compounds. Numerical results, performed by full-wave simulations, show as the sensors can be used for the recognition of different organic compounds and their concentrations in a highly accurate and sensitive way.

In this paper we propose the theoretical possibility to use plasmonic nanoparticles to investigate alternative gene splicing. Nanoparticle flows are transmitted by a nanomachine, and diffuse in a biological environment, till reaching a receiver. The detection process of DNA alterations is accomplished when nanoparticles are captured at the receiver, through ligand-receptor bindings. A sensing platform, consisting of a silica substraste with an array of thin gold patches, is used for the immobilization of DNA capture sequence. The colloidal particles are functionalized with specific splice junctions of gene sequences (particularly, we considered the breast cancer susceptibility gene 1), to reveal alterations that could be associated to an early disease condition. A sandwich structure occurs only if the mutation (i.e., a target sequence) is present. To test this scheme, the electromagnetic analysis of the sensing platform is derived through full-wave numerical simulations. The Extinction-Cross Section is evaluated, in the case of synchronous and asynchronous nanoparticles detection.

Skin absorption properties, under diseases conditions, are modified due to the structural variations of chromophores and pigments. The measurement of such different absorptions can be a useful tool for the recognition of different skin diseases. In this study the design of a multi-resonant metamaterial-based sensor operating in the optical frequency range is presented.The sensor has been designed, in order to have multiple specific resonant frequencies, tuned to the skin components spectral characteristics. A change in the frequency amplitude of the sensor response is related to the different absorption rate of skin chromophores and pigments.A new analytical model, describing the multi-resonant sensor behaviour, is developed. Good agreement among analytical and numerical results was achieved.Full-wave simulations have validated the capability of the proposed sensor to identify different skin diseases.

In this contribution electromagnetic properties of traditional and modified bow-tie nanoparticles are investigated. The modified bow-tie particles consist of a pair of opposing metallic truncated triangles, embedded in a dielectric environment, with a rectangular dielectric hole engraved on the metallic structure. New analytical models for both structures are developed in order to describe the nanoparticles electromagnetic behavior in terms of resonant wavelength position, magnitude and amplitude width for the extinction cross-section. Analytical results are compared to the numerical values and to the experimental ones existing in literature. Good agreement among them is obtained. Then, the structures are analyzed in terms of sensitivity properties. Results reveal that the modified bow-tie structure can be applied for biomedical applications.

Electromagnetic modeling of dielectric materials allows us to study the effects of electromagnetic wave propagation and how such electromagnetic fields influence and interact with them. Dielectric materials are composites or mixtures, which often are made up of at least two constituents or phases. Modelling the electromagnetic behaviour of dielectric mixtures is crucial to understand how geometrical factors (shape and concentration), electromagnetic properties of inclusions and background medium, influence the permittivity of the overall material. The aim of this work is to develop new analytical models for dielectric mixtures, in order to describe their electromagnetic behaviour and design them with desired electromagnetic properties, for specific required applications. In particular, in this paper a new general expression for the effective permittivity of dielectric mixture is presented. The mixtures consist of inclusions, with arbitrary shapes, embedded in a surrounding dielectric environment. We consider the hosting environment and the hosted material as real dielectrics, both of them as dispersive dielectrics. The proposed analytical models simplify practical design tasks for dielectric mixtures and allow us to understand their physical phenomena and electromagnetic behaviours.

Purpose - In this contribution, the aim is to present a nanoparticle device, operating in the visible regime based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon.Design/methodology/approach - The nanoparticle electromagnetic properties are evaluated by a new analytical model and compared to the results obtained by numerical analysis.Findings - A near-field enhancement is obtained by arranging the nanoparticles in a linear array. Analytical formulas, describing such enhancement, are presented.Originality/value - The results demonstrate the possibility to use the proposed device for medical diagnostics and optoelectronics applications.

We present a new analytical study of metallic nanoparticles, working in the infrared and visible frequency range. The structure consists of triaxial ellipsoidal resonating inclusions embedded in a dielectric environment. Our aim is to develop a new analytical model for the ellipsoidal nanoparticles to describe their resonant behaviors and design structures that satisfy specific electromagnetic requirements. The obtained models are compared to the numerical values, performed by full-wave simulations, as well as to the experimental ones reported in literature. A good agreement among these results was obtained. The proposed formula is a useful tool to design such structures for sensing applications. (C) The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.