A Nano-Dimension Strategy for Sustainable Preventive Conservation: Preliminary Results from the Synthesis of an LSPR-Based Platform for Versatile Analytics

Anthropic activities and their environmental impact are increasingly recognized as critical threats to the preservation of Cultural Heritage. Preventive conservation strategies must evolve to address complex risk factors, including air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which originate from both degrading artifacts and museum display cases. In this context, nanotechnology and advanced sensing platforms offer promising solutions. In this study, we report on the preliminary results about synthesis and characterization of an hybrid substrate composed of noble metal nanoparticles (AgNPs) stabilized within a 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) polymer brush network crosslinked with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TREDGMA) and anchored on a gold surface through atom transfer radical polymerization. The system exploits localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of NPs and is designed for potential applications in gas sensing and dry-sampling protocols with the possibility of coupling Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) spectroscopic analysis for Cultural Heritage diagnostics. Characterization by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDX) and Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the formation of an uniform polymer coating and successful integration of AgNPs, with tunable morphology depending on reaction conditions. Developed within the framework of the NRRP-funded CHANGES project, this platform aims to integrate sustainability, sensitivity, and adaptability, providing conservators with new tools for early detection and non-invasive diagnostics.