Development of a fluorescence lifetime-based sol-gel humidity sensor

A sol-gel-based optical sensor for the measurement of relative humidity has been developed. It is based on the changes in fluorescence intensity and/or lifetime of the ruthenium complex, ruthenium(II)diphenylphenanthroline-dipyridophenazinehexafluorophosphate. Sensitivity to relative humidity has been demonstrated over the range 0-100% relative humidity. This sensor has been developed for application in the field of indoor air-quality monitoring and displays a limit of detection of 0.35% relative humidity and a resolution of 1.13% over the concentration range of interest (0-50% relative humidity). The effects of varying process parameters on the sensor performance were studied along with the effects of cross-sensitivity to molecular oxygen.     

Fully reversible fibre-optic glucose biosensor based on the intrinsic fluorescence of glucose oxidase

In a new type of glucose biosensor, the intrinsic green fluorescence of glucose oxidase (GOD) is used to provide the analytical information. It was found that the fluorescence of GOD changes during interaction with glucose. Fluorescence is excited at 450 nm and measured at ? 500 nm, which is a wavelength range that is compatible with glass and plastic fibres. The signal response is fully reversible because oxygen is a second substrate. A major feature of this sensor relies on the fact that the recognition element is identical with the transducer element.Enzyme solutions are entrapped at the fibre end within a semipermeable membrane. The change in fluorescence occurs over a small glucose concentration range (typically 1.5–2 mM), the signal at lower and higher glucose levels being unaffected by changes in glucose concentration. Response times of 2–30 min and regeneration times of 1–10 min are observed. Effects of pH and oxygen concentrations are also investigated. To achieve as extended analytical range (e.g., 2.5–10 mM) and shorter response times, kinetic measurements are suggested.     

A sorbitol-selective fluorescence sensor

A new anthracene derivative bearing two phenylboronic acid groups at the 1,8-positions was prepared and its binding properties towards sorbitol, xylitol, fructose, glucose and galactose have been studied using fluorescence analysis.     

Measurement of glucose using fluorescence quenching

A new spectroscopic procedure for the measurement of glucose concentrations is described which is based on substrate induced quenching (SIQ) of an indicator fluorescence. The method exploits a novel photo reaction between thionine and NADH, the latter being generated due to the reduction of NAD⁺ in an enzymic reaction between glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) and glucose. The observed SIQ data was analysed using an empirical relation. A quenching constant of 1.8×10³ (±100) M⁻¹ is obtained for the substrate induced quenching of thionine by glucose. The reported method, which was investigated over the range 0–1000 μM, offers a glucose detection limit of 2.2 μM. Various applications of the proposed scheme are discussed, including its use to construct a fibre optic biosensor for glucose.     

Monoboronic acid sensor that displays anomalous fluorescence sensitivity to glucose

[reaction: see text]. A monoboronic acid fluorescent sensor was conveniently synthesized from 3-nitronaphthalic anhydride and 3-aminophenylboronic acid. This novel saccharide probe exhibits dual emission suitable for ratiometric sensing and displays a remarkable sensitivity for glucose relative to fructose and galactose.     

A non-enzyme hydrogen peroxide sensor based on core/shell silica nanoparticles using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy

In our previous study, we have prepared aminated fluorescent silica nanoparticles doped with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) (FSNPs) for the sensing of γ-globulin. Compared with conventional organic dyes, FSNPs show superiorities such as excellent photostability, good water solubility, and biocompatibility, which are in favor of improving the stability and sensitivity of sensors. To extend the application of FSNPs, a convenient and effective method for non-enzyme fluorescent sensor of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is introduced based on the synchronous fluorescence technique. The sensor includes two-step reactions, typical redox reaction between KI and H₂O₂ and iodination reaction between I₂ produced by the first step reaction and FITC doped in the network of silica nanoparticles, which induce the fluorescence quenching of FSNPs. The results show that the fluorescence signal of FSNPs linearly decreases with the trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide added in the range 5–80 μM with a detection limit of 0.8 μM under the optimal experimental conditions. The method is simple and sensitive and can be applied to the determination of trace amounts of H₂O₂. Good recovery data were obtained for the assay of H₂O₂ in river water by standard addition method with high accuracy and reliability.     

Identification of catecholamine neurotransmitters using fluorescence sensor array

A nano-based sensor array has been developed for identification and discrimination of catecholamine neurotransmitters based on optical properties of their oxidation products under alkaline conditions. To produce distinct fluorescence response patterns for individual catecholamine, quenching of thioglycolic acid functionalized cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots, by oxidation products, were employed along with the variation of fluorescence spectra of oxidation products. The spectral changes were analyzed with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) to identify catecholamine patterns. The proposed sensor could efficiently discriminate the individual catecholamine (i.e., dopamine, norepinephrine, and l-DOPA) and their mixtures in the concentration range of 0.25–30 μmol L⁻¹. Finally, we found that the sensor had capability to identify the various catecholamines in urine sample.     

基于双发射免标记核酸探针的比率型荧光传感器用于银的检测

构建了一种新型免标记的双发射荧光比率核酸探针(GelRed/[G40]/Tb^3+)并用于Ag+的检测。对于GelRed/[G40]/Tb^3+探针,GelRed作为一种核酸染料嵌入到单链DNA-[G40]中,形成的GelRed/[G40]作为稳定的内置参照标准,在激发波长290 nm处,发射荧光强度固定不变的红色荧光(发射波长为635 nm),而[G40]/Tb^3+作为敏感的响应信号,随着Ag^+浓度的增加,产生的绿色荧光逐渐增强(发射波长为545 nm),[G40]/Tb3+与GelRed/[G40]发射的荧光强度比值也发生相应的改变,从而实现对Ag^+的定量检测。在优化的实验条件下,[G40]/Tb^3+与GelRed/[G40]荧光强度比值和Ag^+浓度在0~7.5μmol/L的范围内具有较好的线性关系,Ag^+检出限为0.156μmol/L。本传感器在10 min内就可完成对Ag^+的分析。方法已用于自来水样中Ag^+的检测,与ICP-MS法检测结果一致。     

A ratiometric fluorescence sensor for caffeine

The dye disodium 3,4:3',4'-bibenzo[b]thiophene-2,2'-disulfonate can be used as a molecular probe for the fluorimetric detection of caffeine in aqueous solution. The fluorescence response is attributed to non-covalent interactions of caffeine with the dye in the ground state and in the excited state. The bimodal interaction allows performing ratiometric measurements with very good selectivity over structurally related analytes. The dye was also used to develop a simple test strip for the visual differentiation of normal and decaffeinated coffee with a standard UV lamp.     

A novel sensitive non-enzymatic glucose sensor

Cu nanoclusters were electrochemically deposited on the film of a Nafion-solubilized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (CNTs-GCE), which fabricated a Cu-CNTs composite sensor (Cu-CNTs-GCE) to detect glucose with non-enzyme. The linear range is 7.0×10-7 to 3.5×10-3 mol/L with a high sensitivity of 17.76μA/(mmol L), with a low detection limit 2.1×10-7 mol/L, fast response time (within 5 s), good reproducibility and stability.     

A carbon dioxide sensor based on fluorescence

The optical carbon dioxide sensor is prepared by covering a pH sensor based on fluorescence with a CO₂-permeable membrane and contacting the pH-sensitive membrane with a reservoir of hydrogen carbonate. As carbon dioxide diffuses across the membrane it causes a chnage in pH which is detected by measuring the change in fluorescence from the base form of the pH-sensitive fluorescentdye. The usable range of response depends on the concentration of hydrogen carbonate in contact with the membrane. The sensor also responds to sulfide and sulfite.     

A conjugated polyelectrolyte-based fluorescence sensor for pyrophosphate

A new fluorescence turn-on sensor consisting of PPE-CO(2)(-)/Cu(2+) shows high selectivity for pyrophosphate over other anions and is used to develop a real-time assay for alkaline phosphatase.     

Wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence imaging using a high-sensitivity imaging sensor

A new wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) imaging spectrometer equipped with a high-sensitivity imaging sensor was developed in our laboratory. In this instrument, a straight polycapillary optic was applied instead of a Soller slit as well as a 2D imaging X-ray detector instead of X-ray counters, which are used in conventional WD-XRF spectrometers. Therefore, images of elemental distribution were available after a short exposure time. Ni Kα images and Cu Kα images were clearly obtained at corresponding diffraction angles for a short exposure time of 10 s. By optimizing the spectrometer, the time required for imaging is reduced, leading to XRF image movies. It is difficult to distinguish two peaks (Ti Kα (4.508 keV) and Ba Lα (4.465 keV)) due to the poor energy resolution of EDXRS. However, Ti and Ba images could be successfully observed by the WD-XRF imaging spectrometer. The energy resolution of the developed spectrometer was 25 eV at the Ti Kα peak.     

A highly selective on/off fluorescence sensor for cadmium(II)

A polypyridyl ligand, 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexakis(2-pyridyl)dipyrazino[2,3-f:2',3'-h]quinoxaline (HPDQ), was found to have excellent fluorescent selectivity for Cd(2+) over many other metal ions (K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), Fe(2+), Ni(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Ag(+), Hg(2+), Zn(2+), and Cr(3+)) based on the intramolecular charge-transfer mechanism, which makes HPDQ a potential fluorescence sensor or probe for Cd(2+). An obvious color change between HPDQ and HPDQ + Cd(2+) can be visually observed by the naked eye. The structure of the complex HPDQ-Cd has been characterized by X-ray crystallography. Density functional theory calculation results on the HPDQ and HPDQ-Cd complexes could explain the experimental results.     

A near-infrared fluorescence turn-on sensor for sulfide anions

The first NIR fluorescent sensor for sulfide anions was constructed based on the displacement approach. The sensing ensemble is composed of a cyanine dye, a piperazine linker, an 8-aminoquinoline ligand, and copper. The favorable attributes of the sensor include a large NIR fluorescence turn-on signal in aqueous ethanol, high sensitivity, and high selectivity. The transition-metal-based displacement strategy may open an avenue for development of NIR fluorescent sensors for a wide variety of anion targets.     

A novel fluoride sensor based on fluorescence enhancement

A novel halide sensor, which yields greater fluorescence upon binding to fluoride, has been synthesized and characterized.     

A modular fluorescence intramolecular energy transfer saccharide sensor

[structure: see text] A modular fluorescence intramolecular energy transfer saccharide sensor 2 has been prepared with phenanthrene as the donor and pyrene as the acceptor.