Quantum Dots-Doped Tapered Hydrogel Waveguide for Ratiometric Sensing of Metal Ions

Advances in fluorescent nanomaterials and photonics have led to a new generation of photonic devices for applications in biosensing, diagnostics, and therapy. However, for clinical utility, biocompatibility and limited light guiding in tissues pose significant challenges. Here, we report a new type...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Analytical chemistry (Washington) 2018-10, Vol.90 (20), p.12292-12298
Main Authors: Guo, Jingjing, Huang, Hanxi, Zhou, Minjuan, Yang, Changxi, Kong, Lingjie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biocompatibility
Biosensors
Chemistry
Coatings
Detection
Diagnostics
Fluorescence
Hydrogels
Metal ions
Nanomaterials
Nanotechnology
Optical waveguides
Photonics
Quantum dots
Therapy
Tissues
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Summary:Advances in fluorescent nanomaterials and photonics have led to a new generation of photonic devices for applications in biosensing, diagnostics, and therapy. However, for clinical utility, biocompatibility and limited light guiding in tissues pose significant challenges. Here, we report a new type of soft, biocompatible, and tapered optical waveguide with capability of delivering light in deep tissues and demonstrate it as a ratiometric probe for rapid point-of-care detection of metal ions. The waveguide was made from quantum dots (QDs)-incorporated biocompatible hydrogels and coated with a thin sensing film to ensure fast exchanges with the surrounding analytes. The tapered design of the waveguide allows more light extraction for efficient excitation of the coating film. To achieve ratiometric measurements, two types of QDs with well-resolved emission bands are synthesized and immobilized in the waveguide and the coating film, respectively. We show that the ratiometric readout of the waveguide sensor is free of environmental disturbances and exhibits negligible drifts when applied in various environments such as being immersed in water or embedded in tissues. The waveguide device provides a new photonic-sensing platform that may allow being engineered to sense a wide range of metal ions and analytes.
ISSN:0003-2700
1520-6882
DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.8b03787