Fiber-Optic Chemical Sensors and Biosensors

Preparation, characterization and Hg(II)-sensing behavior of an up-conversion nanocomposite grafted by a rhodamine derived probe: a potential application for eco-industrial park

In the present work, we designed and synthesized a rhodamine derived "off-on" probe for Hg(II) detection, which might be potentially used in eco-industrial park. By grafting this probe onto the surface of an up-conversion NaYF4:Yb(3+)/Er(3+) excitation source, a Hg(II) sensing system was resulted. The nanocomposite was carefully characterized and analyzed by electron microscopy images, XRD analysis, IR spectra, thermogravimetry, UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence emission. Experimental data confirmed the structure of the nanocomposite. There was an efficient energy transfer between the excitation source and the probe, which made the nanocomposite a promising sensing system. The spectral response towards Hg(II) suggested that the fluorescence intensity of the nanocomposite increased with the increasing Hg(II) concentration, showing "off-on" effect. What's more, the fluorescence signal of the nanocomposite was insensitive towards other metal ions, showing unique selectivity towards Hg(II).

Analytical modeling of glucose biosensors based on carbon nanotubes

In recent years, carbon nanotubes have received widespread attention as promising carbon-based nanoelectronic devices. Due to their exceptional physical, chemical, and electrical properties, namely a high surface-to-volume ratio, their enhanced electron transfer properties, and their high thermal conductivity, carbon nanotubes can be used effectively as electrochemical sensors. The integration of carbon nanotubes with a functional group provides a good and solid support for the immobilization of enzymes. The determination of glucose levels using biosensors, particularly in the medical diagnostics and food industries, is gaining mass appeal. Glucose biosensors detect the glucose molecule by catalyzing glucose to gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of oxygen. This action provides high accuracy and a quick detection rate. In this paper, a single-wall carbon nanotube field-effect transistor biosensor for glucose detection is analytically modeled. In the proposed model, the glucose concentration is presented as a function of gate voltage. Subsequently, the proposed model is compared with existing experimental data. A good consensus between the model and the experimental data is reported. The simulated data demonstrate that the analytical model can be employed with an electrochemical glucose sensor to predict the behavior of the sensing mechanism in biosensors.

Design of a simple cryogenic system for ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy with a back-reflectance fiber optic probe

We report a convenient and inexpensive technique for the rapid acquisition of absorption spectra from small samples at cryogenic temperatures using a home built cryostat with novel collection optics. A cylindrical copper block was constructed with a coaxial bore to hold a 4.00 mm diameter electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tube and mounted on a copper feed in thermal contact with liquid nitrogen. A 6.35 mm diameter hole was bored into the side of the cylinder so a fiber optic cable bundle could be positioned orthogonally to the EPR tube. The light passing through the sample is reflected off of the opposing surfaces of the EPR tube and surrounding copper, back through the sample. The emergent light is then collected using the fiber optic bundle and analyzed using a dispersive spectrometer. Absorption spectra for KMnO4 were measured between 400 and 700 nm. Absorption intensity at 506, 525, 545, and 567 nm was found to be proportional to concentration, displaying Beer's law-like behavior. The EPR tube had an internal diameter of 3.2 mm; the double pass of the probe beam through the sample affords a central path length of about 6.4 mm. Comparing these measurements with those recorded on a conventional tabletop spectrometer using a cuvette with a 10.00 mm path length, we consistently found a ratio between intensities of 0.58 rather than the anticipated 0.64. These 6% smaller values we attribute to the curvature of the EPR tube and transmission/reflection losses. This system is particularly well-suited to studying the kinetics and dynamics of chemical reactions at cryogenic temperatures. The rapid response (100 ms) and multiplex advantage provided the opportunity of recording simultaneous time courses at several wavelengths following initiation of a chemical reaction with a pulsed laser source.

Protein surface recognition by calixarenes

The present review summarizes recently developed calixarene derivatives for protein surface recognition which are able to identify, inhibit, and separate specific proteins.

In-line microfluidic integration of photonic crystal fibres as a highly sensitive refractometer

Photonic crystal fibres appear to be an ideal platform for the realisation of novel optofluidic devices and sensors due to their waveguide nature and microstructured architecture.

Composite nanofibers doped with a phosphorescent Re(I) complex having restricted conjugation plane in its diamine ligand: preparation, characterization, photophysical property and oxygen-sensing performance

In this paper, we report a Re(I) complex of Re(CO)3(Cl-PYO)Br, where Cl-PYO stands for 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole, including its synthesis, identification, molecular structure, theoretical calculation and photophysical character. Re(CO)3(Cl-PYO)Br is found to be a yellow emitter with long excited state lifetime in pure N2 atmosphere. Theoretical calculation result suggests that this emission comes from a triplet metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer excited state. By doping Re(CO)3(Cl-PYO)Br into a polymer supporting matrix of poly(vinylpyrrolidone), the emission of the resulted composite materials is found to be sensitive towards various oxygen concentrations. The maximum sensitivity is obtained to be 7.88. Owing to the porous structure of fibrous poly(vinylpyrrolidone) matrix, a short response time of 11s towards molecular oxygen is also realized with high photostability.

Optically amplified detection for biomedical sensing and imaging

Optical sensing and imaging methods for biomedical applications, such as spectroscopy and laser-scanning fluorescence microscopy, are incapable of performing sensitive detection at high scan rates due to the fundamental trade-off between sensitivity and speed. This is because fewer photons are detected during short integration times and hence the signal falls below the detector noise. Optical postamplification can, however, overcome this challenge by amplifying the collected optical signal after collection and before photodetection. Here we present a theoretical analysis of the sensitivity of high-speed biomedical sensing and imaging systems enhanced by optical postamplifiers. As a case study, we focus on Raman amplifiers because they produce gain at any wavelength within the gain medium's transparency window and are hence suitable for biomedical applications. Our analytical model shows that when limited by detector noise, such optically postamplified systems can achieve a sensitivity improvement of up to 20 dB in the visible to near-infrared spectral range without sacrificing speed. This analysis is expected to be valuable for design of fast real-time biomedical sensing and imaging systems.

Proof of concept of impact detection in composites using fiber bragg grating arrays

Impact detection in aeronautical structures allows predicting their future reliability and performance. An impact can produce microscopic fissures that could evolve into fractures or even the total collapse of the structure, so it is important to know the location and severity of each impact. For this purpose, optical fibers with Bragg gratings are used to analyze each impact and the vibrations generated by them. In this paper it is proven that optical fibers with Bragg gratings can be used to detect impacts, and also that a high-frequency interrogator is necessary to collect valuable information about the impacts. The use of two interrogators constitutes the main novelty of this paper.

Detection of volatile organic compounds as biomarkers in breath analysis by different analytical techniques

Breath is a rich mixture containing numerous volatile organic compounds at trace amounts (ppbv–pptv level) such as: hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters or heterocycles. The presence of some of them depends on health status. Therefore, breath analysis might be useful for clinical diagnostics, therapy monitoring and control of metabolic or biochemical cell cycle products. This Review presents an update on the latest developments in breath analysis applied to diagnosing different diseases with the help of high-quality equipment. Efforts were made to fully and accurately describe traditional and modern techniques used to determine the components of breath. The techniques were compared in terms of design, function and also detection limit of different volatile organic compounds. GC with different detectors, MS, optical sensor and laser spectroscopic detection techniques are also discussed.

Linear oxygen-sensing response from a rhenium complex induced by heavy atom: synthesis, characterization, photophysical study and sensing performance

In this paper, we synthesized a Br-containing ligand of 2-(4-bromophenyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole and its corresponding Re(I) complex. Their synthesis, characterization, single crystal structure, electronic transitions and photophysical property were presented and discussed in detail. This Re(I) complex was found to be a yellow emitter with slim π→π* radiative decay contribution, and its emission was also found to be sensitive towards O2. By doping this Re(I) complex into a polymer matrix, the oxygen-sensing performance of the resulted composite nanofibers was also investigated. Owing to the porous structure of the supporting matrix, the optimal sample gave the highest sensitivity of 3.91 with short response time of only 9 s. In addition, the linearity of the Stern-Volmer plots was greatly improved due to the highly pure emissive center triggered by heavy-atom turbulence effect from Br atom, as indicted by theoretical calculation result.

Imidazolium-based ionic liquid surfaces for biosensing

Ionic liquid self-assembled monolayers (SAM) were designed and applied for binding streptavidin, promoting affinity biosensing and enzyme activity on gold surfaces of sensors. The synthesis of 1-((+)-biotin)pentanamido)propyl)-3-(12-mercaptododecyl)-imidazolium bromide, a biotinylated ionic liquid (IL-biotin), which self-assembles on gold film, afforded streptavidin sensing with surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The IL-biotin-SAM efficiently formed a full streptavidin monolayer. The synthesis of 1-(carboxymethyl)-3-(mercaptododecyl)-imidazoliumbromide, a carboxylated IL (IL-COOH), was used to immobilize anti-IgG to create an affinity biosensor. The IL-COOH demonstrated efficient detection of IgG in the nanomolar concentration range, similar to the alkylthiols SAM and PEG. In addition, the IL-COOH demonstrated low fouling in crude serum, to a level equivalent to PEG. The IL-COOH was further modified with N,N'-bis (carboxymethyl)-l-lysine hydrate to bind copper ions and then, chelate histidine-tagged biomolecules. Human dihydrofolate reductase (hDHFR) was chelated to the modified IL-COOH. By monitoring enzyme activity in situ on the SPR sensor, it was revealed that the IL-COOH SAM improved the activity of hDHFR by 24% in comparison to classical SAM. Thereby, IL-SAM has been synthesized and successfully applied to three important biosensing schemes, demonstrating the advantages of this new class of monolayers.

Study on the synthesis, characterization, photophysical performance and oxygen-sensing behavior of a luminescent Cu(I) complex with large conjugation plane

In this paper, a diamine ligand of dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (DPPZ) and its corresponding Cu(I) complex with triphenylphosphine (PPh(3)) as the phosphorous ligand are synthesized. Full characterization on [Cu(DPPZ)(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4), including NMR, elemental analysis and single crystal analysis, confirms its molecular identity. Upon photon excitation, the emission of [Cu(DPPZ)(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4) owns a long excited state lifetime of ∼6 μs and shows a maximum intensity at 616 nm, under pure N(2) atmosphere. Theoretical calculation on [Cu(DPPZ)(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4) single crystal suggests that the excited state has a triplet metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer character. By embedding [Cu(DPPZ)(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4) into a polymer supporting matrix of polystyrene, the emission signal is found to be sensitive towards varying oxygen concentrations, with a maximum sensitivity of 3.78. We attribute this sensitivity to the large conjugation plane in DPPZ ligand which can increase the population of excited state electrons and favor the oxygen attack on [Cu(DPPZ)(PPh(3))(2)]BF(4) excited state. Due to the porous structure of nanofibrous polystyrene matrix, a short response time of ∼16 s towards molecular oxygen is also observed with stable quenching signal.

Chemical surface modifications for the development of silicon-based label-free integrated optical (IO) biosensors: a review

Increasing interest has been paid to label-free biosensors in recent years. Among them, refractive index (RI) optical biosensors enable high density and the chip-scale integration of optical components. This makes them more appealing to help develop lab-on-a-chip devices. Today, many RI integrated optical (IO) devices are made using silicon-based materials. A key issue in their development is the biofunctionalization of sensing surfaces because they provide a specific, sensitive response to the analyte of interest. This review critically discusses the biofunctionalization procedures, assay formats and characterization techniques employed in setting up IO biosensors. In addition, it provides the most relevant results obtained from using these devices for real sample biosensing. Finally, an overview of the most promising future developments in the fields of chemical surface modification and capture agent attachment for IO biosensors follows.

Tuning the dynamic range and sensitivity of optical oxygen-sensors by employing differently substituted polystyrene-derivatives

Ten different polystyrene-derivatives were tested with respect to their potential use as matrix materials for optical oxygen sensors in combination with the platinum(II) meso-tetra(4-fluorophenyl)tetrabenzoporphyrin as indicator dye. Either halogen atoms or bulky residues were introduced as substituents on the phenyl ring. A fine-tuning of the sensor sensitivity was achieved, without compromising solubility of the indicator in the matrix by providing a chemical environment very similar to polystyrene (PS), a standard matrix in optical oxygen sensors. To put the results into perspective, the studied materials were compared to PS regarding sensitivity of the sensor, molecular weight and glass-transition temperature. The materials promise to be viable alternatives to PS with respect to the requirements posed in various sensor application fields. Some of the polymers (e.g. poly(2,6-dichlorostyrene)) promise to be of use in applications requiring measurements from 0 to 100% oxygen due to linearity across this range. Poly(4-tert-butylstyrene) and poly(2,6-fluorostyrene), on the other hand, yield sensors with increased sensitivity. Sensor stability was evaluated as a function of the matrix, a topic which has not received a lot of interest so far.

Re(I) complex doped nanofibers for oxygen optical sensing

In this paper, we design and synthesize a novel diamine ligand of PTO (2-(pyridin-2-yl)-5-p-tolyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole). The crystal structure, photophysical character and electronic nature of its corresponding Re(I) complex of Re(CO)(3)(PTO)Br have been investigated in detail. Experimental data and theoretical calculation suggest that Re(CO)(3)(PTO)Br owns a long-lived yellow phosphorescence which is sensitive towards molecular oxygen. By doping Re(CO)(3)(PTO)Br into a polymer matrix of polystyrene (PS), the emission response of the resulted composite nanofibers towards molecular oxygen is studied. The optimal sample with mean diameter of 600 nm shows a maximum sensitivity of 4.14 with short response time of 14s (here sensitivity is defined as the ratio of emission intensity in pure N(2) atmosphere to that in pure O(2) atmosphere). The composite nanofibers are also found to be photostable enough to experience UV radiation.

Recent progress in optical chemical sensors

Optical chemical sensors have promoted escalating interest in the determination of various pollutants in the environment, which are creating toxicity and may cause serious health problems. This review paper focuses particularly on the recent progress and developments in this field; the working principles and basic classes of optical chemical sensors have been briefly described.

All-in-fiber chemical sensing

A new all-in-fiber trace-level chemical sensing approach is demonstrated. Photoconductive structures, embedded directly into the fiber cladding along its entire length, capture light emitted anywhere within the fiber's hollow core and transform it directly into an electrical signal. Localized signal transduction circumvents problems associated with conventional fiber-optics, including limited signal collection efficiency and optical losses. This approach facilitates a new platform for remote and distributed photosensing.

Determination of ammonia in water based on chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer between peroxymonocarbonate and branched NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles

The ultraweak chemiluminescence (CL) from the reaction of hydrogen peroxide and carbonate is strongly enhanced by the branched NaYF(4):Yb(3+)/Er(3+) nanoparticle (NP) in the presence of aqueous ammonia. It was explained that ammonia catalyzes the decomposition of peroxymonocarbonate, which is the product of hydrogen peroxide mixing with bicarbonate, making the formation of (CO(2))(2)*, (O(2))(2)*, and (1)O(2). The excitation energy, carried by these emitter intermediates, can be transferred to NaYF(4):Yb(3+)/Er(3+) NP. The CL intensity is directly proportional to the concentration of ammonia present in the solution. A flow-injection CL system with high sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility is proposed for the determination of aqueous ammonia. The proposed method exhibited advantages in a larger linear range from 0.5 μmol L(-1) to 50 μmol L(-1) and a lower detection limit of 1.1 × 10(-8) mol L(-1) (S/N = 3). This method has been successfully applied to the evaluation of ammonia in water samples with recoveries from 95% to 108%. The relative standard deviations are 1.8% and 4.1% for intra-assay and inter-assay precision, respectively.

Study on a phosphorescent copper(I) complex and its oxygen-sensing performances upon polystyrene and MCM-41 matrixes

In this paper, we synthesize a new ligand of 1-ethyl-2-(naphthalen-1-yl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthroline (Phen-Np-Et) and its corresponding Cu(I) complex of [Cu(Phen-Np-Et)(POP)]BF(4), where POP is bis(2-(diphenylphosphanyl)phenyl) ether. The single-crystal structure, electronic nature and photophysical property of [Cu(Phen-Np-Et)(POP)]BF(4) are discussed in detail. It is found that the yellow emission from [Cu(Phen-Np-Et)(POP)]BF(4) owns a long excited state lifetime of 287 μs under pure N(2) atmosphere. Theoretical calculation on [Cu(Phen-Np-Et)(POP)](+) suggests that the emission comes from a triplet metal-to-ligand-charge-transfer excited state. Then, [Cu(Phen-Np-Et)(POP)]BF(4) are doped into two matrixes of polystyrene and MCM-41 to investigate the oxygen-sensing performance. Finally, sensitivity maxima of 9.6 and 3.6 are achieved by the composite nanofibers of [Cu(Phen-Np-Et)(POP)]BF(4)/polystyrene and the [Cu(Phen-Np-Et)(POP)]BF(4)/MCM-41, respectively. Both samples are highly sensitive toward molecular oxygen, owing to the large surface-area-to-volume ratios of nanofibrous membranes and MCM-41 matrix.

Stable optical oxygen sensing materials based on click-coupling of fluorinated platinum(II) and palladium(II) porphyrins-A convenient way to eliminate dye migration and leaching

Nucleophilic substitution of the labile para-fluorine atoms of 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl groups enables a click-based covalent linkage of an oxygen indicator (platinum(II) or palladium(II) 5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)-porphyrin) to the sensor matrix. Copolymers of styrene and pentafluorostyrene are chosen as polymeric materials. Depending on the reaction conditions either soluble sensor materials or cross-linked microparticles are obtained. Additionally, we prepared Ormosil-based sensors with linked indicator, which showed very high sensitivity toward oxygen. The effect of covalent coupling on sensor characteristics, stability and photophysical properties is studied. It is demonstrated that leaching and migration of the dye are eliminated in the new materials but excellent photophysical properties of the indicators are preserved.

DYE IMMOBILIZED MESOPOROUS SILICA THIN FILM AS OPTICAL pH SENSOR

An optical sensor for measurement of pH was prepared by the deposition of tailored mesoporous silica films on glass slide substrate. The films were prepared by using tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) as a silica precursor in presence of ethanol (EtOH) as co-solvent. The sol was mixed with bromocresol green indicator and judiciously aged which was then spin casted on pre-cleaned glass slides to form thin films. These films were characterized by instrumental techniques like Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chemical sensing properties of the film was determined spectroscopically for optical pH response. The results demonstrated that the developed optical sensor responds well in the pH range of 3–12. The sensor performance was validated by measurement of pH of water samples from different sources and compared against values obtained by conventional glass electrode pH meter. The comparative results were observed to be under 5% tolerance limit.

Nanofibers doped with a novel red-emitting Europium complex: synthesis, characterization, photophysical property and sensing activity toward molecular oxygen

In this paper, we synthesize a novel diamine ligand of DIQ-Et and its corresponding Eu(III) complex of Eu(TTA)(3)DIQ-Et, where DIQ-Et=N-ethyl-10H-dipyrido-[f,h]-indolo-[3,2-b]-quinoxaline, and TTA=2-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate. The UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence, low temperature phosphorescence, energy transfer mechanism, and excited state lifetime of Eu(TTA)(3)DIQ-Et are investigated in detail. Data suggest that the emission of Eu(TTA)(3)DIQ-Et is quenchable by molecular oxygen due to the back-energy transfer process. By doping Eu(TTA)(3)DIQ-Et into a polymer matrix of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), oxygen sensing performance of the resulted nanofibers is investigated. Finally, the 0.7 wt% doped sample exhibits a linear response toward molecular oxygen, with a sensitivity of 2.4 and response/recovery time of 12s/16s.

Fiber ring laser interrogated zeolite-coated singlemode-multimode-singlemode structure for trace chemical detection

Zeolite thin films were synthesized on the claddingless multimode portion of a singlemode-multimode-singlemode (SMS) fiber structure to construct a chemical vapor sensor. The zeolite-coated SMS structure was inserted into a fiber ring amplifier to produce a laser line. Combining the strong molecular adsorption capability of the nanoporous zeolite and the high signal-to-noise ratio of the fiber laser, the device was demonstrated for chemical vapor sensing with a low detection limit.

Study of oxygen effects on electrochemiluminescence using dye-doped oxygen-resisting nanobeads

Tris(4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline)-ruthenium(II) (Rudpp) doped oxygen-resisting nanobeads were synthesized and applied in order to study the effects of oxygen on electrochemiluminescence.

Detection of Cryptosporidium in miniaturised fluidic devices

Contamination of drinking water with the protozoan pathogen, Cryptosporidium, represents a serious risk to human health due to the low infectious dose and the resistance of this parasite to chlorine disinfection. Therefore, several countries have legislated for the frequent monitoring of drinking water for Cryptosporidium presence. Existing approved monitoring protocols are however time-consuming and do not provide essential information on the species, virulence or viability of detected oocysts. Rapid, more information-rich and automatable systems for Cryptosporidium detection are highly sought-after, and numerous miniaturised devices have been developed to address this need. This review article aims to summarise the state-of-the-art and compare the performance of these systems in terms of detection limit, ability to determine species, viability and performance in the presence of interferents. Finally, conclusions are drawn with regard to the most promising methods and directions of future research.

Immunochemical methods for ochratoxin A detection: a review

The safety of food and feed depends to a great deal on quality control. Numerous compounds and organisms may contaminate food and feed commodities and thus pose a health risk for consumers. The compound of interest in this review is ochratoxin A (OTA), a secondary metabolite of the fungi Aspergillus and Penicillium. Due to its adverse health effects, detection and quantification are of utmost importance. Quality control of food and feed requires extraction and analysis, including TLC, HPLC, MS, and immunochemical methods. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages. However, with regard to costs and rapidity, immunochemical methods have gained much interest in the last decade. In this review an introduction to immunochemistry and assay design will be given to elucidate the principles. Further, the application of the various formats to the detection and quantification of ochratoxin will be described, including the use of commercially available kits.

An optical fiber sensor for remote pH sensing and imaging

A fiber-optical probe for pH sensing and real-time imaging is successfully fabricated by connecting a polymer imaging fiber and a gradient index (GRIN) lens rod which was modified with a sensing film. By employing an improved metallographic microscope, an optical system is designed to cooperate with the probe. This novel technique has high-quality imaging capabilities for observing remote samples while measuring pH. The linear range of the probe is pH 1.2-3.5. This technique overcomes the difficulty that high-quality images cannot be obtained when directly using conventional imaging bundles for pH sensing and imaging. As preliminary applications, the corrosion behavior of an iron screw and the reaction process of rust were investigated in buffer solutions of pH 2.0 and 2.9, respectively. The experiment demonstrated that the pH values of the analytes' surface were higher than that of buffer solutions due to the chemical reaction. It provides great potential for applications in optical multifunctional detection, especially in chemical sensing and biosensing.