1
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Baryzewska A, Roth C, Seeberger PH, Zeininger L. In situ Tracking of Exoenzyme Activity Using Droplet Luminescence Concentrators for Ratiometric Detection of Bacteria. ACS Sens 2023; 8:4143-4151. [PMID: 37933952 PMCID: PMC10683504 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c01385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a novel, rapid, and cost-effective biosensing paradigm that is based on an in situ visualization of bacterial exoenzyme activity using biphasic Janus emulsion droplets. Sensitization of the droplets toward dominant extracellular enzymes of bacterial pathogens is realized via selective functionalization of one hemisphere of Janus droplets with enzyme-cleavable surfactants. Surfactant cleavage results in an interfacial tension increase at the respective droplet interface, which readily transduces into a microscopically detectable change of the internal droplet morphologies. A macroscopic fluorescence read-out of such morphological transitions is obtained via ratiometrically recording the angle-dependent anisotropic emission signatures of perylene-containing droplets from two different angles. The optical read-out method facilitates detection of marginal morphological responses of polydisperse droplet samples that can be easily produced in any environment. The performance of Janus droplets as powerful optical transducers and signal amplifiers is highlighted by rapid (<4 h) and cost-effective antibody and DNA-free identification of three major foodborne pathogens, with detection thresholds of below 10 CFU mL-1 for Salmonella and <102 to 103 CFU mL-1 for Listeria and Escherichia coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata
W. Baryzewska
- Department
of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Christian Roth
- Department
of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Peter H. Seeberger
- Department
of Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Lukas Zeininger
- Department
of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute
of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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2
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Rakesh N, Tu H, Chang P, Gebreyesus ST, Lin C. Innovative Real-Time Flow Sensor Using Detergent-Free Complex Emulsions with Dual-Emissive Semi-Perfluoroalkyl Substituted Α-Cyanostilbene. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2304108. [PMID: 37702128 PMCID: PMC10625100 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202304108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the potential of complex emulsions is investigated as transducers in sensing applications. Complex emulsions are stabilized without external detergents by developing a novel α-cyanostilbene substituted with PEG and semi-perfluoroalkyl chain (CNFCPEG). CNFCPEG exhibits unique variable emission properties depending on its aggregation state, allowing dual blue and green emissions in complex emulsions with hydrocarbon-in-fluorocarbon-in-water (H/F/W) morphology. The green excimer emissions result from the self-assembly of CNFCPEG at the fluorocarbon/water interface, while the blue emission observed is due to aggregation in the organic phase. A novel flow-injection method is developed by incorporating complex emulsions with CNFCPEG into multiple-well flow chips (MWFC). Iodine is successfully detected in a mobile aqueous solution by monitoring morphology changes. The findings demonstrate that self-stabilized complex emulsions with MWFC hold great promise for real-time sensing without costly instruments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narani Rakesh
- Department of ChemistryNational Dong Hwa UniversityShoufeng974301Taiwan
| | - Hsiung‐Lin Tu
- Institute of ChemistryAcademia SinicaNangangTaipei115201Taiwan
| | - Po‐Chun Chang
- Department of ChemistryNational Dong Hwa UniversityShoufeng974301Taiwan
| | | | - Che‐Jen Lin
- Department of ChemistryNational Dong Hwa UniversityShoufeng974301Taiwan
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3
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Koroleva M. Multicompartment colloid systems with lipid and polymer membranes for biomedical applications. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:21836-21859. [PMID: 37565484 DOI: 10.1039/d3cp01984e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Multicompartment structures have the potential for biomedical applications because they can act as multifunctional systems and provide simultaneous delivery of drugs and diagnostics agents of different types. Moreover, some of them mimic biological cells to some extent with organelles as separate sub-compartments. This article analyses multicompartment colloidal structures with smaller sub-units covered with lipid or polymer membranes that provide additional protection for the encapsulated substances. Vesosomes with small vesicles encapsulated in the inner pools of larger liposomes are the most studied systems to date. Dendrimer molecules are enclosed by a lipid bilayer shell in dendrosomes. Capsosomes, polymersomes-in-polymer capsules, and cubosomes-in-polymer capsules are composed of sub-compartments encapsulated within closed multilayer polymer membranes. Janus or Cerberus emulsions contain droplets composed of two or three phases: immiscible oils in O/W emulsions and aqueous polymer or salt solutions that are separated into two or three phases and form connected droplets in W/O emulsions. In more cases, the external surface of engulfed droplets in Janus or Cerberus emulsions is covered with a lipid or polymer monolayer. eLiposomes with emulsion droplets encapsulated into a bilayer shell have been given little attention so far, but they have very great prospects. In addition to nanoemulsion droplets, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers and inorganic nanoparticles can be loaded into eLiposomes. Molecular engineering of the external membrane allows the creation of ligand-targeted and stimuli-responsive multifunctional systems. As a result, the efficacy of drug delivery can be significantly enhanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Koroleva
- Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology, Miusskaya sq. 9, Moscow 125047.
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4
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Zeininger L. Responsive Janus droplets as modular sensory layers for the optical detection of bacteria. Anal Bioanal Chem 2023:10.1007/s00216-023-04838-w. [PMID: 37450000 PMCID: PMC10404245 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-04838-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The field of biosensor development is fueled by innovations in new functional transduction materials and technologies. Material innovations promise to extend current sensor hardware limitations, reduce analysis costs, and ensure broad application of sensor methods. Optical sensors are particularly attractive because they enable sensitive and noninvasive analyte detection in near real-time. Optical transducers convert physical, chemical, or biological events into detectable changes in fluorescence, refractive index, or spectroscopic shifts. Thus, in addition to sophisticated biochemical selector designs, smart transducers can improve signal transmission and amplification, thereby greatly facilitating the practical applicability of biosensors, which, to date, is often hampered by complications such as difficult replication of reproducible selector-analyte interactions within a uniform and consistent sensing area. In this context, stimuli-responsive and optically active Janus emulsions, which are dispersions of kinetically stabilized biphasic fluid droplets, have emerged as a novel triggerable material platform that provides as a versatile and cost-effective alternative for the generation of reproducible, highly sensitive, and modular optical sensing layers. The intrinsic and unprecedented chemical-morphological-optical coupling inside Janus droplets has facilitated optical signal transduction and amplification in various chemo- and biosensor paradigms, which include examples for the rapid and cost-effective detection of major foodborne pathogens. These initial demonstrations resulted in detection limits that rival the capabilities of current commercial platforms. This trend article aims to present a conceptual summary of these initial efforts and to provide a concise and comprehensive overview of the pivotal kinetic and thermodynamic principles that govern the ability of Janus droplets to sensitively and selectively respond to and interact with bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Zeininger
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
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5
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Barua B, Durkin TJ, Beeley IM, Gadh A, Savagatrup S. Multiplexed and continuous microfluidic sensors using dynamic complex droplets. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:1930-1940. [PMID: 36807488 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm00074e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Emissive complex droplets with reconfigurable morphology and dynamic optical properties offer exciting opportunities as chemical sensors due to their stimuli-responsive characteristics. In this work, we demonstrated a real-time optical sensing platform that combines poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microfluidics and complex droplets as sensing materials. We utilized a mechanism, called directional emission, to transduce changes in interfacial tension into optical signals. We discuss the fabrication and integration of PDMS microfluidics with complex emulsions to facilitate continuous measurement of fluorescent emission and, ultimately, the interfacial tensions. Furthermore, by varying the interfacial functionalization and fluorescent dye with characteristic wavelength, we generate multiple formulations of droplets and obtain differential responses to stimuli that alter interfacial tensions (i.e., composition of surfactants, pH). Our results illustrate a proof-of-concept multiplexed and continuous sensing platform with potential applications in miniaturized, on-site environmental monitoring and biosensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baishali Barua
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
| | - Tyler J Durkin
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
| | - Isabel M Beeley
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
| | - Aakanksha Gadh
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
| | - Suchol Savagatrup
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
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6
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Pavlovic M, Ramiya Ramesh Babu HK, Djalali S, Pavlovic Z, Vraneš M, Zeininger L. Dynamic In Situ Monitoring of the Salt Counter-ion Effect on Surfactant Effectiveness Using Reconfigurable Janus Emulsions. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:2152-2160. [PMID: 36744990 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A straightforward method for visualization and quantification of surfactant effectiveness within different electrolyte environments based on using reconfigurable Janus emulsions as novel optical probes is reported. More specifically, we investigated the effect of different types and concentrations of salt counter-ions on the surfactant surface excess of commercial ionic and non-ionic surfactants, namely sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Tween 80 via in situ monitoring the morphological reconfigurations of biphasic Janus emulsions comprising hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon oils. We find that significant variations in interfacial tensions of SDS-stabilized interfaces (up to 15 mN·m-1) can be evoked by titrating mono-, di-, and trivalent cationic counter-ions, which is coherent with the lyotropic (Hofmeister) series. In contrast, the salt counter-ion effect on the surfactant effectiveness was less pronounced for the non-ionic surfactant Tween 80 (∼3 mN·m-1). Our results reveal a facile in situ method for monitoring the central role of electrolyte type and concentration on surfactant effectiveness and, more broadly, illustrate that Janus emulsions serve as powerful optical probes to dynamically study the properties of surfactants at liquid interfaces. We demonstrate the utility of our findings for an electro-induced morphological reconfiguration of Janus droplet morphologies by dynamically tuning Cu2+ concentration in solution using an electrode setup. The latter provides a unique platform for liquid-phase, real-time, and continuous tuning of Janus droplet morphologies, e.g., for their application in sensing and dynamic optical device platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Pavlovic
- Department of Physics and John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, 29 Oxford Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts02138, United States
- BioSense Institute, University of Novi Sad, Dr Zorana Djindjica 1, Novi Sad21000, Serbia
| | | | - Saveh Djalali
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids & Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, Potsdam14476, Germany
| | - Zoran Pavlovic
- BioSense Institute, University of Novi Sad, Dr Zorana Djindjica 1, Novi Sad21000, Serbia
| | - Milan Vraneš
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 3, Novi Sad21000, Serbia
| | - Lukas Zeininger
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids & Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, Potsdam14476, Germany
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7
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Creyer MN, Jin Z, Retout M, Yim W, Zhou J, Jokerst JV. Gold-Silver Core-Shell Nanoparticle Crosslinking Mediated by Protease Activity for Colorimetric Enzyme Detection. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2022; 38:14200-14207. [PMID: 36351199 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.2c02219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Plasmonic nanoparticles produce a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) under optical excitation. The LSPR of nanoparticles can shift in response to changes in the local dielectric environment and produce a color change. This color change can be observed by the naked eye due to the exceptionally large extinction coefficients (108-1011 M-1 cm-1) of plasmonic nanoparticles. Herein, we investigate the optical shifts (i.e., color change) of three unique gold-silver core-shell nanoparticle structures in response to changes in their dielectric environment upon nanoparticle aggregation. Aggregation is induced by a cysteine-containing peptide that has a sulfhydryl near its N and C termini, which crosslinks nanoparticles. Furthermore, we demonstrate that adding proline spacers between the cysteines impacts the degree of aggregation and, ultimately, the color response. Using this information, we construct a colorimetric enzyme assay, where the signal produced from nanoparticle aggregation is modulated by proteolysis. The degree of aggregation and the resulting optical shift can be correlated with enzyme concentration with high linearity (R2 = 0.998). Overall, this study explores the optical properties of gold-silver core-shell nanoparticles in a dispersed vs aggregated state and leverages that information to develop an enzyme sensor with a spectral LOD of 0.47 ± 0.09 nM.
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8
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Zhang F, Zhang Z, Liu R, Wei J, Yang Z. Functional Droplets Stabilized by Interfacially Self‐Assembled Chiral Nanocomposites. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202206520. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202206520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
| | - Zongze Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
| | - Rongjuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
| | - Zhijie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry Ministry of Education School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shandong University Jinan 250100 P.R. China
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9
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Zhang F, Zhang Z, Liu R, Wei J, Yang Z. Functional Droplets Stabilized by Interfacially Self‐Assembled Chiral Nanocomposites. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202206520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fenghua Zhang
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering CHINA
| | - Zongze Zhang
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering CHINA
| | - Rongjuan Liu
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering CHINA
| | - Jingjing Wei
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering CHINA
| | - Zhijie Yang
- Shandong University School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering 27 Shanda Nanlu 250100 Jinan CHINA
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10
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Trinh V, Malloy CS, Durkin TJ, Gadh A, Savagatrup S. Detection of PFAS and Fluorinated Surfactants Using Differential Behaviors at Interfaces of Complex Droplets. ACS Sens 2022; 7:1514-1523. [PMID: 35442626 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.2c00257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Contamination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water supplies will continue to have serious health and environmental consequences. Despite the importance of monitoring the concentrations of PFAS at potential sites of contamination and at treatment plants, there are few suitable and rapid on-site methods. Many nonconventional techniques do not possess the necessary selectivity and sensitivity to distinguish PFAS from other surface-active components and to quantify the low concentrations in real-world conditions. Herein, we report a novel and rapid method for the detection of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by leveraging their differential behaviors at the interfaces of emissive complex droplets. Measurement of surface and interfacial tensions via a force tensiometer reveals that PFAS preferentially self-assemble at the water-fluorocarbon oil interface (F/W) rather than the water-hydrocarbon oil interface (H/W). We also observe an opposite behavior for hydrocarbon surfactants. This difference in interfacial behavior produces distinct effects on the morphological change and optical emission of biphasic oil-in-water droplets. The change in the intensity of fluorescence emission, measured with a simple spectroscopic setup, correlates with the concentrations of PFAS. We also demonstrate that the range of detection and sensitivity can be tuned by adjusting the initial composition of the complex droplets. Our results illustrate an alternative mode of sensors that may provide a rapid and on-site detection of PFAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Trinh
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Cameron S. Malloy
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Tyler J. Durkin
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Aakanksha Gadh
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Suchol Savagatrup
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
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11
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Fong D, Swager TM. Trace Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide via Dynamic Double Emulsions. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:4397-4404. [PMID: 33724029 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c00683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide is a dynamic signaling molecule in biological systems. We report herein a versatile double emulsion sensor that can detect femtomolar quantities of aqueous hydrogen peroxide. The mechanism responsible for this sensitivity is a peroxide induced change in double emulsion structure, which results in a modified directional emission from dyes dissolved in the high index organic phase. The morphology (structure) of the double emulsion is controlled via interfacial tensions and a methyltrioxorhenium catalyzed sulfide oxidation results in an enhancement of the surfactant effectiveness. The incipient polar sulfoxide induced decrease of the interfacial tension at the organic-water (O-W) interface results in an increased interfacial area between the organic phase and water and a diminished emission perpendicular to the supporting substrate. The modularity of our sensory system is demonstrated through cascade catalysis between methyltrioxorhenium and oxidase enzymes, with the latter producing hydrogen peroxide as a byproduct to enable for the selective and sensitive detection of molecular and ionic enzymatic substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darryl Fong
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Timothy M Swager
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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12
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Ku KH, McDonald BR, Vijayamohanan H, Zentner CA, Nagelberg S, Kolle M, Swager TM. Dynamic Coloration of Complex Emulsions by Localization of Gold Rings Near the Triphase Junction. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2021; 17:e2007507. [PMID: 33605015 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202007507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Multiphase microscale emulsions are a material platform that can be tuned and dynamically configured by a variety of chemical and physical phenomena, rendering them inexpensive and broadly programmable optical transducers. Interface engineering underpins many of these sensing schemes but typically focuses on manipulating a single interface, while engineering of the multiphase junctions of complex emulsions remains underexplored. Herein, multiphilic triblock copolymer surfactants are synthesized and assembled at the triphase junction of a dynamically reconfigurable biphasic emulsion. Tailoring the linear structure and composition of the polymer surfactants provides affinity to each phase of the complex emulsion (hydrocarbon, fluorocarbon, and continuous water phase), yielding selective localization of polymers around the triphase junction. Conjugation of these polymers with gold nanoparticles, forming structured rings, affords a dynamic reflected isotropic structural color that tracks with emulsion morphology, demonstrating the uniquely enabling nature of a functionalized triphase interface. This color is the result of interference of light along the internal hydrocarbon/fluorocarbon interface, with the gold nanoparticles scattering and redirecting light into total internal reflection competent paths. Thus, the functionalization of the triphase junction renders complex emulsions colorimetric sensors, a powerful tool toward sensitive and simple sensing platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Hee Ku
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Benjamin R McDonald
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Harikrishnan Vijayamohanan
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Cassandra A Zentner
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Sara Nagelberg
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Mathias Kolle
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Timothy M Swager
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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13
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Djalali S, Frank BD, Zeininger L. Responsive drop method: quantitative in situ determination of surfactant effectiveness using reconfigurable Janus emulsions. SOFT MATTER 2020; 16:10419-10424. [PMID: 33155583 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01724h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Characterization of surfactant effectiveness and thus an evaluation of their performance in a wide range of emulsion technologies requires a precise determination of key parameters including their critical micelle concentrations as well as their ability to lower the surface tension at interfaces. In this study, we describe a new approach to quantify marginal variations in interfacial tension of surfactant stabilized fluid interfaces. The method is based on a unique chemical-morphological coupling inside bi-phasic oil-in-water Janus emulsions that undergo dynamic morphological transitions in response to changes in the surfactant type, concentration, ratio, and configuration. Variations in Janus droplet morphologies are readily monitored in situ using a simple side-view imaging setup, resulting in a fast, convenient, cost-effective, time-, and sample-saving technique for the characterization of classical surfactant systems. In addition, the reported method facilitates monitoring of triggered changes in surfactant effectiveness, e.g. invoked by external triggers, and thus proves particularly useful for the in situ analysis of stimuli-responsive surfactants and emulsions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saveh Djalali
- Department of Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Muehlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
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14
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Balaj RV, Zarzar LD. Reconfigurable complex emulsions: Design, properties, and applications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0028606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca V. Balaj
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Lauren D. Zarzar
- Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
- Materials Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
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15
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Kong J, Wang Y, Qi W, Huang M, Su R, He Z. Green fluorescent protein inspired fluorophores. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2020; 285:102286. [PMID: 33164780 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2020.102286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Green fluorescence proteins (GFP) are appealing to a variety of biomedical and biotechnology applications, such as protein fusion, subcellular localizations, cell visualization, protein-protein interaction, and genetically encoded sensors. To mimic the fluorescence of GFP, various compounds, such as GFP chromophores analogs, hydrogen bond-rich proteins, and aromatic peptidyl nanostructures that preclude free rotation of the aryl-alkene bond, have been developed to adapt them for a fantastic range of applications. Herein, we firstly summarize the structure and luminescent mechanism of GFP. Based on this, the design strategy, fluorescent properties, and the advanced applications of GFP-inspired fluorophores are then carefully discussed. The diverse advantages of bioinspired fluorophores, such as biocompatibility, structural simplicity, and capacity to form a variety of functional nanostructures, endow them potential candidates as the next-generation bio-organic optical materials.
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16
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Savagatrup S, Ma D, Zhong H, Harvey KS, Kimerling LC, Agarwal AM, Swager TM. Dynamic Complex Emulsions as Amplifiers for On-Chip Photonic Cavity-Enhanced Resonators. ACS Sens 2020; 5:1996-2002. [PMID: 32441524 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.0c00399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite the recent emergence of microcavity resonators as label-free biological and chemical sensors, practical applications still require simple and robust methods to impart chemical selectivity and reduce the cost of fabrication. We introduce the use of hydrocarbon-in-fluorocarbon-in-water (HC/FC/W) double emulsions as a liquid top cladding that expands the versatility of optical resonators as chemical sensors. The all-liquid complex emulsions are tunable droplets that undergo dynamic and reversible morphological transformations in response to a change in the chemical environment (e.g., exposure to targeted analytes). This chemical-morphological coupling drastically modifies the effective refractive index, allowing the complex emulsions to act as a chemical transducer and signal amplifier. We detect this large change in the refractive index by tracking the shift of the enveloped resonant spectrum of a silicon nitride (Si3N4) racetrack resonator-based sensor, which correlates well with a change in the morphology of the complex droplets. This combination of soft materials (dynamic complex emulsions) and hard materials (on-chip resonators) provides a unique platform for liquid-phase, real-time, and continuous detection of chemicals and biomolecules for miniaturized and remote, environmental, medical, and wearable sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suchol Savagatrup
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 E. James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Danhao Ma
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Huikai Zhong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Kent S. Harvey
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Lionel C. Kimerling
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Anuradha M. Agarwal
- Materials Research Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Timothy M. Swager
- Department of Chemistry and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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17
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Pavlovic M, Antonietti M, Schmidt BVKJ, Zeininger L. Responsive Janus and Cerberus emulsions via temperature-induced phase separation in aqueous polymer mixtures. J Colloid Interface Sci 2020; 575:88-95. [PMID: 32361049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.04.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Complex aqueous emulsions represent a promising material platform for the encapsulation of cells, pharmaceuticals, or nutrients, for the fabrication of structured particles, as well as for mimicking the barrier-free compartmentalization of biomolecules found in living cells. Herein, we report a novel, simple, and scalable method of creating multicomponent aqueous droplets with highly uniform internal droplet morphologies that can be controllably altered after emulsification by making use of a thermal phase separation approach. Specifically, temperature-induced phase separation inside as-formed emulsion droplets comprising aqueous mixtures of two or more hydrophilic polymers allows for the generation of Janus and Cerberus emulsion droplets with adjustable internal morphologies that are solely controlled by a balance of interfacial tensions. We demonstrate our approach by applying both, microfluidic and scalable batch production, and present a detailed model study with predictive capabilities that enables fine-tuning and dynamically altering the droplet morphology as a function of types, molecular weights, and hydrophilicities of the polymers as well as the surfactant hydrophilic-lipophilic balance. The ability to rationally design complex aqueous emulsion droplets with previously unattainable dynamic control over their morphologies after emulsification entails the potential to design new responsive soft materials with implications for a variety of applications beyond encapsulation, including the design of complex adaptive and self-regulating materials, e.g. for chemical and biological sensing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Pavlovic
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Markus Antonietti
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Lukas Zeininger
- Department of Colloid Chemistry, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany.
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18
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Deng H, Yu C, Yan D, Zhu X. Dual-Self-Restricted GFP Chromophore Analogues with Significantly Enhanced Emission. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:871-880. [PMID: 31928005 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.9b11329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The tremendous gap of fluorescence emission of synthetic green fluorescent protein (GFP) chromophore to the protein itself makes it impossible to use for applications in molecular and cellular imaging. Here, we developed an efficient methodology to enhance the photoluminescence response of synthetic GFP chromophore analogues by constructing dual-self-restricted chromophores. Single self-restricted chromophores were first generated with 2,5-dimethoxy substitution on the aromatic ring, which were further modified with phenyl or 2,5-dimethoxy phenyl to form dual-self-restricted chromophores. These two chromophores showed an obvious solvatofluorochromic color palette across blue to yellow with a maximum emission Stokes shift of 95 nm and dramatically enhanced fluorescence emission in various aprotic solvents, especially in hexane, where the QY reached around 0.6. Importantly, in acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide, the fluorescence QYs of both chromophores were over 0.22, which were the highest reported so far in high polar organic solvents. Meanwhile, the fluorescence lifetimes also improved obviously with the maximum of around 4.5 ns. Theoretical calculations revealed a more favorable Mülliken atomic charge translocation over the double-bond bridge and illustrated much higher energy barriers for the Z/E photoisomerization together with larger bond orders compared with the GFP core chromophore, p-HBDI. Our work significantly improved the fluorescence emission of synthetic GFP chromophore analogues in polar solvents while reserved the multicolor emitting function, providing a solid molecular motif for engineering high-performance fluorescent probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongping Deng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites , Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road , Shanghai 200240 , People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyang Yu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites , Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road , Shanghai 200240 , People's Republic of China
| | - Deyue Yan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites , Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road , Shanghai 200240 , People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyuan Zhu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Thermal Aging, State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites , Shanghai Jiao Tong University , 800 Dongchuan Road , Shanghai 200240 , People's Republic of China
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19
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Ku KH, Li J, Yoshinaga K, Swager TM. Dynamically Reconfigurable, Multifunctional Emulsions with Controllable Structure and Movement. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1905569. [PMID: 31639256 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201905569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Dynamically reconfigurable oil-in-water (o/w) Pickering emulsions are developed, wherein the assembly of particles (i.e., platinum-on-carbon and iron-on-carbon particles) can be actively controlled by adjusting interfacial tensions. A balanced adsorption of particles and surfactants at the o/w interface allows for the creation of inhomogeneity of the particle distribution on the emulsion surface. Complex Pickering emulsions with highly controllable and reconfigurable morphologies are produced in a single step by exploiting the temperature-sensitive miscibility of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon liquids. Dynamic adsorption/desorption of (polymer) surfactants afford both shape and configuration transitions of multiple Pickering emulsions and encapsulated core/shell structured can be transformed into a Janus configuration. Finally, to demonstrate the intrinsic catalytic or magnetic properties of the particles provided by carbon bound Pt and Fe nanoparticles, two different systems are investigated. Specifically, the creation of a bimetallic microcapsule with controlled payload release and precise modulation of translational and rotational motions of magnetic emulsions are demonstrated, suggesting potential applications for sensing and smart payload delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Hee Ku
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Kosuke Yoshinaga
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Timothy M Swager
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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20
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Concellón A, Zentner CA, Swager TM. Dynamic Complex Liquid Crystal Emulsions. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:18246-18255. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b09216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Concellón
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Cassandra A. Zentner
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Timothy M. Swager
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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