Ratiometric Organic Fibers for Localized and Reversible Ion Sensing with Micrometer-Scale Spatial Resolution

TL;DR

This paper introduces novel hybrid organic fibers with embedded fluorescent pH sensors that enable high-resolution, reversible ion sensing in microenvironments, promising advancements in biomedical and environmental diagnostics.

Contribution

Development of nanostructured, flexible organic fibers with tunable dimensions and capsule alignment for localized, reversible ion sensing with high stability and sensitivity.

Findings

Fibers exhibit excellent stability and high sensitivity.

Reversible response of the sensors under various conditions.

Tunable fiber diameter and capsule alignment achieved.

Abstract

A fundamental issue in biomedical and environmental sciences is the development of sensitive and robust sensors able to probe the analyte of interest, under physiological and pathological conditions or in environmental samples, and with very high spatial resolution. In this work, novel hybrid organic fibers that can effectively report the analyte concentration within the local microenvironment are reported. The nanostructured and flexible wires are prepared by embedding fluorescent pH sensors based on seminaphtho-rhodafluor-1-dextran conjugate. By adjusting capsule/polymer ratio and spinning conditions, the diameter of the fibers and the alignment of the reporting capsules are both tuned. The hybrid wires display excellent stability, high sensitivity, as well as reversible response, and their operation relies on effective diffusional kinetic coupling of the sensing regions and the embedding polymer matrix. These devices are believed to be a powerful new sensing platform for clinical diagnostics, bioassays and environmental monitoring.