Silicon nanocrystals as signal transducers in ionophore-based fluorescent nanosensors

SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL

卷:331

Article

Ferris, Mark S.^1,4  Chesney, Ashley P.¹  Ryan, Bradley J.²  Ramesh, Utkarsh²  Panthani, Matthew G.²  Cash, Kevin J.^1,3 

[1] Colorado Sch Mines, Chem & Biol Engn Dept, Golden, CO 80401 USA

[2] Iowa State Univ, Dept Chem & Biol Engn, Ames, IA 50011 USA

[3] Colorado Sch Mines, Quantitat Biosci & Engn, Golden, CO 80401 USA

[4] NIST, Appl Phys Div, Phys Measurements Lab, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80305 USA

关键词: Silicon nanocrystals;    Polymeric nanosensors;    Biomedical sensors;    Fluorescence;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.snb.2020.129350

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Colloidal silicon crystallites in the size range of 1-12 nm, also referred to as silicon nanocrystals have unique optical properties that include high quantum efficiency, size-dependent emission spanning the visible to near-infrared range, and robust photostability. These features, combined with silicon's high earth-abundance and good biocompatibility, make them an attractive option to serve as signal transduction elements in bioanalytical sensors. In this study, we combine silicon nanocrystals with a sodium-selective ionophore and a charge balancing additive in polymeric nanosensors to create a Silicon Nanocrystal NanoSensor (SiNC-NS). The SiNC-NS responded to sodium through a decrease in fluorescence intensity without the inclusion of a pH-sensitive absorbing dye which is normally included in analogous sensors for signal gating, leading to a sensor design with more photostable components. The SiNC-NS has a biologically relevant dynamic range of 4-277 mM Na+, is selective against potentially interfering cations, and a reversible response between 0 and 2 M Na+ for at least three cycles. This work shows the first sodium-responsive silicon nanocrystal-based sensor, the first use of silicon nanocrystals in polymeric nanosensors, and demonstrates an intriguing ionophore-mediated response in silicon nanocrystals to be explored further in the future.

【 授权许可】

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