Sensors based on responsive photonic hydrogels have recently attracted considerable attention for visual medical diagnostics, pharmaceutical bioassays, and environmental monitoring. However, the use of these promising materials for the detection of nanoparticles (NPs) has never been explored so far, although the sensing of nanoobjects is a rapidly evolving area of research. To address this issue, we have combined the concepts of inverse-opal hydrogels and nanoparticle-imprinted polymers. In this way, we could obtain a NP-imprinted photonic hydrogel consisting of a three-dimensional, highly ordered poly(methacrylic acid) macroporous array, in which nanocavities complementary to the target NPs, in this case colloidal quantum dots, are distributed. This novel type of NP-imprinted photonic hydrogel sensor was shown to display high sensitivity and selectivity, thus opening new prospects for the development of equipment-free and cost-efficient sensing devices for NPs.
Sensors based on responsive photonic hydrogels have recently attracted considerable attention for visual medical diagnostics,p harmaceutical bioassays,a nd environmental monitoring.H owever,t he use of these promising materials for the detection of nanoparticles (NPs) has never been explored so far,a lthough the sensing of nanoobjects is ar apidly evolving area of research. To address this issue,w e have combined the concepts of inverse-opal hydrogels and nanoparticle-imprinted polymers.Inthis way,wecould obtain aN P-imprinted photonic hydrogel consisting of at hreedimensional, highly ordered poly(methacrylic acid) macroporous array,i nw hich nanocavities complementary to the target NPs,inthis case colloidal quantum dots,are distributed. This novel type of NP-imprinted photonic hydrogel sensor was shown to displayh igh sensitivity and selectivity,t hus opening new prospects for the development of equipment-free and costefficient sensing devices for NPs.
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