Activity-Based Approach for Selective Molecular CO₂ Sensing

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) impacts every aspect of life, and numerous sensing technologies have been established to detect and monitor this ubiquitous molecule. However, its selective sensing at the molecular level remains an unmet challenge, despite the tremendous potential of such an approach for understanding this molecule’s role in complex environments. In this work, we introduce a unique class of selective fluorescent carbon dioxide molecular sensors (CarboSen) that addresses these existing challenges through an activity-based approach. Besides the design, synthesis, and evaluation of these small molecules as CO2 sensors, we demonstrate their utility by tailoring their reactivity and optical properties, allowing their use in a broad spectrum of multidisciplinary applications, including atmospheric sensing, chemical reaction monitoring, enzymology, and live-cell imaging. Collectively, these results showcase the potential of CarboSen sensors as broadly applicable tools to monitor and visualize carbon dioxide across multiple disciplines.

Interplay of carbon dioxide and peroxide metabolism in mammalian cells

“…Thus, tight control and measurements of CO 2 levels in cell/tissue experiments become a clear necessity when analyzing redox processes and inflammatory oxidative stress. To this end, development and validation of CO 2 -sensing methodologies such as electrodes and chemical probes that could be applied to cell systems will open new research opportunities ( 19 , 170 ). Moreover, better translation of the impact of CO 2 to redox biology will inevitably require cell culture incubations with relevant oxygen levels 14 ( 171 ).…”

Translation of a Phosphine- and Azide-Based Reaction to Chemical Modification of Biomolecules in Ionic Liquid

“…Other reports also described such CO 2 -mediated chemistry through the intramolecular cyclization process as well. 37,38 Taking into account the previously proposed reaction mechanisms for small-molecule substrates, [39][40][41] we propose that the bioconjugation reaction proceeds through a reactive isocyanate intermediate, which is known to be an excellent alkylamine-selective modification of biomolecules (Scheme 4B). 42 Reactions of CO 2 and amine-forming carbamic acid 43,44 are also known processes even in ionic liquids, 45 although, to our knowledge, formation of urea from carbamic acid and iminophosphorane has not been reported.…”

Development of a Portable and Sensitive CO2 Measurement Device with NDIR Sensor Clusters and Minimizing Water Vapor Impact

“…Optical detection technology can provide great advantages with regards to gas selectivity, accuracy and sensitivity. As a result, it is widely used for environmental CO 2 detection [5,6]. To address global-scale monitoring requirements, probing satellites with spectroscopic techniques have been deployed into space to monitor atmospheric CO 2 concentrations [7][8][9].…”