Soft molecularly imprinted nanogels (nanoMlPs), selective for human transferrin (HTR), were prepared via a template assisted synthesis. Owing to their soft matter, the nanoMIPs were observed to deform at binding to HTR: while no relevant changes were observed in the hydrodynamic sizes of HTR-free compared to HTR-loaded nanoMIPs, the HTR binding resulted in a significant increment of the nanoMIP stiffness, with the mean Young's modulus measured by AFM passing from 17 +/- 6 kPa to 56 +/- 18 kPa.When coupled to a plastic optical fibre (POF) plasmonic platform, the analyte-induced nanoMIP-deformations amplified the resonance shift, enabling to attain ultra-low sensitivities (LOD = 1.2 fM; linear dynamic range of concentrations from 1.2 fM to 1.8 pM). Therefore, soft molecularly imprinted nanogels that obey to analyte-induced deformation stand as a novel class of sensitivity-gain structures for plasmonic sensing.

Deformable molecularly imprinted nanogels permit sensitivity-gain in plasmonic sensing

Tatti, Roberta;Bossi, Alessandra Maria
2020-01-01

Abstract

Soft molecularly imprinted nanogels (nanoMlPs), selective for human transferrin (HTR), were prepared via a template assisted synthesis. Owing to their soft matter, the nanoMIPs were observed to deform at binding to HTR: while no relevant changes were observed in the hydrodynamic sizes of HTR-free compared to HTR-loaded nanoMIPs, the HTR binding resulted in a significant increment of the nanoMIP stiffness, with the mean Young's modulus measured by AFM passing from 17 +/- 6 kPa to 56 +/- 18 kPa.When coupled to a plastic optical fibre (POF) plasmonic platform, the analyte-induced nanoMIP-deformations amplified the resonance shift, enabling to attain ultra-low sensitivities (LOD = 1.2 fM; linear dynamic range of concentrations from 1.2 fM to 1.8 pM). Therefore, soft molecularly imprinted nanogels that obey to analyte-induced deformation stand as a novel class of sensitivity-gain structures for plasmonic sensing.
2020
Active plasmonics; Molecularly imprinted polymers; Plastic optical fibres; Responsive nanogel; Surface plasmon resonance
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11562/1018730
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