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Dual-fluorophore silica microspheres for ratiometric acidic pH sensing

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Abstract

Encapsulation of fluorophores in silica matrix offers many advantages such inhibition of photobleaching and possibilities for ratiometric pH sensing. Dualfluorophore pH-responsive silica microspheres, incorporating pyranine (HPTS) and rhodamine B isothiocyanate (RBITC), were synthesized by Stöber method, followed layer-by-layer depositions. The resulting dual-fluorophore silica microspheres were then characterized by SEM, TEM, fluorescence spectroscopy and imaging. The incorporation of two dyes in the microspheres allowed ratiometric quantification of pH. The ratiometric approach has been proven to reduce the influences of external perturbations and unequal dye concentration in silica matrix during measurements. The dynamic range for pH was from 1.5 to 4. The sensing microspheres could be applied to determine acidic pH. Additionally, the sensing microspheres exhibited a high colloidal and long-term stability and also allow a fast detection of pH due the porosity of the microspheres. Such structured microspheres could be optimized, using multiple dyes for multianalyte detection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomicrosystem Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Korea

    Isaac Acquah & Dong June Ahn

  2. Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Korea

    Jinkyu Roh & Dong June Ahn

  3. KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Korea

    Dong June Ahn

  4. Biomedical Engineering Program, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Post, PMB, Kumasi, Ghana

    Isaac Acquah

Authors
  1. Isaac Acquah
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  2. Jinkyu Roh
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  3. Dong June Ahn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dong June Ahn.

Additional information

Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF, 2017R1A2B3006770, 2015M3C1A3002152), KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology and a Korea University Grant.

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Acquah, I., Roh, J. & Ahn, D.J. Dual-fluorophore silica microspheres for ratiometric acidic pH sensing. Macromol. Res. 25, 950–955 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13233-017-5117-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13233-017-5117-6

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