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Inkjet-printed pH-independent paper-based calcium sensor with fluorescence signal readout relying on a solvatochromic dye

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry volume 412, pages 3489–3497 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

A challenge for paper-based cation sensors relying on classical carrier-based ion-selective optodes (ISOs) is their pH-cross response caused by the use of H+-sensitive chromoionophores as optical signal transducers. This work demonstrates fully pH-independent fluorescence-based calcium detection with a paper-based plasticizer-free ISO. To achieve a pH-independent assay, a solvatochromic dye (SD) instead of a traditional H+-sensitive chromoionophore has been applied to the paper-based ISO by means of inkjet printing technology. The detection principle depends on an ionophore-driven phase-transfer ion-exchange reaction between target cations and the positively charged SD, which no longer involves H+ in the optical signal transduction process. The developed paper-based ISOs with the SD resulted in Ca2+ concentration-dependent response curves not affected by the sample pH (pH 6.0, 7.0, and 8.0). The dynamic range obtained for Ca2+ detection was from 10−5 to 1 mol L−1 with a detection limit of 19.3 μmol L−1. Additionally, excellent selectivity derived from the used ionophore has been confirmed. As a simple practical application, the determination of Ca2+ in mineral water has been achieved without the pH-buffering process required for conventional cation-exchange ISOs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan

    Hiroyuki Shibata, Yuma Ikeda, Yuki Hiruta & Daniel Citterio

Authors
  1. Hiroyuki Shibata
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  2. Yuma Ikeda
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  3. Yuki Hiruta
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  4. Daniel Citterio
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Correspondence to Daniel Citterio.

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Published in the topical collection Advances in Direct Optical Detection with guest editors Antje J. Baeumner, Günter Gauglitz, and Jiri Homola.

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Shibata, H., Ikeda, Y., Hiruta, Y. et al. Inkjet-printed pH-independent paper-based calcium sensor with fluorescence signal readout relying on a solvatochromic dye. Anal Bioanal Chem 412, 3489–3497 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-02218-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-019-02218-x

Keywords

  • Ionophore-based ion-selective optodes
  • Paper-based analytical devices
  • Inkjet printing technology
  • Fluorescence detection
  • Solvatochromic dyes
  • Calcium ion sensing