title: Synthesis and characterization of ratiometric ion-sensitive polyelectrolyte capsules.
abstract: Micrometer-sized polyelectrolyte capsules are synthesized, which have ion-sensitive fluorophores embedded in their cavities. As the membranes of the capsules are permeable to ions, the fluorescence of the capsules changed with the ion concentration. In particular, capsules sensitive to protons, sodium, potassium, and chloride ions are fabricated and their fluorescence response analyzed. In order to allow for ratiometric measurements, additional fluorophores whose emission do not depend on the ion concentration and which emit a different wavelength are co-embedded in the capsule cavities.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Physik and Wissenschaftliches Zentrum für, Materialwissenschaften, Philipps Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Loretta L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Del Mercato
authors.forename: Azhar Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Wolfgang J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Parak
mesh_terms: D002214:Capsules / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D011108:Polymers