title: Algal fluorescence sensor integrated into a microfluidic chip for water pollutant detection.
abstract: We report the first miniaturized fluorescent sensor based on algae, with an organic light emitting diode (OLED) and an organic photodetector (OPD) integrated into a microfluidic chip. The blue emission OLED was used as the excitation source, while a blend of PTB3/PC(61)BM was used for the fabrication of the organic photodetector. Excitation and emission color filters based on acid/base dyes and a metal complex were developed and assembled with the organic optoelectronic components in order to complete the fluorescent detection system. The detection system was then integrated in a microfluidic chip made from (poly)dimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The complete sensor is designed to detect algal fluorescence in the microfluidic chamber. Algal chlorophyll fluorescence enables evaluation of the toxicity of pollutants like herbicides and metals-ions from agricultural run-offs. The entirely organic bioassay here presented allowed detection of the toxic effects of the herbicide Diuron on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii green algae that gave 50% inhibition of the algae photochemistry (EC(50)) with a concentration as low as 11 nM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Resmiq, NanoQAM, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lefèvre
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chalifour
authors.forename: Luping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Vamsy
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chodavarapu
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Juneau
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016825:Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry; D005453:Fluorescence; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D009757:Nylons / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; D006540:Herbicides; D009757:Nylons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C085707:poly(dimethylsiloxane)-polyamide copolymer