title: Visual and portable strategy for copper(II) detection based on a striplike poly(thymine)-caged and microwell-printed hydrogel.
abstract: Due to its importance to develop strategies for copper(II) (Cu(2+)) detection, we here report a visual and portable strategy for Cu(2+) detection based on designing and using a strip-like hydrogel. The hydrogel is functionalized through caging poly(thymine) as probes, which can effectively template the formation of fluorescent copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) in the presence of the reductant (ascorbate) and Cu(2+). On the hydrogel's surface, uniform wells of microliter volume (microwells) are printed for sample-injection. When the injected sample is stained by Cu(2+), fluorescent CuNPs will be in situ templated by poly T in the hydrogel. With ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, the red fluorescence of CuNPs can be observed by naked-eye and recorded by a common camera without complicated instruments. Thus, the strategy integrates sample-injection, reaction and indication with fast signal response, providing an add-and-read manner for visual and portable detection of Cu(2+), as well as a strip-like strategy. Detection ability with a detectable minimum concentration of 20 μM and practically applicable properties have been demonstrated, such as resistance to environmental interference and good constancy, indicating that the strategy holds great potential and significance for popular detection of Cu(2+), especially in remote regions. We believe that the strip-like hydrogel-based methodology is also applicable to other targets by virtue of altering probes.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory for Bio-Nanotechnology and Molecular Engineering of Hunan Province, Hunan University , Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhihe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.forename: Zhengui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Taiping
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.forename: Xiaoxiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Dinggeng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jianbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kemin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*; D011071:Poly T / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011071:Poly T; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D003300:Copper