title: Responsive Polymer-Based Assemblies for Sensing Applications.
abstract: Poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm)-based hydrogels and hydrogel particles (microgels) have been extensively studied since their discovery and "popularization" a few decades ago. While their uses seem to have no bounds, this Feature Article is focused on their development and application for sensing small molecules, macromolecules, and biomolecules. Hydrogel/microgel-based photonic materials with order in one, two, or three dimensions are highlighted, which exhibit optical properties that depend on the presence and concentration of various analytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Yongfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Serpe
mesh_terms: D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000379:methods*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000180:Acrylic Resins; D011108:Polymers; C052970:poly-N-isopropylacrylamide
keywords: etalons; optical sensing; photonic materials; poly (N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgels; stimuli-responsive polymers