title: Ultrasensitive microchip based on smart microgel for real-time online detection of trace threat analytes.
abstract: Real-time online detection of trace threat analytes is critical for global sustainability, whereas the key challenge is how to efficiently convert and amplify analyte signals into simple readouts. Here we report an ultrasensitive microfluidic platform incorporated with smart microgel for real-time online detection of trace threat analytes. The microgel can swell responding to specific stimulus in flowing solution, resulting in efficient conversion of the stimulus signal into significantly amplified signal of flow-rate change; thus highly sensitive, fast, and selective detection can be achieved. We demonstrate this by incorporating ion-recognizable microgel for detecting trace Pb(2+), and connecting our platform with pipelines of tap water and wastewater for real-time online Pb(2+) detection to achieve timely pollution warning and terminating. This work provides a generalizable platform for incorporating myriad stimuli-responsive microgels to achieve ever-better performance for real-time online detection of various trace threat molecules, and may expand the scope of applications of detection techniques.
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China;
authors: Shuo
authors: S
authors: Lin
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China; wangwei512@scu.edu.cn chuly@scu.edu.cn.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China;
authors: Xiao-Jie
authors: XJ
authors: Ju
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China;
authors: Rui
authors: R
authors: Xie
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China;
authors: Zhuang
authors: Z
authors: Liu
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China;
authors: Hai-Rong
authors: HR
authors: Yu
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China;
authors: Chuan
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: School of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomaterials Science and Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610065, China wangwei512@scu.edu.cn chuly@scu.edu.cn.
authors: Liang-Yin
authors: LY
authors: Chu
mesh_terms: D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D007854:Lead
keywords: microchip; microfluidics; real-time online detection; smart microgel; ultrasensitive detection