Supramolecular Microfluidic Optical Chemosensor

We have succeeded in coupling the disparate methods of supramolecular chemosensing and microfluidics to create a novel supramolecular microfluidic optical chemosensor (µFOC). A micromolded serpentine channel has been patterned with sol-gel or polymer films that incorporate a lanthanide-modified cyclodextrin supramolecule. Bright emission from the Tb3+ ion is observed upon exposure of the µFOC to biphenyl in an aqueous solution (e.g., 45-fold enhancement for 50 µM biphenyl). The presence of biphenyl in the cyclodextrin receptor site triggers Tb3+ emission by an absorption-energy transfer-emission process. These results demonstrate that the most intricate signal transduction mechanisms of supramolecular optical chemosensors are preserved in µF environments, pointing the way to a new avenue of exploration for the development of optical chemosensing devices.