Ratiometric fluorescent sensor based on TPU-PVP coaxial nanofibers for monitoring trace ammonia in breath

Cai，S.1; Zhang，G.1,2; Wang，L.1; Jian，T.1; Xu，J.1; Su，F.3; Tian，Y.1

2022-12-01

10.1016/j.mtchem.2022.101148

Materials Today Chemistry   Impact Factor & Quartile

2468-5194

2468-5194

Fluorescent sensors with low detection limits and fast responses have caused significant attention for their application in medical diagnoses. Herein, we described the construction of ratiometric nanofibers (NFs) for sensing breath ammonia (NH), which was an important biomarker for Helicobacter pylori (Hp) affection, by integrating of a ‘turn on’ fluorescent probe of fluorescein (FLU, green emission) and a ‘turn off’ fluorescent probe of difluoroboron-curcumin analog (BFC, red emission). Such NFs were constructed by coaxial electrospinning using thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) with FLU as the shells and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) with BFC as the cores. The core/shell structures of NFs provided independent channels for the chosen fluorophores and enabled the sensor with low humid interferences, high mechanical properties and outstanding NH sensing performance. This nanofibers-based sensor showed superior sensitivity with an NH theoretical detection limit of ∼7.16 ppb, quick response time of ∼2.2 s, high selectivity and reversibility for NH, and excellent stability in various conditions, especially under high humid conditions. Furthermore, because of the use of two probes with reverse sensing trends in the red and green emitting windows, the ratiometric sensor showed clear color changes when tracing NH, which was visualized by eyes and cameras easily. Preliminary tests for Hp infection subjects showed that the NH changing levels before and after urea-pill ingestion were much higher than those healthy subjects. Thus, an appropriate combination of polymeric matrixes with NH-sensitive probes in the form of dual-emission coaxial NFs as the ratiometric sensor is expected to be used as a simple approach/tool for monitoring trace NH concentrations and broadening the sensing design strategy.

Curcumin analog Electrospinning Fluorescein Helicobacter pylori Ratiometric sensor

SCI

English

First ; Corresponding

National Natural Science Foundation of China[21774054];Southern University of Science and Technology[Y01256114];

Chemistry ; Materials Science

Chemistry, Multidisciplinary ; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000946188000010

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

2-s2.0-85138120188

Scopus

1.Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
2.School of Materials and Energy,Yunnan University,Kunming,650091,China
3.Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Cai，S.,Zhang，G.,Wang，L.,et al. Ratiometric fluorescent sensor based on TPU-PVP coaxial nanofibers for monitoring trace ammonia in breath[J]. Materials Today Chemistry,2022,26.

Cai，S..,Zhang，G..,Wang，L..,Jian，T..,Xu，J..,...&Tian，Y..(2022).Ratiometric fluorescent sensor based on TPU-PVP coaxial nanofibers for monitoring trace ammonia in breath.Materials Today Chemistry,26.

Cai，S.,et al."Ratiometric fluorescent sensor based on TPU-PVP coaxial nanofibers for monitoring trace ammonia in breath".Materials Today Chemistry 26(2022).