Nanoparticles of Fluorescent Conjugated Polymers: Novel Ion-Selective Optodes

A novel type of ion-selective nano-optode is proposed, in which a conjugated polymer is used as optical transducer and nanoprobe material. Thus, contrary to most of the proposed optodes, the response does not require presence of pH-sensitive dye in the sensor. The conjugated polymer nanosensor material is in partially oxidized form-it is bearing positive charges and its emission is quenched. The receptor is an optically silent uncharged ionophore selective for the analyte cation. When a binding event occurs, positive charges are formed in the nanosphere, leading to a decrease in the oxidation state of the polymer, in the absence of redox potential change, resulting in increased emission. This general approach herein proposed results in a simple sensor, benefitting from a novel optical transduction mechanism and high lipophilicity of the polymer matrix that results in linear responses over a broad concentration range of analyte. For the model system studied, the linear dependence of emission intensity on the logarithm of analyte (K(+)) concentration was obtained for a broad range from 10(-5) M to 0.1 M.