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Optical Detection of Proteins Using Microgel-Stabilized Pickering Liquid Crystal-in-Water Emulsions
Shikha Aery1,2, Jérôme J Crassous2, Abhijit Dan1,3
1Department of Chemistry and Centre for Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|January 3, 2025
Summary
We developed a new liquid crystal (LC) biosensor using microgel-stabilized droplets for label-free protein detection. This platform offers enhanced sensitivity and stability for biomolecular interaction studies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biotechnology
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Developing sensitive and label-free biosensing platforms is crucial for biomolecular detection.
- Liquid crystal (LC) droplets offer unique optical properties for sensing applications.
- Stabilizing LC droplets in aqueous environments presents a significant challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a novel liquid crystal-based sensing platform for simple, label-free protein detection in water.
- To utilize microgel-stabilized Pickering LC droplets for enhanced biosensing capabilities.
- To investigate the mechanism of protein detection based on LC droplet configurational transitions.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) microgel particles for stabilizing 4-cyano-4'-pentylbiphenyl (5CB) LC droplets.
- Coated LC droplets with PNIPAM microgels and surfactants (SDS, DTAB) for protein interaction studies.
- Utilized polarized optical microscopy to observe configurational transitions (radial-to-bipolar) of LC droplets upon protein exposure.
Main Results:
- Microgel-stabilized LC droplets exhibited Pickering stability in aqueous solution.
- Protein adsorption (BSA, lysozyme) induced a radial-to-bipolar configurational transition in LC droplets.
- Protein interaction with microgel-surfactant interface disrupted LC surface anchoring, leading to a detectable optical switch.
- Sensitivity and detection limits were influenced by microgel concentration, surfactant charge, pH, and protein type.
Conclusions:
- Engineered a robust and sensitive Pickering LC-based biosensor for label-free protein detection.
- Demonstrated the potential of microgel-surfactant interfaces to modulate LC droplet behavior for biomolecular sensing.
- Opened avenues for developing advanced biosensors for interfacial and biomolecular interaction analysis.
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