Janus Metal-AIEgen Framework@Hydrogel Patch for Ultrasensitive, Multivariate Responsive, and Intelligent...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Point-of-care testing (POCT) offers convenience and broad applications in public security and laboratory medicine.
• Hydrogel-based POCT is gaining interest due to enhanced stability and interference resistance.
• Existing POCT methods often lack the sensitivity and multiplexing capabilities required for comprehensive diagnostics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a Janus hydrogel patch for multianalyte and ultrasensitive intelligent POCT sensors.
• To create a convenient and accurate platform for detecting various analytes, from ions to pathogens.
• To leverage metal-AIEgen frameworks (MAFs) and hydrogel properties for advanced digital recognition and sensing.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of high quantum yield metal-AIEgen frameworks (MAFs).
• Fabrication of a Janus BP@GA hydrogel patch with heterogeneous hydrogel thin film complexes.
• Utilizing aqueous swelling differences for physical self-sorting and image-based digital recognition.
• Integration with mobile app-actuated image recognition for data analysis.
• Development of a nonenzymic dual cascade amplification system for pathogen detection.

Main Results:

• The Janus BP@GA hydrogel patch demonstrated physical self-sorting and enabled fast digital sensing of multianalytes (e.g., halide ions) via mobile app recognition.
• The hydrogel patch coupled with a nonenzymic amplification system achieved ultrasensitive detection of Staphylococcus aureus with a limit of detection of 3 CFU/mL.
• Achieved 100% accuracy in clinical bacterial strain tests (n=28), outperforming existing chromogenic/fluorimetric sensors.

Conclusions:

• The fluorescent MAF@hydrogel patch represents a powerful and convenient POCT platform for developing multiplex and ultrasensitive biochemical sensors.
• This technology offers a significant advancement in digital sensing from ions to cells.
• The developed hydrogel patch provides a robust solution for intelligent POCT, addressing limitations of current diagnostic tools.