Water-Soluble p-Conjugated Polymer for Biosensor Applications

Abstract

Recently, water-soluble conjugated polymers (CPs) have attracted much attention in the development of optical biosensors. In this thesis, three CP type fluorescent/colorimetric sensors are developed for the detection of heparin, a drug commonly used to prevent blood coagulation. These sensors have advantages such as simple formulation, quick response, high selectivity, feasible for visual detection and reasonable quantification ranges, and may find applications in research work requiring quick detection and quantification of purified heparin samples or heparin in biological media. Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) are often used as sensory materials. Nonspecific interactions are inevitable and may affect the sensors? selectivity. In this thesis, two functionalized water-soluble nonionic polymers (NCPs) are developed. These NCPs are optically stable under high ionic strength and show minimal nonspecific interactions with interfering proteins. In addition, through conjugation between functional groups and biotin molecules, these NCPs are endowed with streptavidin recognition capability on solid surface and in solution.