Abstract
A universal label-free detection of bioanalytes can be performed with biomimetic quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) coatings prepared by imprinting strategies. Bulk imprinting was used to detect the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) known as estradiols. The estrogen 17β-estradiol is one of the most potent EDCs, even at very low concentrations. A highly sensitive, selective and robust QCM sensor was fabricated for real time monitoring of 17β-estradiol in water samples by using molecular imprinted polyurethane. Optimization of porogen (pyrene) and cross-linker (phloroglucinol) levels leads to improved sensitivity, selectivity and response time of the estradiol sensor. Surface imprinting of polyurethane as sensor coating also allowed us to generate interaction sites for the selective recognition of bacteria, even in a very complex mixture of interfering compounds, while they were growing from their spores in nutrient solution. A double molecular imprinting approach was followed to transfer the geometrical features of natural bacteria onto the synthetic polymer to generate biomimetic bacteria. The use of biomimetic bacteria as template makes it possible to prepare multiple sensor coatings with similar sensitivity and selectivity. Thus, cell typing, e.g., differentiation of bacteria strains, bacteria growth profile and extent of their nutrition, can be monitored by biomimetic mass sensors. Obviously, this leads to controlled cell growth in bioreactors.
Highlights
Living systems are the source of inspiration for scientists seeking to design sensors, separation devices, and drug delivery systems
A large number of attempts have been made by researchers in developing man-made materials with biomimetic properties. These biomimetic architectures possess the recognition properties of biological systems and are able to detect viruses [2], bacteria by biomimetic chemical reduction [3], trace level biological signaling molecules from living cells [4], superoxide anions for living cell monitoring [5], of classify honeys and detect their adulteration [6]. This biomimetic approach makes it possible to develop sensor devices for the detection of carcinoma antigens [7], copper ions by biomimetically synthesized quantum dots [8], and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) by biomimetic surfaces functionalized with epithelial-cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) [9,10]
The mixture was polymerized to a gel point suitable for coating quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) followed by curing of the material
Summary
Living systems are the source of inspiration for scientists seeking to design sensors, separation devices, and drug delivery systems. A large number of attempts have been made by researchers in developing man-made materials with biomimetic properties These biomimetic architectures possess the recognition properties of biological systems and are able to detect viruses [2], bacteria by biomimetic chemical reduction [3], trace level biological signaling molecules from living cells [4], superoxide anions for living cell monitoring [5], of classify honeys and detect their adulteration [6]. Biomimetic polymers based on the molecular imprinting (MIP) approach exhibit high selectivity and affinity towards target molecules [18,19,20,21] These biomimetic materials with required recognition properties can by synthesized by following either a. The surface imprinting strategy was utilized to develop a sensor for investigating Bacillus subtilis bacteria growth from the respective spores
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