Inverse Opal Photonic Gel Containing Charge Stabilized Boronate Anions for Glucose Sensing at Physiological pH

Abstract

A glucose‐sensing inverse opal photonic gel (IOPG) that functions at physiological pH has been demonstrated in this study. Photopolymerization of the monomer mixtures is templated by opal films. The structural colors of the optimized IOPG change from red to green upon the addition of the glucose solution at pH 7.4 due to the formation of 2:1 boronates–glucose complexes which induces a shrinkage of IOPG. The intramolecular charge stabilization of anionic boronate by neighboring quaternary‐amine group leads to an efficient diester formation at physiological pH. The optimized IOPG glucose sensor shows a response time as fast as 1 min, as well as reversible and reproducible sensing responses to make it a promising candidate for continuous glucose monitoring system.