(Invited) Nanoscale Probes for Optical Detection of Emerging Contaminants and Biological Indicators

Abstract

Photoluminescent single-walled carbon nanotubes exhibit outstanding potential in developing molecular probes for optical detection systems. Surface coatings on nanotubes could facilitate effective molecular interactions enabling targeted nanoscale probes, sensors, and imaging agents. This talk will be focused on the development and applications of carbon nanotube-based sensors for optical detection of emerging contaminants and biological indicators including pH, a measure of acidity and alkalinity of a sample. pH changes in tissues and biofluids could indicate patho-physiological conditions such as tumor growth, microbial infection, acidosis, cystic fibrosis, wound healing, etc. Thus, the optical pH sensor could find applications in disease detection, diagnosis, and improve clinical outcome. This talk will also discuss optical detection of chemical disinfectants using carbon nanotubes. COVID-19 pandemics has led into wide uses of various disinfectant chemicals to mitigate virus burden. Recent findings show that certain disinfectants can cross various biological barriers and accumulate within human body. Molecular tools that enable detection of such compounds within native biological environment are useful to understand complete biological fate of such chemicals to mitigate potential impact on health.