Modular fabrication of fluorescent sensors via hydrogen-bonding self-assembly

Abstract

Fluorescent molecular sensors offer a sensitive and straightforward approach to monitoring biologically or environmentally important targets. However, obtaining high-performance chemosensors are still challenging in terms of laborious synthesis and low success rate. Herein we report a general and efficient strategy for fabrication of complex fluorescent chemosensors. Noncovalent synthesis of supramolecular sensors was realized by self-assembly of structurally simple subunits bearing hydrogen-bonding linkers. Based on the selected use of three recognition subunits and three signalling subunits, an array of fluorescent sensory co-assemblies with different subunits combination patterns were fabricated for sensitive detection of bisulfite, saccharides, carbon dioxide or chemical warfare agents. The multiplicity and ratios of these subunits can be flexibly adjusted to obtain desirable functions such as signal amplification, ratiometric responses and simultaneous multitarget monitoring.