FLUOROPHORE EMBEDDED/INCORPORATING/BRIDGED PERIODIC MESOPOROUS ORGANOSILICAS AS RECOGNITION ELEMENTS FOR OPTICAL SENSORS

• US 20100081205A1
• Filed: 08/17/2006
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of the Navy
• Original Assignee: United States Secretary of the Navy
• Inventors: White, Brandy J., Markowitz, Michael A., Zeinali, Mazyar, Charles, Paul T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,749,438 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/110
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7706 Reagent provision
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7726 Porous glass
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/77 by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/173076 Nitrite or nitrate

Abstract

Periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMO) which incorporate an optically active molecule into the material for use as an optical indicator of target binding. This material combines the stability, selectivity, and high density of binding sites characteristic of the PMO with the sensitivity and selectivity of the optically active molecule. The material undergoes a change when exposed to a sample containing a target molecule. The change can be observed by visual inspection or through the use of fluorescence spectra.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a target molecule in a sample comprising:

providing a periodic mesoporous organosilica incorporating an optically active molecule, wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is configured to orient a target molecule with respect to said optically active molecule;

providing a sample containing a target molecule;

exposing said periodic mesoporous organosilica to said sample, wherein said target molecule is adsorbed into said periodic mesoporous organosilica;

providing a light source; and

exposing said periodic mesoporous organosilica to said light source, wherein said optically active molecule undergoes a change that detects the presence of said target molecule.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said optically active molecule is a fluorophore or chromophore.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said optically active molecule is selected from the group consisting of porphyrins and phthalocyanines.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said chromophore or fluorophore is selected from fluorescein and fluorescein derivatives and analogues, indocyanine green, rhodamine, triphenylmethines, polymethines, cyanines, phalocyanines, naphthocyanines, merocyanines, lanthanide complexes or cryptates, fullerenes, oxatellurazoles, LaJolla blue, porphyrins and porphyrin analogues and natural chromophores/fluorophores such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, bilins, phytochrome, phycobilins, phycoerythrin, phycocyanines, retinoic acid and analogues such as retinoins and retinates.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is a molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is a template directed molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the target molecule is TNT, TNT-derivatives, chemical warfare agents, pesticides, or volatile organic compounds.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said light source covers the blue to red regions of the visible spectrum.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said light source is sunlight.

7. (canceled)

11. A system for detecting a target molecule in a sample comprising:

a periodic mesoporous organosilica incorporating an optically active molecule, said optically active molecule, wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is configured to orient a target molecule with respect to said optically active molecule;

means for exposing said periodic mesoporous organosilica to a sample containing a target molecule, wherein said optically active molecule undergoes a change in the presence of said target molecule; and

a means for visualizing said change in said optically active molecule, said change indicating the presence of said target molecule in said sample.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said optically active molecule is a fluorophore or chromophore.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said optically active molecule is selected from the group consisting of porphyrins and phthalocyanines.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said chromophore or fluorophore is selected from fluorescein and fluorescein derivatives and analogues, indocyanine green, rhodamine, triphenylmethines, polymethines, cyanines, phalocyanines, naphthocyanines, merocyanines, lanthanide complexes or cryptates, fullerenes, oxatellurazoles, LaJolla blue, porphyrins and porphyrin analogues and natural chromophores/fluorophores such as chlorophyll, carotenoids, flavonoids, bilins, phytochrome, phycobilins, phycoerythrin, phycocyanines, retinoic acid and analogues such as retinoins and retinates.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is a molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said periodic mesoporous organosilica is a template directed molecularly imprinted periodic mesoporous organosilica.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein the target molecule is TNT, TNT-derivatives, chemical warfare agents, pesticides, or volatile organic compounds.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein said light source covers the blue to red regions of the visible spectrum.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said light source is sunlight.

17. (canceled)