Core-shell nanofiber-based sensors

• US 9,945,824 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation (Ohio State University)
• Original Assignee: Ohio State Innovation Foundation (Ohio State University)
• Inventors: Lannutti, John, Xue, Ruipeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Mui, Christine T
• Application Number:
  US14/777,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20160041135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 436127, 436136, 435 27, 435 4
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6432 Quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6408 with measurement of decay time, time resolved fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6458 Fluorescence microscopy fluorescence microscopes per se G02B21/0076 and G02B21/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/77 by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/783 for analysing gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/225 for oxygen, e.g. including dissolved oxygen

Abstract

Nanofiber-based sensors for the rapid detection, identification, and/or quantification of analytes, including gaseous analytes such as oxygen, are provided. The nanofiber-based sensors can comprise core-shell nanofibers. The core-shell nanofibers can comprise (a) a core comprising a first polymer and an sensor dispersed therein; and (b) a shell disposed coaxially around the core, comprising a second polymer.

Claims

1. A core shell nanofiber comprising (a) a core comprising a first polymer and an oxygen sensor dispersed therein;

and (b) a shell comprising a second polymer disposed coaxially around the core,

wherein the nanofiber has a diameter of about 1000 nm or less.

2. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the first polymer is oxygen permeable.

3. The nanofiber of claim 2, wherein the first polymer has an oxygen diffusivity greater than water.

4. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the nanofiber is substantially resistant to photobleaching and heat.

5. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the second polymer is biocompatible.

6. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the first polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfone and polydimethylsiloxane.

7. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the second polymer is polycaprolactone.

8. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the oxygen sensor comprises a luminophore.

9. The nanofiber of claim 8, wherein the luminophore exhibits an emission peak of from about 570 nm to about 670 nm.

10. The nanofiber of claim 8, wherein the oxygen sensor is selected from the group consisting of tris (4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroliine) ruthenium (II) dichloride, (4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroliine) ruthenium (II) tetraphenylboron, platinum (II) octaethylporphinedialkylcarbocyanine, and diocadecylcycloxacarbocyanine.

11. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the nanofiber has a diameter of from about 400 nm to about 600 nm.

12. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the the nanofiber has a diameter of from about 401 nm to about 960 nm.

13. The nanofiber of claim 1, wherein the oxygen sensor and the first polymer are present in the core at weight ratio of the oxygen sensor to the first polymer of from about 1:

1000 to about 1;

200.

14. A method for measuring oxygen content in a sample, comprising

(a) contacting the sample with a nanofiber of claim 1;

and

(b) evaluating the optical properties of the oxygen sensor to determine the oxygen content of the sample.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the optical property of the oxygen sensor is luminescence.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the luminescence is fluorescence.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the change in optical property includes a change in intensity of an emission signal.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the sample is an aqueous solution.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the sample comprises a biological sample.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the biological sample comprises cells.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the nanofiber monitors the oxygen content level of the sample in real time.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the nanofiber exhibits a response time of less than about 10 seconds to a change in oxygen content.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the response time is less than about 0.5 seconds.