Bright molecules for sensing, computing and imaging: a tale of two once-troubled cities

Abstract

SummaryThe circumstances in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which led to a) the generalization of luminescent PET (photoinduced electron transfer) sensing/switching as a design tool, b) the construction of a market-leading blood electrolyte analyzer and c) the invention of molecular logic-based computation as an experimental field, are delineated. Efforts to extend the philosophy of these approaches into issues of small object identification, nanometric mapping, animal visual perception and visual art are also outlined.

Molecular Probes, Chemosensors, and Nanosensors for Optical Detection of Biorelevant Molecules and Ions in Aqueous Media and Biofluids

“…17,18 Moreover, cation-selective chemosensors have been utilized in developing a supramolecular sensor cassette distributed by OPTI Medical Systems, Inc., which can be used for the detection of Na + , K + , Ca 2+ , CO 2 (indirectly), and pH in untreated whole blood (Figure 1c). 19,20 In this review article, we focus on molecular probe, chemosensor, and nanosensor developments that are either already operational in aqueous environments or that have the potential to be developed into functional chemosensors in aqueous media. We were particularly interested in highlighting literature reports on molecular recognition-based sensing coupled to an optical readout.…”

Surface‐Modified Gold Nanoparticles Possessing Two‐Channel Responsive EuIII/TbIII Cyclen Complexes as Luminescent Logic Gate Mimics

“…In the case of simple organic,o rc oordination compounds, [3] potential "outputs"c an be ac haracteristicc hange in both the absorption or the emission spectra of ac ompound. [4] These have been demonstrated elegantly by de Silva, [5] Andreasson, [6] and Pischel [7] amongsto thers. [8] Through our own work, we have demonstrated that lanthanide (Ln III )c omplexes can be used in solutiona ss ingle MLGMs, [9] sensors [10] and in parallel processes, [11] exploitingt heir characteristic emission properties.…”

“Dynamic” molecular recognition and chirality segregation utilizing concepts of molecular machines and molecular assemblies

“…13) This phenomenon is exactly related to a “logic gate” concept proposed later by A. P. de Silva. 14) Their solution properties are also interesting. When the methylene spacer -(CH 2 ) n - between the crown ring and ammonium tail group is short, they tend to form low-molar-mass pseudo-cyclic dimers owing to the 1 + 1 intermolecular “tail-biting action”, whereas when it is long enough, they tend to form supramolecular polymers owing to the intermolecular “tail-biting action”.…”