Coordination of the electrical and optical signals revealing nanochannels with an ‘onion-like’ gating mechanism and its sensing application

Abstract

Artificial stimuli-responsive nanochannels that mimic the gating property of biological ion channels to control the movement of ions across the membranes have attracted much attention. However, the ionic current is also greatly influenced by many environmental factors in the reaction system. In the present study, we coordinated the ionic current and the fluorescence signal to reveal that the gatekeepers (here, oligomers) open and close the nanochannels with an 'onion-like' intermediate state, as confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations. The dual-signal-output nanochannels exhibited a high sensitivity and selectivity to glucose and showed a high antijamming property with regard to impurities such as ascorbic acid (Vc) and H 2 O 2 in complicated practical environments, which could induce false signals in traditional glucose detection methods. Ten healthy individuals' urine samples were distinguished from those of 15 diabetes patients; moreover, the urine samples of the diabetes patients could be discriminated before and after treatment with insulin.

Biomolecule‐Functionalized Solid‐State Ion Nanochannels/Nanopores: Features and Techniques

“…The signal amplification strategies based on assembly superstructures but not restricted to nucleic acids and proteins are also explored for the devices of nanochannels/nanopores. Recently we have developed a signal amplification strategy with layer‐by‐layer assembly of glucose by using an “aggregation induced emission” molecule ((AIEgen, 1,2‐diphenylethene‐1,2‐diyl) bis (1,4‐phenylene)‐1,1′‐diboronic acid (TPEDB)) with bifunctional hydroxyl groups at the two end . As shown in Figure , the bifunctional AIEgen specifically conjugated with one pair of the cis‐diol of glucose at the 1,2‐ or 5,6‐positions.…”

“…Signal amplification by AIEgen induced layer‐by‐layer assembly of glucose, offering fluorescent and electric dual‐signal‐output. Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2016, Springer Nature.…”

Biomacromolecule‐Functionalized AIEgens for Advanced Biomedical Studies

“…In addition to traditional glucose‐based analysis methods, the artificial stimuli‐responsive and functionalized AIEgens nanochannels have been reported. In 2016, Lou and co‐workers successfully developed a “smart gate” for crosslinking the glucose based on AIEgens and nanochannel. It could efficiently ensure the programmed detection of targets using electrical and fluorescent signal at the same time.…”

Enzyme and AIEgens Modulated Solid‐State Nanochannels: In Situ and Noninvasive Monitoring of H2O2 Released from Living Cells

“…This new strategy aims to detect H 2 O 2 released from living cells based on functionalized solid‐state nanochannels without living cells insertion procedure. Aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens, a class of luminogens, which are emitting strong fluorescence in aggregated state) with enzyme‐responsive linkage property were utilized in this strategy . In this fabrication, living cells are first incubated on the transparent and flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) membrane for 24 h. The PET membrane (thickness: 12 µm) is then rolled up and inserted into left chamber of nanochannel device (Scheme b).…”