Biological chemistry fluorescent sensors

Bergamini G, Marchi E, Ceroni P (2010) Luminescent dendrimers as ligands and sensors of metal ions. In Demchenko AP (ed) Advanced fluorescence reporters in chemistry and biology. II. Springer Ser Fluoresc 8 253-284... 

Fluorescent pH indicators offer much better sensitivity than the classical dyes such as phenolphthalein, thymol blue, etc., based on color change. They are thus widely used in analytical chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, cellular biology (for measuring intracellular pH), medicine (for monitoring pH and pCC>2 in blood pCC>2 is determined via the bicarbonate couple). Fluorescence microscopy can provide spatial information on pH. Moreover, remote sensing of pH is possible by means of fiber optic chemical sensors. 

The crucial recognition events of chemistry, biology, and materials science occur at a molecular level. Information about these events can be conveniently transmitted to us via light signals emitted by purpose-built molecular devices. There are three different families of fluorescent (and chromogenic) sensors (Figure 16.1) [1] ... 

Colorimetric pH sensing has a long tradition and numerous chromogenic sensors such as phenolphthalein, bromothymol blue, methyl red, and many others, have been developed. These indicators are involved in protonation-deprotonation equilibria between two (or more) forms of different spectral properties. Much higher sensitivity can be obtained with fluorescent proton sensors. Furthermore, this technique can be widely used in bioanalytical chemistry, cellular biology, and medicine. Application of fluorescence imaging techniques provides spatial information on pH. 

Principles of Chemical and Biological Sensors. Edited by Dermot Diamond Pestidde Residue in Foods Methods, Technologies, and Regulations. By W. George Fong, H. Anson Moye, James N. Seiber, and John P. Toth X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry. Second Edition. By Ron Jenkins Statistical Methods in Analytical Chemistry. Second Edition. By Peter C. Meier and Richard E. Zild... 

Due to the fundamental roles cations play in biological, chemical and environmental processes considerable efforts have been directed towards the synthesis of a range of systems capable of their detectirm with high selectivity and sensitivity. Of these methods, fluorescence-based sensors prepared using click chemistry have undoubtedly received most attention, although there are a range of other methods which merit discussion. 

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