Fluorescent molecular sensors of neutral molecules and surfactants

Fluorescent molecular sensors of neutral molecules and surfactants 

Another example of practical interest is the detection of surfactants that are extensively used in domestic and industrial applications their slow degradation poses a severe problem of environmental pollution. 

None of the involved species are fluorescent. Therefore, for fluorescence signaling of citrate recognition, carboxyfluorescein is first added to the medium because binding to the receptor in the absence of citrate is possible and causes deprotonation of carboxyfluorescein, which results in high fluorescence. Citrate is then added, and because it has a better affinity for the receptor than carboxyfluorescein, it replaces the latter, which emits less fluorescence in the bulk solvent as a result of protonation. Note that this molecular sensor operates in a similar fashion to antibody-based biosensors in immunoassays. It was succes-fully tested on a variety of soft drinks. 

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Fluorescent molecular sensors of neutral molecules and surfactants I 331... 

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