| Info. | Vol.15 - No.2 (2021.06.20) |
|---|---|
| Title | Liquid Crystal-Based Droplet Sensor for the Detection of Hg(II) Ions Using an Aptamer as the Recognition Element |
| Authors | Pham Thi Kim Hong1, Kyusik Yun2, Chang-Hyun Jang1 |
| Institutions | 1Department of Chemistry, Gachon University, Seongnam-daero 1342, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120, Republic of Korea 2Department of Bionanotechnology, Gachon University, Seongnam-daero 1342, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 13120, Republic of Korea |
| Abstract | Herein, we report the development of a simple liquid crystal (LC)-based droplet sensor for the specific detection of mercury ions (Hg2+) in an aqueous medium, using trimethyl octadecyl ammonium bromide (OTAB) and an Hg2+-binding aptamer. In terms of the mechanism, the system senses the homeotropic orientation of the LCs at the LC–aqueous interface that is induced by the self-assembled monolayer of positively charged OTAB molecules. In the absence of Hg2+, electrostatic interactions between the positively charged OTAB and negatively charged aptamer molecules disturb the organization of the OTAB monolayer, causing the LCs to adopt a planar orientation. By contrast, an aptamer hairpin structure formed in the presence of Hg2+ weakens the interactions between the OTAB and aptamer molecules, causing the OTAB monolayer to self reassemble and the LCs to consequently adopt a homeotropic orientation. These LC orientational transitions are observable under a polarized optical microscope. This sensor had a low limit of detection of 100 and 250 pM for buff er and tap water samples, respectively. Therefore, our LC-based droplet sensor is a suitable platform for the simple, specific, and convenient detection of Hg2+ in an aqueous medium. |
| Keyword | 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl · Detection of Hg2+ · Liquid crystals · Liquid crystal-based droplet sensor · Mercury ions |
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