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A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 March 2021) | Viewed by 29307

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Ueda

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Guest Editor

Tokyo Institute of Technology, Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: immunosensor; fluorescence immunoassay; protein engineering; synthetic biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Yasuteru Urano

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Imaging, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Interests: Novel small molecule-based photo-functional tools for biological and medical research, including fluorescence probes for detecting various events in living cells and animals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Because of its high sensitivity and the range of available probes and methods, fluorescence-based assays are widely used to detect trace amounts of targets. Among them, many fluorescent sensors, which can detect targets conveniently and sensitively, without the need for tedious measurement/separation steps, are becoming increasingly popular. In this Special Issue, we welcome original and review submissions reporting on the development of such novel fluorescent sensors made of both chemical and biological origins (i.e., chemically synthesized or protein-based probes for environmental, biological, and clinical samples) to specifically detect small amounts of substances as well as its change in a complex milieu. The detection target will be from small molecules, such as metal ions, small organic molecules, and peptides, to large molecules, such as proteins, and their modifications. Reports for sensors with a sufficient novelty and practical utility will be highly favored. However, preliminary reports with exceptionally intriguing ideas will also be welcome, as far as they are technically sound. As a protein engineer and an organic chemist working in analytical chemistry field, we welcome submissions from a range of sensor specialists.

Prof. Dr. Hiroshi Ueda
Prof. Dr. Yasuteru Urano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

fluorescent biosensor
fluorescent dye
fluorescent protein
immunosensorfluorescence quenching
diagnostic sensors
fluorescent molecular imaging
fluorogenic sensors

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 3778 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Research of Fluorescent Properties of a New Type of Phosphor with Mn²⁺-Doped Ca₂SiO₄

by Xiaozhou Fan, Wenqi Zhang, Fangcheng Lü, Yueyi Sui, Jiaxue Wang and Ziqiang Xu

Sensors 2021, 21(8), 2788; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21082788 - 15 Apr 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2246

Abstract

Fluorescent optical fiber temperature sensors have attracted extensive attention due to their strong anti-electromagnetic interference ability, good high-voltage insulation performance, and fast response speed. The fluorescent material of the sensor probe directly determines the temperature measurement effect. In this paper, a new type of fluorescent material with a Mn²⁺-doped Ca₂SiO₄ phosphor (CSO:Mn²⁺) is synthesized via the solid-state reaction method at 1450 °C. The X-ray diffraction spectrum shows that the sintered sample has a pure phase structure, although the diffraction peaks show a slight shift when dopants are added. The temperature dependence of the fluorescence intensity and lifetime in the range from 290 to 450 K is explored with the help of a fluorescence spectrometer. Green emission bands peaking at 475 and 550 nm from Mn²⁺ are observed in the fluorescence spectra, and the intensity of emitted light decreases as the temperature rises. The average lifetime of CSO:Mn²⁺ is 17 ms, which is much higher than the commonly used fluorescent materials on the market. The fluorescence lifetime decreases with increasing temperature and shows a good linear relationship within a certain temperature range. The research results are of great significance to the development of a new generation of fluorescence sensors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Sensors)

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14 pages, 15738 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Modification of Pre-miRNAs with a FRET Dye Pair for the Intracellular Visualization of Processing Intermediates That Are Generated in Cells

by Yukiko Kamiya, Hiroshi Kamimoto, Hongyu Zhu and Hiroyuki Asanuma

Sensors 2021, 21(5), 1785; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21051785 - 4 Mar 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2269

Abstract

microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding ribonucleic acids (RNAs), which regulate gene expression via the RNA interference (RNAi) system. miRNAs have attracted enormous interest because of their biological significance and disease relationship. In cell systems, the generation of miRNA is regulated by multiple steps: the transfer of primary miRNA from the nucleus to the cytosol, the generation of the precursor-miRNA (pre-miRNA), the production of double-stranded RNA from pre-miRNA by the Dicer, the interaction with protein argonaute-2 (AGO2), and the subsequent release of one strand to form miRISC with AGO2. In this study, we attempt to visualize the intermediates that were generated in the miRNA-maturation step in the cells to acquire a detailed understanding of the maturation process of miRNA. To achieve this, we developed pre-miRNAs labeling with a Dicer- or AGO2-responsible fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) dye pair. We observed that modifications with the dye at suitable positions did not interfere with the biological activities of pre-miRNAs. Further, imaging analyses employing these pre-miRNAs demonstrated that the processing of pre-miRNA promoted the accumulation of miRNA at the specific foci in the cytosol. The FRET-labeled pre-miRNA would further elucidate the mechanisms of the RNAi process and provide the basis for development of nucleic acid drugs working in the RNAi system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Sensors)

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16 pages, 8803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fluorescence Spectroscopy for Studying Evaporating Droplets Using the Dye Eosin-Y

by Matthias Koegl, Christoph Weiß and Lars Zigan

Sensors 2020, 20(21), 5985; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20215985 - 22 Oct 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4904

Abstract

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectroscopy using dyes is frequently applied for characterization of liquids and two-phase flows. The technique is utilized e.g., for mixing studies, thermometry, or droplet sizing. One major application of the LIF technique combined with Mie-scattering is the planar measurement of droplet sizes in spray systems. However, its uncertainty is determined, among others, by varying dye concentration and temperature changes occurring during mixing and droplet evaporation. Systematic experimental investigations are necessary to determine the influence of dye enrichment effects on the LIF-signal of single droplets. For these investigations, the fluorescence dye Eosin-Y is dissolved in water and ethanol, which are typical solvents and working fluids in bio-medical applications and power engineering. A photo-physical characterization of the mixtures under various conditions was conducted using a spectrometric LIF setup and a micro cell. For ethanol, a small temperature dependency of the Eosin-Y LIF signal is observed up to 373 K. Photo-dissociation of Eosin-Y is negligible for solution in ethanol while it is distinct in water. The LIF signals of the single droplets are studied with an acoustic levitator. Effects of droplet evaporation, droplet deformation and varying dye concentration on the LIF-signal are studied. The single droplet measurements revealed a complex change of the fluorescence signal with reduced droplet size. This is due to droplet deformations leading to variations in the internal illumination field as well as dye enrichment during evaporation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Sensors)

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14 pages, 4702 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Detection of Ferric Ions and Catecholamine Neurotransmitters via Highly Fluorescent Heteroatom Co-Doped Carbon Dots

by Thi Hoa Le, Hyun Jong Lee, Ji Hyeon Kim and Sang Joon Park

Sensors 2020, 20(12), 3470; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20123470 - 19 Jun 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3204

Abstract

Carbon dots (CDs) demonstrate very poor fluorescence quantum yield (QY). In this study, with the help of a hydrothermal method, we combined CDs with nitrogen and phosphorus elements belonging to the VA group (in the periodic table) to form heteroatom co-doped CDs, i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped carbon dots (NPCDs). These displayed a significant improvement in the QY (up to 84%), which was as much as four times than that of CDs synthesized by the same method. The as-prepared NPCDs could be used as an “off-on” fluorescence detector for the rapid and effective sensing of ferric ions (Fe³⁺) and catecholamine neurotransmitters (CNs) such as dopamine (DA), adrenaline (AD), and noradrenaline (NAD). The fluorescence of NPCDs was “turned off” and the emission wavelength was slightly red-shifted upon increasing the Fe³⁺ concentration. However, when CNs were incorporated, the fluorescence of NPCDs was recovered in a short response time; this indicated that CN concentration could be monitored, relying on enhancing the fluorescence signal of NPCDs. As a result, NPCDs are considered as a potential fluorescent bi-sensor for Fe³⁺ and CN detection. Particularly, in this research, we selected DA as the representative neurotransmitter of the CN group along with Fe³⁺ to study the sensing system based on NPCDs. The results exhibited good linear ranges with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.2 and 0.1 µM for Fe³⁺ and DA, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Sensors)

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15 pages, 1568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristic Evaluation of Chameleon Luminophore Dispersed in Polymer

by Miku Kasai, Yosuke Sugioka, Masanori Yamamoto, Takayuki Nagata, Taku Nonomura, Keisuke Asai and Yasuchika Hasegawa

Sensors 2020, 20(9), 2623; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20092623 - 4 May 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2579

Abstract

A temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) using a chameleon luminophore

{[{Tb}_{0.99} {Eu}_{0.01} {(hfa)}_{3} (dpbp)]}_{n}

is proposed. The chameleon luminophore was dispersed in isobutyl methacrylate polymer in a toluene solvent to fix it on a sample [...] Read more.

A temperature-sensitive paint (TSP) using a chameleon luminophore

{[{Tb}_{0.99} {Eu}_{0.01} {(hfa)}_{3} (dpbp)]}_{n}

is proposed. The chameleon luminophore was dispersed in isobutyl methacrylate polymer in a toluene solvent to fix it on a sample coupon. Temperature and pressure sensitivities of the chameleon luminophore-based TSP were measured using a spectrofluorophotometer. The emission for each wavelength was confirmed to be dependent on the temperature and pressure. The temperature and pressure sensitivities of the TSP were 0.81–2.8%/K and 0.08–0.12%/kPa, respectively. Higher temperature sensitivity can be obtained using the ratio of emissions from the two lanthanide ions,

{Tb}^{III}

and

{Eu}^{III}

. The temperature sensitivity when using the ratio of the emission intensities at 616 nm derived from

{Eu}^{III}

and at 545 nm derived from

{Tb}^{III}

was 3.2%/K, which was the highest value in the present study. In addition, the pressure sensitivity for the case using the ratio of the emission intensities at 616 and 545 nm was

4.8 \times 10^{- 2} %

/kPa. Higher temperature sensitivity and lower pressure sensitivity than that with a single wavelength can be achieved using the ratio of the emission intensities at the two peak wavelengths derived from

{Tb}^{III}

and

{Eu}^{III}

. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Sensors)

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Review

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18 pages, 14764 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Recent Advances in Quenchbody, a Fluorescent Immunosensor

by Jinhua Dong and Hiroshi Ueda

Sensors 2021, 21(4), 1223; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21041223 - 9 Feb 2021

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4571

Abstract

The detection of viruses, disease biomarkers, physiologically active substances, drugs, and chemicals is of great significance in many areas of our lives. Immunodetection technology is based on the specificity and affinity of antigen–antibody reactions. Compared with other analytical methods such as liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, which requires a large and expensive instrument, immunodetection has the advantages of simplicity and good selectivity and is thus widely used in disease diagnosis and food/environmental monitoring. Quenchbody (Q-body), a new type of fluorescent immunosensor, is an antibody fragment labeled with fluorescent dyes. When the Q-body binds to its antigen, the fluorescence intensity increases. The detection of antigens by changes in fluorescence intensity is simple, easy to operate, and highly sensitive. This review comprehensively discusses the principle, construction, application, and current progress related to Q-bodies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Sensors)

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33 pages, 2506 KiB

Open AccessReview

Fluorescence Polarization-Based Bioassays: New Horizons

by Olga D. Hendrickson, Nadezhda A. Taranova, Anatoly V. Zherdev, Boris B. Dzantiev and Sergei A. Eremin

Sensors 2020, 20(24), 7132; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20247132 - 12 Dec 2020

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 8673

Abstract

Fluorescence polarization holds considerable promise for bioanalytical systems because it allows the detection of selective interactions in real time and a choice of fluorophores, the detection of which the biosample matrix does not influence; thus, their choice simplifies and accelerates the preparation of samples. For decades, these possibilities were successfully applied in fluorescence polarization immunoassays based on differences in the polarization of fluorophore emissions excited by plane-polarized light, whether in a free state or as part of an immune complex. However, the results of recent studies demonstrate the efficacy of fluorescence polarization as a detected signal in many bioanalytical methods. This review summarizes and comparatively characterizes these developments. It considers the integration of fluorescence polarization with the use of alternative receptor molecules and various fluorophores; different schemes for the formation of detectable complexes and the amplification of the signals generated by them. New techniques for the detection of metal ions, nucleic acids, and enzymatic reactions based on fluorescence polarization are also considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fluorescent Sensors)

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