Session: PMSE/POLY Poster Session:

Under biological conditions, nanomaterials are often prone to interactions with proteins and other macromolecules due to their hydrophobicity and large surface area. Therefore, one of the big challenges in designing nano-biosensors is to overcome non-specific molecular interactions. Layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of polymeric materials on nanosensor could act as a protective barrier to guard against non-specific molecules, thereby preserving sensitivity and specificity of the sensor functions in biological environments.

Carbon nanotube-based optical sensors have been explored for biomedical applications to facilitate the detection of various classes of molecules such as neurotransmitters, lipids, microRNAs, viruses, and disease bio-marker proteins, etc. Increasing uses of in vivo nanosensors has necessitated new methods to mitigate non-specific molecular interactions in the biological environment. LbL assembly of polymeric materials on carbon nanotube could potentially mitigate non-specific interactions to preserve the sensor response. Here, we explored the sequential layering of polymers onto the nanotube surface and studied the effect of LbL on the nanotube’s optical responses.

Schematic illustrating controlled molecular interaction via LbL assembly on sensor surface

Schematic illustrating controlled molecular interaction via LbL assembly on sensor surface

Yu Chen

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