The droplets of liquid crystals have unique optical properties combined with very high surface area and sensitive interfacial properties. This is why they are finding increasing research attention for several applications.  Previously, we demonstrated that polyelectrolyte coated LC droplets can be surface modified to optically respond to any changes at their interface or solution environment. Herein we report that LC droplets surfaces can be suitably tailored to detect small charged species. We used dendrimers, as the model charged species to explore the mechanism of interactions. Using the same principle of electrostatic attachment, polyelectrolyte stabilized LC droplets were used for quantitative detection of detect biologically relevant species namely proteins like BSA and viruses like TMV, CPMV. The LC droplets, stabilized by surfactants, could also be used to detect carcinogens like Lithochloric acid, a naturally occurring bile acid that is associated with colon cancer. In this case the mechanism was the replacement of surfactants form the LC-water interface. Thus in this work we highlight that surface engineered LC droplets can be used as novel sensing platform to detect medically important species. Such a detection technique was found to extremely sensitive, as �g/mL level concentrations could easily be detected using just an optical microscope. Hence, we believe that surface engineered LC droplets have the potential to be one of the next generation biosensing platforms.

Surface engineered liquid crystal droplets as novel biosensors

244th National Meeting (2012)

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