Contemporary advances in scientific knowledge and technology have facilitated the creation of sensitive and reliable assays for the detection of several classes of analytes including inorganic particles, organic solutes, and biological macromolecules. With many detection assays, a lower limit exists that prevents the qualitative recognition of analytes below a certain concentration threshold. Thus, signal amplification is a necessary component of any assay designed to detect small amounts of analyte. Using fluorogenic polymerization for signal amplification, we propose a quantifiable, sensitive, and relatively inexpensive strategy for detecting low concentrations of analyte in aqueous media. Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (ATRP) is polymerization method with living character that can be performed in the presence of a wide variety of molecules. Thus, ATRP initiators can be conjugated to a variety of molecules and used to initiate a detectable polymerization reaction. Optimization of ATRP conditions is necessary in order to obtain the fastest and brightest signals from the lowest concentrations of initiators. The synthesis of fluorogenic monomers and optimization of several ATRP variables will be discussed.

Aqueous fluorogenic polymerization for signal amplification

255th National Meeting (2018)

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