The optical properties of the primary pigment that facilitates rapid and precise appearance changes in cephalopods, xanthommatin, have been evaluated for a variety of applications including electrochromic displays and photoprotective films. However, the fundamental mechanisms underlying xanthommatin performance upon irradiation with solar light remain incompletely characterized. Following recent evaluations of tryptophan as a photosensitizer for disulfide bonds, we investigated whether xanthommatin, a tryptophan metabolite, may have similar features that could be paired with redox-induced color changes by the pigment to create ultraviolet (UV) light sensors. When packaged with commercially available disulfides within a wearable microfluidic device, we observed that xanthommatin generated a radiation-driven colorimetric response as a result of its dual photosensitizing and redox coloration properties. This approach provides on-demand UV monitoring using a mountable microfluidic architecture that may be useful as a disposable personal monitor or exposure indicator for perishable goods.

Wearable UV sensor based on unique photosensitization features of a natural biochrome

ACS Fall 2021

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