For a sensitive detection assay, signal amplification is necessary to reliably detect low concentrations of analyte in solution. Polymerization reactions intrinsically form long polymer chains from a single initiation event, amplifying the initiator signal. The Cooley Lab is developing a detection assay using fluorogenic polymerization, allowing for visible, real-time monitoring of the signal amplification. Reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization is a beneficial polymerization technique because it is controlled with living character, which allows for analyte concentration to track with expressed fluorescence. Additionally, it is sensitive to low concentrations of radicals and compatible with enzymatic degassing, permitting the development of open-air fluorogenic polymerization without oxygen interference. The development and optimization of this fluorogenic RAFT polymerization, as well as open-vessel miniaturization, will be discussed.

Fluorogenic reversible addition-fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization as a detection assay

ACS Spring 2022

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