The synthesis and biological sensing applications of novel water soluble poly(para-phenyleneethynylene)s (PPEs) are presented. The ease of synthesis, synthetic variability, and dramatic chromicity of PPEs makes them well suited for biological and sensing applications. Molecular recognition and signal transduction can be achieved by using PPEs as sensory materials. By incorporating biological functional groups (e.g. sugars), PPEs can efficiently detect the presence of toxic heavy metals, proteins, and bacteria through either fluorescence quenching or enhancement. Rapid, precise, and convenient sensory arrays for the detection of biological analytes are possible through the formation of gold nanoparticle-PPE constructs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:GATECH/oai:smartech.gatech.edu:1853/26555 |
| Date | 20 August 2008 |
| Creators | Phillips, Ronald Lee, III |
| Publisher | Georgia Institute of Technology |
| Source Sets | Georgia Tech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Archive |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
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