Abstract
Analyte-sensitive hydrogels that incorporate optical structures have emerged as sensing platforms for point-of-care diagnostics. The optical properties of the hydrogel sensors can be rationally designed and fabricated through self-assembly, microfabrication or laser writing. The advantages of photonic hydrogel sensors over conventional assay formats include label-free, quantitative, reusable, and continuous measurement capability that can be integrated with equipment-free text or image display. This Review explains the operation principles of photonic hydrogel sensors, presents syntheses of stimuli-responsive polymers, and provides an overview of qualitative and quantitative readout technologies. Applications in clinical samples are discussed, and potential future directions are identified.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 250-271 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Biotechnology Advances |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2016 |
Keywords
- Block copolymers
- Bragg stacks
- Crystalline colloidal arrays
- Holography
- Hydrogels
- In vitro diagnostics
- Inverse opals
- Layer-by-layer deposition
- Photonic crystals
- Plasmonics