3. Polymer (bio)chemical sensors

3.1 Photoluminescent conjugated polymers

Sensors based on luminescent conjugated polymers are the focus of much research, thanks to their ability to detect analytes at very low concentrations. The suppression or exaltation of luminescence in the presence of the molecules to be assayed is an effective means of analysis, thanks to its extreme sensitivity and the simplicity of on/off detection.

Alternatively, detectors can be designed where the formation of a complex between the conjugated polymer and the species to be assayed leads to a spectral shift in light emission. The advantage of the latter approach is that the titration operation can be based on the ratio of optical intensities at the two wavelengths, rather than on their absolute values, thus avoiding...