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Liquid Crystal-Based Droplet Sensor for the Detection of Hg(II) Ions Using an Aptamer as the Recognition Element

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Abstract

Herein, we report the development of a simple liquid crystal (LC)-based droplet sensor for the specific detection of mercury ions (Hg2+) in an aqueous medium, using trimethyl octadecyl ammonium bromide (OTAB) and an Hg2+-binding aptamer. In terms of the mechanism, the system senses the homeotropic orientation of the LCs at the LC–aqueous interface that is induced by the self-assembled monolayer of positively charged OTAB molecules. In the absence of Hg2+, electrostatic interactions between the positively charged OTAB and negatively charged aptamer molecules disturb the organization of the OTAB monolayer, causing the LCs to adopt a planar orientation. By contrast, an aptamer hairpin structure formed in the presence of Hg2+ weakens the interactions between the OTAB and aptamer molecules, causing the OTAB monolayer to self-reassemble and the LCs to consequently adopt a homeotropic orientation. These LC orientational transitions are observable under a polarized optical microscope. This sensor had a low limit of detection of 100 and 250 pM for buffer and tap water samples, respectively. Therefore, our LC-based droplet sensor is a suitable platform for the simple, specific, and convenient detection of Hg2+ in an aqueous medium.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Gachon University research fund of 2020 (GCU-202002750001) and the Basic Science Research Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2019R1A2C1003862).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Gachon University, Seongnam-daero 1342, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, Republic of Korea

    Pham Thi Kim Hong & Chang-Hyun Jang

  2. Department of Bionanotechnology, Gachon University, Seongnam-daero 1342, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13120, Republic of Korea

    Kyusik Yun

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  1. Pham Thi Kim Hong
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  2. Kyusik Yun
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Correspondence to Chang-Hyun Jang.

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Hong, P.T.K., Yun, K. & Jang, CH. Liquid Crystal-Based Droplet Sensor for the Detection of Hg(II) Ions Using an Aptamer as the Recognition Element. BioChip J 15, 152–161 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13206-021-00010-7

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