Oxygen Sensing Electrospun Nanofibers for Biological Applications
Date
2018-03
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Abstract
Incorporation of luminescent oxygen-sensitive molecules into electrospun polymeric nanofibers can create a sensor with linear Stern-Volmer behavior and a rapid response time. This overcomes several issues associated with traditional polymer film-based sensors. Nevertheless, disadvantages remain that could limit use in biological applications: photobleaching, excitation wavelengths that poorly penetrate tissue, and difficulties associated with delivery. This work attempts to address each of these issues. Systematic studies on long-term photobleaching have examined the effect of specific parameters (i.e., porphyrin content) on decreases in sensor brightness and oxygen-sensitivity. While the ultraviolet and visible excitation wavelengths exhibit poor tissue penetration, near-infrared (NIR) light much more easily penetrates tissue due to decreased scattering and absorbance by tissue chromophores. The ability to achieve NIR-activated oxygen sensing in electrospun bilayer and core-shell nanofibers has been demonstrated by using upconverting particles to locally stimulate oxygen-sensitive molecules. Finally, concerns associated with delivery have been addressed by utilizing the same sensing components in the form of polymeric core-shell particles.
Description
Poster Division: Engineering, Math, and Physical Sciences: 1st Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)
Keywords
Oxygen sensing, Electrospinning, Electrospraying, Photobleaching, Upconversion