Precipitation as a simple and versatile method for preparation of optical nanochemosensors

Optical nanosensors for such important analytes as oxygen, pH, temperature, etc. are manufactured in a simple way via precipitation. Lipophilic indicators are entrapped into nanobeads based on poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, polyurethanes, ethylcellulose, and other polymers. Charged groups greatly facilitate formation of the small beads and increase their stability. Sensing properties of the beads can be tuned by choosing the appropriate indicator. Nanosensors for carbon dioxide and ammonia are found to be cross-sensitive to pH if dispersed in aqueous media. These nanobeads are successfully employed to design bulk optodes. Nanochemosensors with enhanced brightness via light-harvesting and multi-functional magnetic nanosensors also are prepared.