Sensing of Aqueous Phosphates by Polymers with Dual Modes of Signal Transduction

摘要

Accurate determination of levels of phosphate-related anions such as pyrophosphate and nucleotide-phosphates is an important factor in monitoring numerous metabolic processes. Very few sensors exist that display high selectivity and reliability, and that function in aqueous media without interference from endogenous substrates such as chloride anion. That is because selective and reliable sensing of anions is generally difficult to accomplish. As compared to isoelectric cations, anions often display a high energy of hydration, display tautomerism, and possess low surface-charge density, features that make the binding of anions less effective.