Poly(aryleneethynylene) Tongue That Identifies Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Water: A Test Case for Combating Counterfeit Drugs

We report a sensor array composed of a highly fluorescent positively charged poly(para-phenyleneethynylene) P1 and its complex C with a negatively charged pyridine-containing poly(para-aryleneethynylene) P2 (quencher) at pH 10 and pH 13; a sensor field composed of four elements, P1 (pH 10), P1 (pH 13), C (pH 10), and C (pH 13), results. The elements of this small sensor field experience either fluorescence turn on or fluorescence quenching upon exposure toward nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, or naproxen. The combined responses of the sensor field are analyzed by linear discriminant analysis (LDA). All of the NSAIDs were identified and discriminated, and the sensing mechanism, hydrophobic versus electrostatic, was discussed.