Oligosaccharide Sensing Using Fluorophore-Probed Curdlans in Aqueous Media

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Saccharide sensing in aqueous media has recently garnered considerable attention in supramolecular and analytical chemistry; however, it still faces significant challenges. Herein, we report oligosaccharide sensing using the designed and synthesized fluorophore-probed curdlans. Aggregation-induced emission of the tetraphenylethylene (TPE) chromophore is a powerful candidate for outputting fluorescence signals upon the addition of the target oligosaccharide acarbose. Among the saccharides tested, the TPE-Cur chemosensors simultaneously exhibited high sensitivity and excellent selectivity toward acarbose. Morphological studies using atomic force microscopy, dynamic light scattering, fluorescence spectroscopy, and lifetime measurements revealed the importance of globule-to-coaggregation conversion upon oligosaccharide incorporation into the dynamic hydrogen-bonding networks of the curdlan string. This study provides perspectives for saccharide-responsive materials that are an attractive alternative to conventional chemosensors, which are difficult to sense in aqueous media.