Issue 9, 2023

A nanofluidic sensing platform based on robust and flexible graphene oxide/chitosan nanochannel membranes for glucose and urea detection

Abstract

We present the development of a health-monitoring nanofluidic membrane utilizing biocompatible and biodegradable graphene oxide, chitosan, and graphene quantum dots. The nanoconfinement provided by graphene oxide nanolayers encapsulates chitosan molecules, allowing for their conformational changes and switchable hydrophobic–hydrophilic behavior in response to pH variations. This low-dimensional membrane operates as an array of nanofluidic channels that can release quantum dots upon pH change. The photoluminescence emission from quantum dots enables rapid and reliable optical visualization of pH changes, facilitating efficient human health monitoring. To ensure fouling prevention and enable multiple usages, we adopt a design approach that avoids direct contact between biomarkers and the nanochannels. This design strategy, coupled with good mechanical properties (Young's modulus of 5.5 ± 0.7 GPa), preserves the integrity and functionality of the sensors for repeated sensing cycles. Furthermore, leveraging the memory effect, our sensors can be reloaded with graphene quantum dots multiple times without significant loss of selectivity, achieving reusability. The wide-ranging capabilities of 2D materials and stimuli-responsive polymers empower our sustainable approach to designing low-dimensional, robust, and flexible sensing materials. This approach allows for the integration of various biorecognition elements and signal transduction modes, expanding the versatility and applications of the designed materials.

Graphical abstract: A nanofluidic sensing platform based on robust and flexible graphene oxide/chitosan nanochannel membranes for glucose and urea detection

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
29 мај 2023
Accepted
10 јул. 2023
First published
10 јул. 2023

Nanoscale Horiz., 2023,8, 1243-1252

A nanofluidic sensing platform based on robust and flexible graphene oxide/chitosan nanochannel membranes for glucose and urea detection

K. Yang, Q. Wang, K. S. Novoselov and D. V. Andreeva, Nanoscale Horiz., 2023, 8, 1243 DOI: 10.1039/D3NH00203A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements