Biodegradable optode-based nanosensors for in vivo monitoring.

ABSTRACT: Optode-based fluorescent nanosensors are being developed for monitoring important disease states such as hyponatremia and diabetes. However, traditional optode-based sensors are composed of nonbiodegradable polymers such as poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) raising toxicity concerns for long-term in vivo use. Here, we report the development of the first biodegradable optode-based nanosensors that maintain sensing characteristics similar to those of traditional optode sensors. The polymer matrix of these sensors is composed of polycaprolactone (PCL) and a citric acid ester plasticizer. The PCL-based nanosensors yielded a dynamic and reversible response to sodium, were tuned to respond to extracellular sodium concentrations, and had a lifetime of at least 14 days at physiological temperature. When

SUBMITTER: Balaconis MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3683867 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature