Polymer quantum dots derived from poly (3, 4-ethylenediioxythiophene) and its applications for optical sensing
The conventional commercially available fluorophores used to study & track biological activity suffer from several intrinsic drawbacks like rapid photo-bleaching making it difficult to carry out long-term imaging. Semiconductor QDs have been considered as alternatives but they may possess certai...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Final Year Project |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2014
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/60246 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Institution: | Nanyang Technological University |
| Language: | English |
| Summary: | The conventional commercially available fluorophores used to study & track biological activity suffer from several intrinsic drawbacks like rapid photo-bleaching making it difficult to carry out long-term imaging. Semiconductor QDs have been considered as alternatives but they may possess certain limitations such as poor photo-stability, cytotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Alternatively, a new breed of quantum dots derived from polymers possess certain advantages such as superior photostability, high biocompatibility, small size & tuneable optical properties thereby, promising them as superior substitutes for semiconductor QDs.
Here, we have developed a new synthesis technique for novel QDs derived from poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene), (PEDOT) polymer. The polymer film used is synthesized specifically through electrochemical polymerization. A series of processing methods involving sonication, centrifugation, filtration and rotary evaporation are utilized during the QDs synthesis. Subsequently, the thus synthesized QDs have been used for specific mercury (Hg2+) sensing and optical imaging applications. |
|---|