Special Issue "Fluorescent Chemosensors"

Guest Editor
Dr. Reza Dabestani
MD-6197, Physical Organic Group, Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6197, USA
E-Mail:
Interests: fluorescent optical sensors; molecular dynamics; photochemistry and photophysics; fast kinetic spectroscopy; radiation curing of polymer composites

Guest Editor
Dr. Frances Smith Ligler
Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, Code 6900, Washington, DC 20375-5348, USA
E-Mail:
Interests: biosensors; immunosensors; fluorescence; multi-analyte sensing; microfluidics; flow cytometry; microarrays

Dear Colleagues,

This special issue highlights the use of fluorescence for detecting low molecular weight chemicals. Fluorescence is highly effective for discriminating the presence of a target over the spectrally complex background inherent in real-world samples. Fluorescence lifetime measurements, fluorescence polarization, and fluorescence energy transfer provide mechanisms for measuring chemicals in solution. Fluorescence of dye-laden particles, quantum dots, and luminescent proteins provide methods for measuring intracellar chemical changes. On a sensing surface, a fluorescent signal also provides greater sensitivity than measurement of mass change as a target binds to a sensor surface due to significant background signal from nonspecific adsorption of other sample components. Polymers that fluoresce upon target recognition are opening opportunities for sensing in air as well as liquids. Two photon excitation, fluorescence energy transfer, fluorescence quenching and chemically modulated fluorescence are being used to generate novel sensing strategies. New fluors, light sources and detectors are continually expanding the opportunities for fluorescence measurements with inexpensive and even point-of-use systems. This special issue of sensors will focus on the use and application of fluorescent chemosensors in medical, biological, environmental, and analytical fields.

Frances Smith Ligler, Ph. D.
Reza Dabestani, Ph. D.
Guest Editors

Submission

Sensors is a highly rated journal with a 1.870 impact factor in 2008. Sensors is indexed and abstracted very quickly by Chemical Abstracts, Analytical Abstracts, Science Citation Index Expanded, Chemistry Citation Index, Scopus and Google Scholar.

All papers should be submitted to sensors@mdpi.org with copy to the guest editors. To be published continuously until the deadline and papers will be listed together at the special websites.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a paper. Open Access publication fees are 1050 CHF per paper. English correction fees (250 CHF) will be added in certain cases (1300 CHF per paper for those papers that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.).

• fluorescence
• chemical sensor
• nanoparticles
• FRET
• lifetime
• quenching
• polymerization induced
• intracellular fluorescence
• evanescent sensing
• chemosensitivity
• chemosensors
• fluorescent imaging

Title: Sensors Based on Excimer Formation: From Molecular Systems to Supramolecular Ensembles
Author: Jean-Claude Chambron
Affiliation: Université de Bourgogne, CMUB (UMR 5260), Equipe LIMRES, 9, avenue Alain Savary, BP 47870, 21078 DIJON cedex, France; E-mail: jean-claude.chambron@u-bourgogne.fr
Abstract: To be added

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Fluorescent Chemosensors for Toxic Organophosphorus Pesticides and Nerve Gas Agents: A Review
Authors: Sherine O. Obare, Wen Guo, Chandrima De, Daniel S. Beaudoin, Brigitte J. Engelmann, Tajay L. Haywood, Tova A. Samuels and Clara P. Adams
Affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA; E-Mail: sherine.obare@wmich.edu
Abstract: Organophosphorus based compounds are highly toxic and represent serious environmental concerns. Organothiophosphates with a thiophosphoryl (P=S) functional group constitute a broad class of widely used insecticides. They are related to the more reactive phosphoryl (P=O) organophosphates, which include very lethal nerve agents and chemical warfare agents, such as, VX, Soman and Sarin. Unfortunately, frequent use of organophosphorus-based compounds in agricultural lands worldwide has resulted in their presence as residuals in crops, livestock, and poultry products and has further led to their migration into underground aquifers. These compounds are highly toxic to human health and are powerful inhibitors of cholinesterase enzymes. The creation of new materials for sensing and actuation requires careful manipulation of the responsive units required to control analyte selectivity. We review recent advances in the development of fluorescent chemosensors for toxic organophoshorus pesticides and nerve gas agents. We also discuss challenges and issues related to the design of future chemosensors.