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Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensors and Their Application
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Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensors and Their Application

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 26 November 2026 | Viewed by 8221

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Caiping Ding

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
Interests: fluorescence biosensors; nanoparticles; color visual sensors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Colorimetric and fluorescent sensors have become important analytical tools in various scientific fields due to their remarkable sensitivity, selectivity, low cost, and simplicity of operation. These sensors can detect a wide range of analytes, including metal ions, small molecules, gases, and even biomolecules. As research continues, we can expect to see even more innovative sensors being developed to address new and emerging detection needs.

Dr. Caiping Ding
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • colorimetric
  • fluorescent
  • sensors
  • biomedical applications
  • environmental monitoring
  • food safety

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 2120 KB  
Article
Novel Method for Characterizing Humic Substances Using Fluorescent Solvatochromism
by Kazuto Sazawa, Hanae Koyama, Yusuke Yamazaki, Yoshiki Hara, Nozomi Kohama, Yustiawati Yustiawati and Hideki Kuramitz
Sensors 2026, 26(1), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26010107 - 23 Dec 2025
Viewed by 880
Abstract
Charge-transfer-type fluorochromes, which exhibit shifts in fluorescence intensity and emission wavelength in response to solvent polarity changes, have been widely employed to investigate solute–solvent interactions. Humic substances (HSs) are naturally occurring macromolecular organic acids derived from plant residues, with structural properties that vary [...] Read more.
Charge-transfer-type fluorochromes, which exhibit shifts in fluorescence intensity and emission wavelength in response to solvent polarity changes, have been widely employed to investigate solute–solvent interactions. Humic substances (HSs) are naturally occurring macromolecular organic acids derived from plant residues, with structural properties that vary depending on their origin and environmental conditions. The polarity of HSs is closely associated with the mobility and toxicity of environmental pollutants, making their chemical characterization essential. In this study, we developed a rapid and straightforward method to characterize HS polarity using fluorescent solvatochromism. The fluorescence peak shifts of four dyes—8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS), acridine orange (AO), methylene blue (MB), and Rhodamine B (RhB)—were evaluated in the presence of humic acids (HAs), a major component of HSs. To assess environmental variability, a total of twelve HS samples were tested, including HSs derived from soils of different origins, compost, commercial reagents, and standard reference materials. Among these, AO and MB exhibited distinct spectral shifts without overlapping with the intrinsic fluorescence of HAs. Notably, MB displayed a consistent blue shift dependent on HA concentration, with the most stable response observed at 5 mg/L. The magnitude of this shift was significantly correlated with UV–Vis parameters associated with the aromaticity, humification degree, and polarity of HSs. Overall, this study demonstrates that MB-based fluorescent solvatochromism can function as an empirical and facile indicator for assessing the structural and microenvironmental characteristics of HSs, providing a rapid and complementary screening approach for HSs extracted and purified from environmental samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensors and Their Application)
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11 pages, 859 KB  
Communication
Enhanced Emission of Fluorescein Label in Immune Complexes Provides for Rapid Homogeneous Assay of Aflatoxin B1
by Dmitriy V. Sotnikov, Andrey S. Agapov, Sergei A. Eremin, Anatoly V. Zherdev and Boris B. Dzantiev
Sensors 2025, 25(24), 7660; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25247660 - 17 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 547
Abstract
Homogeneous fluorescence immunoassays are in high demand due to their simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity, and specificity. These methods typically utilize immune-induced changes in the rotational mobility of the fluorophore with depolarization of plane-polarized excitation light (FPIA, etc.) or fluorescence quenching based on intramolecular energy [...] Read more.
Homogeneous fluorescence immunoassays are in high demand due to their simplicity, rapidity, sensitivity, and specificity. These methods typically utilize immune-induced changes in the rotational mobility of the fluorophore with depolarization of plane-polarized excitation light (FPIA, etc.) or fluorescence quenching based on intramolecular energy transfer (FRET, etc.). This article presents an immunoassay based on enhanced emission of the fluorescein label in immune complexes. Over the entire history of fluorescence immunoassay research, this effect has been described in a few papers, while it allows overcoming the limitations of prevailing approaches. We discovered the assay for detecting aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a widespread toxic contaminant of agricultural products. The one-step assay procedure consists of mixing the sample with antibodies and fluorescently labeled AFB1, accompanied by fluorescence measurement. This method enables the detection of AFB1 at concentrations up to 200 pg/mL in 10 min, including measurements in complex samples (corn extracts). Minimal manipulations in the course of the testing also provide high accuracy. The AFB1 revealed in contaminated corn samples was in the range of 76–136%. The influence of immune complex formation on the fluorescent label’s emission can be easily tested and serve as a basis for applying this principle to other diverse analytes and various kinds of samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensors and Their Application)
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14 pages, 1334 KB  
Article
Optimisation of an nIR-Emitting Benzoporphyrin Pressure-Sensitive Paint Formulation
by Elliott J. Nunn, Louise S. Natrajan and Mark K. Quinn
Sensors 2025, 25(15), 4560; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25154560 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1103
Abstract
The use of pressure-sensitive paints (PSPs), an optical oxygen sensing technique, to visualise and measure the surface pressure on vehicle models in wind tunnel testing is becoming increasingly prevalent. Porphyrins have long been the standard luminophore for PSP formulations, with the majority employing [...] Read more.
The use of pressure-sensitive paints (PSPs), an optical oxygen sensing technique, to visualise and measure the surface pressure on vehicle models in wind tunnel testing is becoming increasingly prevalent. Porphyrins have long been the standard luminophore for PSP formulations, with the majority employing the red-emitting platinum(II)-5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorphenyl)-porphyrin. nIR-emitting luminophores, such as Pt(II) tetraphenyl tetrabenzoporphyrins, possess distinct advantages over visible emitting luminophores. In particular, they have wider spectrally useful ‘windows’, facilitating the insertion of a secondary visible emitting temperature-sensitive luminophore to be used for internal calibration without spectral crosstalk that detrimentally impacts PSP performance. In this work, we explore the effect of changing the loading quantity of an nIR-emitting para-CF3 Pt(II) benzoporphyrin luminophore on the performance of PSP formulations. An optimal luminophore loading of 1.28% wt/wt benzoporphyrin luminophore to polystyrene binder was identified, resulting in a low temperature sensitivity at 100 kPa of 0.61%/K and a large pressure sensitivity at 293 K of 0.740%/kPa. These strong performance metrics, for a polystyrene-based PSP, demonstrate the efficacy of benzoporphyrin luminophores as an attractive luminophore option for the development of a new generation of high-performance PSP formulations that outperform current commercially available ones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensors and Their Application)
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15 pages, 1924 KB  
Article
A Rhodamine B-Based “Turn-On” Fluorescent Probe for Selective Fe3+ Ions Detection
by Md Foridul Islam, Abdulkadir Zakari Abdulkadir, Smaher M. Elbayomi and Pengfei Zhang
Sensors 2025, 25(11), 3477; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25113477 - 31 May 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3115
Abstract
Detecting heavy metal ions is essential for maintaining environmental safety, ensuring industrial quality control, and protecting public health. In this study, we have synthesized a novel Rhodamine B-based fluorescent probe, RhB-DCT, which is functionalized with 2,4-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine (DCT) to enhance selectivity and sensitivity for [...] Read more.
Detecting heavy metal ions is essential for maintaining environmental safety, ensuring industrial quality control, and protecting public health. In this study, we have synthesized a novel Rhodamine B-based fluorescent probe, RhB-DCT, which is functionalized with 2,4-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine (DCT) to enhance selectivity and sensitivity for metal ions detection. The probe functions through a “turn-on” fluorescence mechanism activated by the opening of the spiro-lactam ring induced by Fe3+ ions, resulting in a distinct color change from colorless to deep pink. The RhB-DCT probe demonstrated a rapid and robust fluorescence response within seconds, exhibited a broad pH stability from 4 to 13, showed excellent reversibility, and possessed a low detection limit of 0.0521 μM, surpassing numerous existing fluorescent probes. The RhB-DCT probe exhibited significant selectivity for Fe3+ than other competing metal ions. The integration of high sensitivity, rapid response, and strong stability positions RhB-DCT as a viable option for real-time detection of Fe3+ ions in aqueous settings. This study demonstrates the efficacy of the RhB-DCT probe in environmental monitoring, water quality assessment, and analytical sensing platforms, serving as an effective and dependable tool for detecting heavy metal ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensors and Their Application)
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11 pages, 4511 KB  
Article
A Series of Rare-Earth Metal-Based Coordination Polymers: Fluorescence and Sensing Studies
by Nian-Hao Wang, Jin-Mei Liu, Bin Tan and Zhao-Feng Wu
Sensors 2024, 24(21), 6867; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24216867 - 25 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1843
Abstract
Ratiometric fluorescent sensing based on dual-emitting fluorescent coordination polymers (FL-CPs) has attracted intense attention due to their sensing accuracy and easy visualization when compared with sensing relying solely on monochromatic FL-CPs. In this work, a series of rare-earth metal-based CPs, formuled as [(CH [...] Read more.
Ratiometric fluorescent sensing based on dual-emitting fluorescent coordination polymers (FL-CPs) has attracted intense attention due to their sensing accuracy and easy visualization when compared with sensing relying solely on monochromatic FL-CPs. In this work, a series of rare-earth metal-based CPs, formuled as [(CH3)2NH2][Ln(bpdc)2] (Ln3+ = Y3+, Eu3+ and Tb3+, H2bpdc = biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylic acid), are presented, which show dual emission aroused from the Ln3+ ions and the inefficient intermolecular energy transfer from ligands to Ln3+ metals. For clarity, the as-made Ln-CPs are named Eu-bpdc, Tb-bpdc, and Y-bpdc based on the corresponding Ln3+. Notably, Eu-bpdc, presented as an example, could be used as FL sensing material ratiometric to Fe3+ ions. The ratio of FL intensity of Eu3+ ions to bpdc2− ligands (I415/I615) showed a good linear relationship with the concentrations of Fe3+ ions. Moreover, the detection process could be visibly monitored through a change from purple to blue when Eu-bpdc was used as an FL proble. This work provides a good example for exploring visibly ratiometric sensors based on FL-CPs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Colorimetric and Fluorescent Sensors and Their Application)
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