Fluorescent Chemosensors

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