Synlett 2004(2): 0380-0387  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-44971
NEWTOOLS
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Affinitychromic Polythiophenes: A Novel Bio-Photonic Tool for High-Throughput Screening and Diagnostics

Mario Leclerc*, Hoang-Anh Ho
Department of Chemistry, Université Laval, Quebec City, Qc, G1K 7P4, Canada
e-Mail: mario.leclerc@chm.ulaval.ca;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 12 September 2003
Publication Date:
04 December 2003 (online)

Abstract

This article describes the thermochromic, ionochromic, and affinitychromic properties of various neutral conjugated polymers. These optical features based on a conformational modification of the conjugated backbone induced from side-chain order/disorder transition have led to interesting colorimetric and/or fluorimetric transducers for various chemosensor and biosensor applications. In particular, the recent development of cationic, water-soluble, chromic polythiophenes has allowed the easy, rapid, specific, and ultra-sensitive detection of various nucleic acids and proteins in aqueous media. Clearly, this new platform which combines variable triggers and an optical transducer should create a new generation of useful tools in the areas of diagnostics, therapeutics, and drug screening.

  • 1 Introduction

  • 2 Molecular and Structural Aspects of Chromic Polythiophenes

  • 3 Chemical and Biochemical Sensors

  • 3.1 Ionochromic Properties

  • 3.2 Affinitychromic Properties

  • 4 Conclusions and Perspectives

91

Doré, K.; Dubus, S.; Ho, H. A.; Lévesque, I.; Brunette, M.; Corbeil, G.; Boissinot, M.; Boivin, G.; Bergeron, M. G.; Boudreau, D.; Leclerc, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, submitted.

99

Ho, H. A.; Leclerc, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2003, submitted.