Real-time and label-free biosensing using moiré pattern generated by bioresponsive hydrogel

Bioresponsive hydrogels are smart materials that respond to various external stimuli and exhibit great potential as biosensors owing to their capability of real-time and label-free detection.Here,we propose a sensing platform based on bioresponsive hydrogels,employing the concept of moiré patterns.Two sets of line patterns with different pitch sizes are prepared;a hydrogel grating whose pitch size changes according to external stimuli and a reference grating with constant pitch size.The volume changes of the hydrogel caused by external stimuli changes the pitch size of the hydrogel grating,and subsequently,the pitch sizes of the moiré patterns(moiré signal),whose values can be obtained in a real-time and label-free manner through customized moiré microscopy and signal processing.After confirming that the pH-induced swelling of hydrogel could be monitored using moiré patterns,we performed moiré pattern-based detection of specific proteins using protein-responsive hydrogel that underwent shrinking via interaction with target proteins.Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and platelet-derived growth factor were selected as the model proteins,and our proposed system successfully detected both proteins at nanomolar levels.In both cases,the pitch size change of hydrogel grating was monitored much more sensitively using moiré patterns than through direct measurements.The changes in the moiré signals caused by target proteins were detected in ex-vivo environments using a custom-made intraocular lens incorporating the hydrogel grating,demonstrating the capability of the proposed system to detect various markers in intraocular aqueous humor,when implanted in the eye.

Zwitterion-assisted transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheets for scalable and biocompatible inkjet printing

Inkjet printing of two-dimensional(2D)transition metal dichalcogenide(TMD)nanosheets fabricated by liquid-phase exfoliation(LPE)allows simple,mass-producible,and low-cost photo-electronic devices.Many LPE processes involve toxic and environmentally hazardous solvents;however,dispersants have restricted the extent of applications of 2D-TMD inks.Herein,various 2D-TMD nanosheets,including MoS2,MoSe2,WS2,and WSe2,in addition to few-layered graphene,are inkjet-printed using a LPE process based on zwitterionic dispersants in water.Zwitterions with cationic and anionic species are water-soluble,while alkyl chain moieties associated with two ionic species adhere universally on the surface of TMD nanosheets,resulting in high throughput liquid exfoliation of the nanosheets.The zwitterion-assisted TMD nanosheets in water are successtully employed as an ink without the need for additives to adjust the viscosity and surface tension of the ink for use in an office inkjet printer;this gives rise to A4 scale,large-area inkjet-printed images on diverse substrates,such as metals,oxides,and polymer substrates patchable onto human skin.Combination with conductive graphene nanosheet inks allowed the development of mechanically flexible,biocompatible-printed arrays of photodetectors with pixelated MoSe2 channels on a paper exhibiting a photocurrent ON/OFF ratio of approximately 1038 and photocurrent switching of 500 ms.