Harnessing Selectivity and Sensitivity in Ion Sensing via Supramolecular Recognition: A 3D Hybrid Gold Nanoparticle Network Chemiresistor

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Abstract
The monitoring of K+ in saliva, blood, urine, or sweat represents a future powerful alternative diagnostic tool to prevent various diseases. However, several K+ sensors are unable to meet the requirements for the development of point‐of‐care (POC) sensors. To tackle this grand‐challenge, the fabrication of chemiresistors (CRs) based on 3D networks of Au nanoparticles covalently bridged by ad‐hoc supramolecular receptors for K+, namely dithiomethylene dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 ether is reported here. A multi‐technique characterization allows optimizing a new protocol for fabricating high‐performing CRs for real‐time monitoring of K+ in complex aqueous environments. The sensor shows exceptional figures of merit: i) linear sensitivity in the 10–3 to 10–6 m concentration range; ii) high selectivity to K+ in presence of interfering cations (Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+); iii) high shelf‐life stability (>45 days); iv) reversibility of K+ binding and release; v) successful device integration into microfluidic systems for real‐time monitoring; vi) fast response and recovery times (<18 s), and v) K+ detection in artificial saliva. All these characteristics make the supramolecular CRs a potential tool for future applications as POC devices, especially for health monitoring where the determination of K+ in saliva is pivotal for the early diagnosis of diseases.
Funding Information
  • European Commission
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (GA‐ANR‐17‐ENM3‐0001‐01)
  • European Research Council (GA‐833707, GA‐757910)
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR‐10‐LABX‐0026 CSC, ANR‐11‐LABX‐0058 NIE, ANR‐10‐120 IDEX‐0002‐ 02)
  • Centre International de Recherche aux Frontières de la Chimie
  • Cardiff University

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