Amplifying Fluorescence Polymers

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AFPs are fully conjugated polymers which link many fluorphores into what is in effect, a molecular wire. Once linked, the ensemble of fluorophores will respond to a transduction event at any individual fluorophore. As a result, each individual analyte interaction will produce an effect in a much larger ensemble of fluorphores, amplifying each sensing event. ICx Technologies (previously Nomadics) capitalized on this effect to construct a handheld landmine detector, which can identify buried landmines by sensing the trace signature of TNT vapor emanating from a mine. This presentation will describe efforts of ICx Technologies and the Swager group to leverage the intrinsic amplification of AFP systems for bioanalyte detection.

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