Optical fluorescence dual sensors and methods of preparing and using them

1. An optical fluorescence dual sensor comprising:

(a) a probe for sensing pH;

(b) a probe for sensing oxygen;

(c) an intra-reference probe; and

(d) a matrix;

wherein the probe for sensing pH has formula I:

wherein

R 1 is C n H 2n +1 , where n is an integer selected from the group consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8; or

C m H 2m X, where m is an integer selected from the group consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 11;

R 2 is C m H 2m X, where m is an integer selected from the group consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 11; and

each X is independently selected from the group consisting of

the probe for sensing oxygen has formula II:

where M is selected from Pt or Pd;

R 11 and R 12 can be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, CH 3 , OCH 3 and OC 2 H 5 ;

R 3 and R 4 can be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, CH 3 , OCH 3 and OC 2 H 5 ;

R 5 and R 6 can be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of H, F, Cl, Br, I, CH 3 , OCH 3 and OC 2 H 5 ;

R 7 , R 8 , R 9 and R 10 can be the same or different and are independently selected from the group consisting of (CH 2 ) p OH, O(CH 2 ) p OH, NH(CH 2 ) p OH, (CH 2 ) p OM′A, O(CH 2 ) p OM′A, NH(CH 2 ) p OM′A, (CH 2 ) p OA, O(CH 2 ) p OA, NH(CH 2 ) p OA, (CH 2 ) p OVA, O(CH 2 ) p OVA, NH(CH 2 ) p OVA, (OCH 2 CH 2 ) q OH, NH(CH 2 CH 2 O) q H, (OCH 2 CH 2 ) q OM′A, NH(CH 2 CH 2 O) q M′A, (OCH 2 CH 2 ) q OA, NH(CH 2 CH 2 O) q A, (OCH 2 CH 2 ) q OVA, NH(CH 2 CH 2 O) q VA,

where

M′A is

A is

VA is

 and

p is an integer selected from the group of consisting of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12,

q is an integer selected from the group of consisting of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149 and 150;

the intra-reference probe has formula III:

wherein each X is independently selected from the group consisting of:

 and

n is an integer selected from 1-100; and

the matrix comprises poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), polyacrylamide, and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-co-polyacrylamide (PHEMA-co-PAM).

2. The optical fluorescence dual sensor of claim 1 , wherein the probe for sensing pH is:

3. The optical fluorescence dual sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the probe for sensing oxygen is:

wherein X′ is

4. The optical fluorescence dual sensor according to claim 1 , wherein the intra-reference probe is:

5. A method of determining pH of a sample comprising

(a) exposing the sample to an optical fluorescence dual sensor according to claim 1 ;

(b) irradiating the sensor at a first wavelength to produce a pH indicator emission signal at a second wavelength and an intra-reference emission signal at a third wavelength;

(c) measuring the pH indicator emission signal at the second wavelength;

(d) measuring the intra-reference emission signal at the third emission wavelength; and

(e) ratiometrically determining the pH of the sample wherein the sample is obtained from a cell culture, blood, urine, tear, industry fermentor, photobioreactor, pond, river, lake or ocean.

6. A method of determining oxygen concentration in a sample comprising

(a) exposing the sample to an optical fluorescence dual sensor according to claim 1 ;

(b) irradiating the sensor at a first wavelength to produce an oxygen indicator emission signal at a second wavelength and an intra-reference emission signal at a third wavelength;

(c) measuring the oxygen indicator emission signal at the second wavelength;

(d) measuring the intra-reference emission signal at the third wavelength; and

(e) ratiometrically determining the oxygen concentration in the sample wherein the sample is obtained from a cell culture, blood, urine, tear, industry fermentor, photobioreactor, pond, river, lake or ocean.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein the sample comprises a microorganism.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the microorganism is selected from the group consisting of photosynthetic algae, cyanobacteria, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis , and yeast.

9. The method according to claim 5 or 6 , wherein more than one sample is used.

10. A method of simultaneously determining pH and oxygen concentration in a sample

(a) exposing the sample to an optical fluorescence dual sensor according to claim 1 ;

(b) irradiating the sensor at a first wavelength to produce a pH indicator emission signal at a second wavelength, an oxygen indicator emission signal at a third wavelength and an intra-reference emission signal at a fourth wavelength;

(c) measuring the pH indicator emission signal at the second wavelength;

(d) measuring the oxygen indicator emission signal at the third wavelength;

(e) measuring the intra-reference emission signal at the fourth wavelength;

(f) ratiometrically determining the pH of the sample using the measurements obtained in steps (c) and (e); and

(g) ratiometrically determining the oxygen concentration of the sample using the measurements obtained in steps (d) and (e) wherein the sample is obtained from a cell culture, blood, urine, tear, industry fermentor, photobioreactor, pond, river, lake or ocean.