Polymer Based Lanthanide Luminescent Sensors for the Detection of Organophosphorus Compounds

Abstract

A device for measuring and detecting the organophosphorus compounds, such as a pesticides or a nerve agents is provided. The devices function by selectively binding an organophosphorous compound to a luminescent functionality-imprinted copolymer. The copolymers possess a securely bound luminescent lanthanide ion, such as Eu 3+ , in a coordination complex that has been templated for the chemical functionality.

1 . A surface acoustic wave sensor for detecting the presence of an organophosphorus compound, comprising:
 a film of a MIP containing a lanthanide-complex disposed on a substrate selected from the group consisting of alumina and quartz crystal;   input and output transducers disposed on the film or substrate; and   a function generator operatively associated with the input transducer for generating a surface acoustic wave along a delay line.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lanthanide is selected from the group consisting of: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the organophosphorus compound is a member selected from the group consisting of soman, sarin, tabun, VX, malathion, parathion, paraoxon, diazinon and hydrolysis products thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the organophosphorus compound is pinacolylmethylphosphonate. 
     
     
         5 . A dosimeter for detecting the presence of a organophosphorus compound, comprising:
 a MIP containing a lanthanide-complex disposed on a substrate, wherein the lanthanide-complex is capable of chemically binding with said organophosphorus compound.   
     
     
         6 . A method for making a MIP transducer for use in a sensor, the method comprising:
 (a) mixing a lanthanide, an organophosphorus compound template and at least one imprint monomer to form a lanthanide complex;   (b) mixing the lanthanide complex with a polymerization initiator and a crosslinking agent to form a copolymer solution;   (c) partially curing the copolymer solution to obtain a partially cured copolymer;   (d) washing the partially cured copolymer to remove the organophosphorus compound template to obtain the MIP transducer.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the lanthanide is selected from the group consisting of: lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the organophosphorus compound is a member selected from the group consisting of soman, sarin, tabun, VX, malathion, parathion, paraoxon, diazinon and hydrolysis products thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the organophosphorus compound is pinacolylmethylphosphonate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the imprint monomer is selected from the group consisting of 4-vinyl benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1,2-di-4-vinylphenylethanone, 4-vinyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde oxime and methyl-3,5-divinyl benzoate. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the crosslinking agent is a member selected from the group consisting of divinyl benzene, styrene, and azobisisobutylnitrile. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the MIP transducer is a member selected from the group consisting of Eu(DVMB) 3 PMP(NO 3 ) 2  and Eu(DVMB) 3 (NO 3 ) 3 .