Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kookmin Univ.
We are interested in the development of chemical sensors. In particular, our laboratory conducts research on modifying the surface charge through the introduction of functional groups based on biocompatible and biodegradable materials, focusing on biosensors for the detection of explosive compounds. Additionally, we are interested in chemical sensors for gas detection, utilizing hydrogel-based materials with pH indicators.
We proposed a hydrogel based printable sensor containing a pH indicator to detect ammonia gas. The sensor is composed of biocompatible polymers. The p (HEMA-MAETC) hydrogel sensor, including BTB, exhibited a visible color change based on ammonia concentration during the food spoilage process. The proposed sensor could measure food freshness by being applied to food products through barcodes and QR codes, which are easy to mass-produce. [1] |
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In our lab, we developed a biosensor for detecting nitroaromatic explosives using biocompatible and biodegradable porous microbeads. We effectively attached genetically engineered Escherichia coli that produce fluorescent signals in response to nitroaromatic compounds onto positively charged, surface-modified porous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microbeads through electrostatic forces. The biosensor exhibited a fivefold increase in fluorescent signal compared to the pre-modified surface. [2] |
Relevant Publication
1 | Kim, S.; Kim, H.; Qiao, T.; Cha, C.; Lee, S.; Lee, K.; Ro, H.; Kim, Y.; Lee, W.; Lee, H.*, Fluorescence Enhancement from Nitro-Compound-Sensitive Bacteria within Spherical Hydrogel Scaffolds. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2019, 11(15), 14354-14361. |
2 | Ham, M.; Kim, S.; Lee, W.; Lee, H.*, Fabrication of Printable Colorimetric Food Sensor Based on Hydrogel for Low-Concentration Detection of Ammonia, Biosensors 2022, 13(1), 18. |
3 | Qiao, T.; Kim, S.; Lee, W.*, Lee, H.*, An enhanced fluorescence detection of a nitroaromatic compound using bacteria embedded in porous poly lactic-co-glycolic acid microbeads. Analyst, 2021. 146(14): p. 4615-4621. |