Japan Science and Technology Agency

A School Corporation Kansai University

Tadashi Uragami

Takashi Miyata

Kaori Okawa

In one embodiment of the present application, a stimulus-responsive gel is disclosed with optical characteristic molecule introduced therein that is capable of easily and securely converting a volume change responding to external stimulus to optical data being easy to handle in the construction of sensor system; an external stimulus measuring apparatus making use of the same; and a method of measuring external stimulus therewith. A molecule having fluorescent chromophore or a molecule or a molecule capable of absorbing visible light or ultraviolet light is introduced in a stimulus-responsive gel so that the content of the molecule having fluorescent chromophore or the molecule or a molecule capable of absorbing visible light or ultraviolet light falls within such a range that the concentration of the molecule having fluorescent chromophore or a molecule or the molecule capable of absorbing visible light or ultraviolet light in the stimulus-responsive gel with optical characteristic molecule introduced therein is substantially proportional to the fluorescence intensity or absorbance of the visible light or ultraviolet light of the stimulus-responsive gel with optical characteristic molecule introduced therein.

Method of measuring external stimulus and volume change using stimulus-responsive gel comprising EDANS

The present invention provides a nucleic-acid-responsive gel which allows (i) a larger volumetric change through structural design, (ii) adjustment of its recognition ability to recognize a nucleic acid, (iii) improvement of sensitivity, and (iv) flexible design according to, e.g., a sequence of target DNA. The nucleic-acid-responsive gel includes a probe formed of two single-stranded nucleic acids which are hybridized with each other. The probe is fixed within a network structure of a polymer gel. The two single-stranded nucleic acids are bound reversibly with each other.

Nucleic-acid-responsive gel, method for producing same, and use of same

A multiple-substance-responsive substance is disclosed, which is capable of simultaneously detecting a plurality of detection target substances by a single measurement. By a multiple-substance-responsive gel including: a plurality of kinds of complexes including (i) specifically binding substances, and (ii) binding partners each specifically and reversibly binding to a corresponding one of the specifically binding substances; and a polymer gel to which the plurality of kinds of complexes are immobilized so as to form cross-links, the plurality of kinds of complexes each being formed by binding between (i) a specifically binding substance among the specifically binding substances and (ii) a corresponding binding partner among the binding partners, a plurality of detection target substances can be simultaneously detected by a single measurement.

Multiple substances-responsive gel, method for producing same, and utilization of same

The invention provides molecule-responsive gel particles which change in size in response to specific molecules and a method of production of the same. A polymer gel particle with a crosslinked structure has fixed thereto a plurality of clathrate compound-forming host molecules. Two or more of the plurality of host molecules clathrate different atomic groups in a target molecule so that the two or more host molecules and the target molecule can form a crosslink in the molecule-responsive gel particle.

Growing community of inventors

Suita, Japan

Tadashi Uragami