Current research activities are centered around fundamental aspects of supramolecular chemistry, which primarily focused on supramolecular architectures for molecular recognition through host-guest and coordination chemistry, ion induced optical signaling and bioimaging, luminescent and colourant polymers, bioluminescence and microbial fuel cells.
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class of luminescent probes with high mercury ion selectivity
A series of substituted rhodamine- based probes with highly selective, highly sensitive and reversible fluorogenic /chromogenic signalling responses towards Hg(II) ion were synthesized and their ‘proof of principle’ of operation were established. These probes, owing to their design and operational principles, selectively detects Hg(II) ion at 2-20 nM level in organic aqueous mixture which argues for their practical applicability. Overall, these probes establishes a rational design of organic probes for selective Hg(II) ion detection, which can potentially be used in material, clinical and environmental prospective.
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Signaling on solid phase immobilization
The probes when immobilized on a surface modified silica were also exhibited Hg(II) ion induced signal modulation; demonstrating their ability to operate as a solid phase sensing materials which is a prime requirement for development of corresponding diagnostic strips. The Hg(II)-complexes of these probes selectively differentiate L-proline from hydroxylproline and other interfering amino acids by exhibiting ‘On-Off’ signaling responses in binary mixture medium.
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Luminescent self-sensing polymers
Self sensing in self healing polymer can be expressed, in principle, through implementation of dynamism with photo-responsive monomers that modulates its photo-physical behavior under influence of external stimuli. The individual polymers with acceptor and donor substituent exhibit donor-acceptor interactions immediately after mixing which can be visualized through naked eye as a function of change in color, apart from their self-healing properties against mechanical stress, in turn, leads to luminescent polymeric films/gels.