A fiber-optic cyclodextrin-based sensor.

This paper describes the development of a fiber-optic cyclodextrin-based (FCD) sensor. The device uses laser excitation and fluorescence detection with beta-cyclodextrin as the reagent phase, immobilized at the tip of an optical fiber. The sensitivity of the FCD sensor is 14 times as great as that of a bare optical fiber when measurements are made with the fiber immersed in a buffer after a 10-min incubation period. The selectivity of the sensor is illustrated with pyrene as the model compound and 5,6-benzoquinoline as the interferent. An interference study with a contaminated environmental ground water sample is used to illustrate the usefulness of the FCD device.