A Multi-Component Sensor System for Detection of Amphiphilic Compounds.

Many biologically important compounds are amphiphilic in character. Glycolipids, for example, represent a biologically important class of amphiphiles. Receptors and sensors for such compounds must also be amphiphilic making them a challenge to prepare. Here, a cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8])-based sensor system has been prepared and tested for detection of amphiphilic compounds. This multi-component system consists: a CB[8], which acts as a hydrophobic lipid receptor, a hydrophilic pyridinium-based carbohydrate receptor, and a fluorescent indicator. The system self-assembles in aqueous solution. The pyridinium quenches the fluorescence of the indicator giving a strong turn-on response when it is displaced by the analyte. The sensor system was characterized by NMR, X-ray crystallography, and fluorescence titrations.