Anion recognition: synthetic receptors for anions and their application insensors

Important contributions to the field of anion sensing include electrochemic al lipophilic uranyl salophene receptors incorporated into membranes that a ct as fluoride-selective potentiometric microsensors. A promising optical-b ased sensor, selective for cyclic AMP, involves a preorganized, molecularly imprinted polymer employing an intrinsic fluorophore. Competition methods using ensembles of recognition units and external indicators have been used to sense citrate in highly competitive media and micromolar concentrations of inositol(tris)phosphate in water. In addition, DNA dendrimers immobiliz ed on a quartz-crystal microbalance acted as an elegant biosensor for Crypt osporidium DNA. These designs display the varied methods of anion detection currently being pursued.