SERS-Active Smart Hydrogels With Modular Microdomains: From pH to Glucose Sensing

A sensing hydrogel was demonstrated using pH-sensitive surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) reporters embedded in modular microdomains. The gold nanoparticle-based pH probes capped with 4-mercaptobenzonic acid (MBA-AuNPs) were encapsulated within polyelectrolyte multilayer microcapsules within a surrounding hydrogel matrix. The materials were fully characterized for pH sensitivity and reproduc...