A self-degradable hydrogel sensor for a nerve agent tabun surrogate through a self-propagating cascade

Nerve agents that irreversibly deactivate the enzyme acetylcholinesterase are extremely toxic weapons of mass destruction. Thus, developing methods to detect these lethal is important. To create an optical sensor for a surrogate nerve agent tabun, as well physical barrier dissolves in response this analyte, we devise network hydrogel decomposes via self-propagating cascade. A Meldrums acid-derived linker incorporated into undergoes declick reaction thiols, thereby breaking connections, which releases more propagating throughout gel. combination chemical reactions triggered by addition tabun mimic initiates The dissolving used release dyes, nanocrystals undergo spontaneous aggregation. sensing system generates and delivery initial trigger.