Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a fiber optic sensor for analyzing pH which comprises (a) a fluorescence-based fiber optic sensor; and (b) a fluorescent dye-polymeric matrix in contact with the sensor, wherein the fluorescent dye is seminaphthorhodaflor-1-isothiocyanate, the polymer is a hydrogel selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose, dextrans, and polysaccharides, and the dye is chemically bonded to the polymer. The present invention is also directed to a fiber optic sensor for analyzing carbon dioxide which comprises (a) a fluorescence-based fiber optic sensor; and (b) a fluorescent dye-polymeric-silicone elastomeric matrix in contact with the sensor, wherein the matrix comprises a fluorescent dye-polymeric premixture in a silicone elastomer, and the fluorescent dye is selected from the group consisting of seminaphthorhodaflor-1-carboxylate (SNARF-1C), seminaphthorhodaflor-1-isothiocyanate (SNARF-1C-ITC), seminaphthorhodaflor-1-dextran conjugate (SNARF-1C-Dex), 10-diethylamino seminaphthorhodaflor-1-carboxylate (SNARF-2C), and seminaphthorhodaflor-1-carboxylate 10-acetate (SNAFL-1C diacetate), the polymer is a hydrogel selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose, dextrans, and polysaccharides, and the silicone elastomer is a polydimethyl siloxane selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, epoxy, and vinyl terminated polydimethyl siloxanes.