Indicator displacement assay using an in situ generated polymeric system in water: exploiting donor–acceptor interactions

Indicator displacement assays (IDAs) using an electron-rich polymer as the receptor for electron-deficient guests are described in this study. The electron-rich water-soluble polymeric system possesses hydrophobic pockets, which were generated by the reaction of 1 (a Michael donor) and 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine, 5 (TAT, a Michael acceptor), in water at pH 8.2 in 2 min at 85^oC. When electron-deficient fluorescent indicators are added to the polymeric systems, large changes in fluorescent intensity of the indicators occur. This donor–acceptor architecture between polymer and indicator was in turn explored for displacement of the indicator with electron-deficient analytes such as TNT.