Self-Assembly Combined with Photopolymerization for the Fabrication of Fluorescence "Turn-On" Vesicle Sensors with Reversible "On-Off" Switching Properties

A self‐amplifying fluorescence sensor has been fabricated by vesicular assembly of polydiacetylene and lipophilic fluorescent dyes. The intensity of vesicles can be reversibly manipulated by adjusting the pH of the solution, demonstrating an “on–off” switching property (see Figure), transforming external stimuli into a fluorescence intensity change. The mechanism may involve static fluorescence quenching by association of dyes with the polymer backbone.