Interest in optical materials for biomedical imaging and sensing applications has grown significantly in recent decades. Among a variety of material choices, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are emerging materials for molecular imaging, sensing, and optoelectronic applications due to their nonphotobleaching photoluminescence in the tissue-transparent near-infrared spectral window. However, pristine SWCNTs need surface functionalization to render them soluble in biofriendly media and facilitate their interaction with target analytes. Understanding the functionalization of SWCNTs and the structures of their resulting molecular assemblies plays a pivotal role in yielding efficient optical probes and sensors. Studies have shown that the size, composition, configuration, and concentration of functionalizing compounds on the nanotube surface can affect the nanotube dispersions and optical characteristics. Herein, we review recent progress in the design, synthesis, and applications of SWCNT-based optical nanosensors. An overview of nanotube structure, functionalization, suspension of SWCNTs in solutions with various dispersants, and their molecular assemblies presented from molecular dynamics simulation studies is provided. We further discuss how these assemblies along with solvent dielectric affect nanotube dispersion efficiencies, their role in a nanotube’s optical response to a change in its local environment, and how a nanotube’s optical properties are utilized for sensor development.

中文翻译：

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了解单壁碳纳米管的分子组装并为下一代光学纳米传感器定制其光致发光

近几十年来，人们对生物医学成像和传感应用光学材料的兴趣显着增长。在多种材料选择中，单壁碳纳米管 (SWCNT) 因其在组织透明的近红外光谱窗口中的非光漂白光致发光而成为分子成像、传感和光电应用的新兴材料。然而，原始的单壁碳纳米管需要表面功能化，使其可溶于生物友好介质并促进其与目标分析物的相互作用。了解单壁碳纳米管的功能化及其产生的分子组装体的结构对于生产高效的光学探针和传感器起着关键作用。研究表明，纳米管表面功能化化合物的尺寸、组成、构型和浓度会影响纳米管色散和光学特性。在此，我们回顾了基于单壁碳纳米管的光学纳米传感器的设计、合成和应用的最新进展。概述了纳米管结构、功能化、单壁碳纳米管在各种分散剂溶液中的悬浮，以及分子动力学模拟研究中呈现的分子组装体。我们进一步讨论这些组件与溶剂电介质如何影响纳米管分散效率、它们在纳米管对其局部环境变化的光学响应中的作用，以及如何利用纳米管的光学特性来开发传感器。