Fluorescent discrimination for snake venom via a dual-mode supramolecular sensor array

Abstract Precise snake venom identification is the prerequisite for clinical treatment, production of antiserum, basic research, and other applications. Unfortunately, it is still a challenging task which mainly originates from their extraordinary complicated protein composition. Differential sensing strategy was applied benefiting from its advantage in discrimination of complex mixtures. Herein, A dual-mode supramolecular fluorescent sensor array based on the heteromultivalent sensing strategy was developed. The heteromultivalent macrocyclic coassemblies with strong and pan-selective binding to proteins were employed to construct sensor units. Fluorescence intensity and anisotropy signals were integrated, which were expected to show multidimensional information of proteins, such as surface groups, protein structures, and molecular weights. Finally, a supramolecular sensor array with the ability of facile, rapid and general species-specific identification and taxonomic classification for snake venom was constructed. The sensor array also demonstrated its advantage in semiquantitative analysis and multi-level identification, suggesting its great potential for practical use.