Microwave-assisted synthesis of copolymers of luminol with anisidine: Effect on spectral, thermal and fluorescence characteristics

With the aim to investigate variation in the spectral, morphological, and fluorescence characteristics of a chemiluminescent moiety upon copolymerization with an aniline derivative, the present preliminary work reports for the first time the microwave-assisted copolymerization of luminol and o-anisidine in acidic and basic media. Characterization of the resulting copolymers was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-visible studies, fluorescence studies, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy measurements. Polymerization of luminol and its copolymers was noticed to be different in acidic and basic media, which was confirmed by IR analysis while UV-visible as well as fluorescence studies revealed a major decrease in the intensity of the peaks associated with polyluminol that reflected the quenching nature of o-anisidine. Peak broadening at higher loading of o-anisidine comonomer confirmed intense interaction of the 2 monomers via hydrogen bonding. To predict the possible use of luminol copolymers as biosensors, bovine serum albumin was chosen as a model protein for performing the adsorption studies. Results revealed that the copolymers reflected immense potential to be used as a protein biosensor.