How to use stimuli-responsive soft materials for detection?

Review article, 2024

The growing demand for rapid, cost-effective, and user-friendly detection methods has driven advancements in “stimuli-responsive soft materials” for sensor development. Many examples of complex and liquid crystals emulsions can be found demonstrating their application for the detection of bacteria, virus, enzyme, or specific molecules. However, despite frequent comparisons between emulsions and foams, the exploration of liquid foams for sensor applications remains limited. Paradoxically, foam-based sensors for fetal lung maturity were developed in the 1970s, before the emergence of more sophisticated detection methods. Here, we describe some examples of soft interfaces used as sensor to detect biomarkers, enzymes, and bacteria, with a strong emphasis on foam. We demonstrate how to use the foamability and foam stability as read-out mechanism. We discuss approaches developed for complex emulsions and liquid crystals, highlighting their potential adaptation to liquid foams.