Dye-loaded porous nanocapsules immobilized in a permeable polyvinyl alcohol matrix: a versatile optical sensor platform.

In this work we report on a versatile sensor platform based on encapsulated indicator dyes. Dyes are entrapped in hollow nanocapsules with nanometer-thin walls of controlled porosity. The porous nanocapsules retain molecules larger than the pore size but provide ultrafast access to their interior for molecules and ions smaller than the pore size.