A dual encapsulation strategy to generate anion-responsive luminescent lanthanide hydrogels.

We report a new method to generate ion-responsive luminescent hydrogels, involving encapsulation of a luminescent lanthanide probe within crosslinked amphiphilic polymer particles and subsequent entrapment within a hydrogel. The resulting hydrogels are capable of reversible bicarbonate sensing, exhibit no leaching, and can be tuned for a range of sensing applications.