Core-shell microparticles for colorimetric sensing and methods for making and using the same

A colorimetric mechanochromic, thermal, and/or mechanochromic and thermal sensor that is responsive to a blunt force impact, temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature threshold, and/or both, the sensor comprising one or more core-shell vesicles, each of the one or more core-shell vesicles comprising:

• a core comprising or consisting of crystalline polyacetylene;
• and
• a shell material layer at least partly surrounding the core, the shell material layer comprising silk fibroin,
• each of the one or more core-shell vesicles having a first characteristic colorimetric property, wherein the sensor is colorimetrically responsive to the blunt force impact by virtue of change in the crystal structure of the crystalline polyacetylene, thereby producing an observable and/or measurable change in the first characteristic colorimetric property for any of the one or more core-shell vesicles impacted by the blunt force impact;
• wherein the first characteristic colorimetric property is selected from the group consisting of a color of the core-shell vesicle, a fluorescence spectrum of the core-shell vesicle, an optical anisotropy of the core-shell vesicle, a fluorescence anisotropy of the core-shell vesicle, a refractive index of the core-shell vesicle, an infrared spectrum of the core-shell vesicle, a near infrared spectrum of the core-shell vesicle, a morphology of the core-shell vesicle, a Raman spectrum of the core-shell vesicle, an x-ray diffraction spectrum of the core-shell vesicle, and combinations thereof.