Colloidal particles used in sensing arrays

• US 20030159927A1
• Filed: 10/07/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Smiths Detection Incorporated (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Briglin, Shawn, Severin, Erik J., Lewis, Nathan S., Doleman, Brett J.
• Application Number:
  US10/266,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20030159927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/403.03
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 435/817 Enzyme or microbe electrode

Abstract

Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprising a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive material) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material). In preferred embodiments, the conducting region comprises a nanoparticle. Variability in chemical sensitivity from sensor to sensor is provided by qualitatively or quantitatively varying the composition of the conductive and/or nonconductive regions. An electronic nose for detecting an analyte in a fluid may be constructed by using such arrays in conjunction with an electrical measuring device electrically connected to the conductive elements of each sensor.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a chemical analyte, said device comprising:

a sensor array connected to a measuring apparatus having at least one sensor comprising

regions of nonconductive material and conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, wherein said conductive material comprises a nanoparticle; and

a response path through said regions of nonconductive material and said conductive material.

2. A.device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said conductive material is covalently linked to said nonconductive material.

3. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 2, wherein said nanoparticle comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an organic material, an inorganic material or a mixed inorganic-organic material.

4. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 3, wherein said nanoparticle has a core, wherein said core is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.

5. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 4, wherein said core is a metal.

6. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 5, wherein said metal is a member selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, Pd, Ni, AuCu and mixtures thereof.

7. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 6, wherein said metal is Au.

8. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said nonconductive material is a ligand.

9. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 8, wherein said ligand is polyfunctionalized.

10. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 8, wherein said ligand is ω

-functionalized.

11. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 8, wherein said ligand is a member selected from the group consisting of an alkanethiol, a polymer, a surfactant, a detergent, a biomolecule, a polysaccharide, a protein complex, a polypeptide, a dendrimeric material, an oligonucleotide, a fluorescent moiety, a radioactive group, and mixtures thereof.

12. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 11, wherein said ligand is a C₁-C₃₀ alkanethiol.

13. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 12, wherein said ligand is a C₃-C₁₂ alkanethiol.

14. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 12, wherein said alkanethiol is polyfunctionalized.

15. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 12, wherein said ligand is ω

-functionalized.

16. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said nanoparticle comprises a gold cluster and an organic ligand.

17. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said measuring device is an electrical measuring device.

18. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said response is a member selected from the group consisting of resistance, impedance, capacitance, inductance, optical or a combination thereof.

19. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor of said array of sensors is a member selected from the group consisting of a surface acoustic wave sensor, a quartz microbalance sensor;

a conductive composite;

a chemiresitor;

a metal oxide gas sensor and a conducting polymer sensor, a dye-impregnated polymer film on fiber optic detector, a polymer-coated micromirror, an electrochemical gas detector, a chemically sensitive field-effect transistor, a carbon black-polymer composite, a micro-electro-mechanical system device and a micro-opto-electro-mechanical system device.

20. An analyte detection device for detecting a chemical analyte, said device comprising:

a sensor array having at least one sensor comprising first and second electrical leads electrically connected to a chemically sensitive resistor, said resistor comprising a nanoparticle and providing an electrical path to said first and said second electrical leads; and

an electronic measuring device electrically connected to said at least one sensor for detecting said chemical analyte.