Analyte sensor

• US 20030228681A1
• Filed: 04/04/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Powerzyme
• Original Assignee: Powerzyme
• Inventors: Sun, Hoi-Cheong Steve, Ritts, Rosalyn
• Application Number:
  US10/407,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20030228681A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/03 Cuvette constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5302 Apparatus specially adapted for immunological test procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/6872 Intracellular protein regulatory factors and their receptors, e.g. including ion channels

Abstract

The present invention relates to analyte sensors including a first compartment adapted for introduction of a sample potentially containing the targeted analyte, and a second compartment separated from the first compartment by a barrier, wherein the analyte interacts with a component in the first compartment, or a polypeptide associated with the barrier, resulting in the transport of a species across the barrier, the transported species or a derivative thereof being detected by a detector, thereby indicating the presence of the analyte.

Claims

1. An analyte sensor for detecting an analyte comprising:

a first compartment adapted for introduction of said analyte;

a second compartment;

a barrier separating said first and second compartments, wherein said first compartment contains at least one component adapted to interact with said analyte, said interaction resulting in transport of a species across said barrier; and

a detector adapted to detect said transported species, or a derivative of said transported species, thereby detecting the presence of said analyte.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said at least one component comprises at least one polypeptide, said polypeptide capable of interacting with said analyte or a derivative of said analyte to participate in a chemical reaction.

3. The sensor of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said barrier is at least partially permeable to said transported species, wherein said at least one component is adapted to interact with said analyte.

4. The sensor of claim 3, wherein said permeability of said barrier is dependant on the size of said transported species.

5. The sensor of claim 3, wherein said permeability of said transported species is dependant on the charge of said transported species.

6. The sensor of claim 3, wherein said permeability of said transported species is dependant on the charge and size of said transport species.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein said detector is selected from the group consisting of current and voltage meters, gas chromatographs, liquid chromatographs, mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance detectors, infra-red, ultra-violet or Raman spectrophotometers, C, H, N, O detectors, moisture detectors, conductivity sensors, thermometers, oxygen sensors, biological oxygen sensors, pH detectors, colorimetric detectors, turbidity meters, and particle size and distribution detectors.

37. The sensor of any one of claims 1, 8 and 14, in which said sensor is disposable.

38. A detection device comprising:

a separation module adapted to separate a sample to be analyzed into at least two sample components;

a transfer element adapted to transfer at least one of said sample components into a first compartment of an analyte sensor as claimed in any of claims 1, 8 and 14.

39. The detection device of claim 38, wherein said separation module is adapted to subject said sample to a series of separations.

40. The detection device of claim 39, wherein said separation module comprises a plurality of separation devices.

41. The detection device of claim 40, wherein said separation device is selected from the group consisting of a cell sorter, chromatography column, and centrifuge.

42. A method of analyzing a sample for the presence of an analyte, comprising:

providing an analyte sensor as claimed in any of claims 1, 8 and 14;

introducing a sample containing said analyte into said first compartment; and

observing said detector for the presence of said analyte.

43. A sensor array for detecting at least one analyte comprising two or more analyte sensors as claimed in any of claims 1, 8 and 14.

44. The sensor array of claim 43, wherein said analyte sensors are adapted to detect at least two analytes.

8. An analyte sensor for detecting an analyte comprising:

a first compartment adapted for introduction of said analyte;

a second compartment;

a barrier separating said first and second compartments, said barrier comprising a biological membrane associated with a polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide is capable of participating in the transport of a species across said barrier upon interaction with said analyte, or a derivative of said analyte; and

a detector adapted to detect said transported species, or a derivative of said transported species, thereby indicating the presence of said analyte, wherein said detector (i) is not attached to said membrane, or (ii) is separated from said membrane by 50 nm or more.

9. The sensor of claim 8, wherein said transported species is transported from said first compartment to said second compartment.

10. The sensor of claim 8, wherein said transported species is transported from said second compartment to said first compartment.

11. The sensor of claim 8, wherein said first compartment further comprises at least one component adapted to effect formation of said derivative of said analyte.

12. The sensor of claim 8, wherein said first compartment or second compartment further comprises at least one component adapted to effect formation of said derivative of said transported species.

13. The sensor of claim 8, wherein said detector is selected from the group consisting of current and voltage meters, gas chromatographs, liquid chromatographs, mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance detectors, infra-red, ultra-violet or Raman spectrophotometers, C, H, N, O detectors, moisture detectors, conductivity sensors, thermometers, oxygen sensors, biological oxygen sensors, pH detectors, colorimetric detectors, turbidity meters, and particle size and distribution detectors.

14. An analyte sensor for detecting an analyte comprising:

a first compartment adapted for introduction of said analyte;

a second compartment;

a barrier separating said first and second compartments, said barrier comprising a biocompatible membrane having at least one layer comprising synthetic polymer, wherein said membrane is associated with at least one polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide is capable of participating in the transport of a species across said barrier upon interaction with said analyte, or a derivative of said analyte; and

a detector adapted to detect said transported species, or a derivative of said transported species, thereby indicating the presence of said analyte.

15. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said synthetic polymer includes at least one block copolymer and at least one non-block polymer or copolymer.

16. The sensor of claim 14 or 15, wherein said transported species is a proton, said at least one polypeptide capable of participating in the transport of protons across said barrier.

17. The sensor of claim 16 wherein said transport generates at least about 10 picoamps/cm² of current density.

18. The sensor of claim 16 wherein said transport generates at least about 10 milliamps/cm² of current density.

19. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said at least one polypeptide is embedded in said at least one layer.

20. The sensor of claims 14 or 19 wherein said at least one polypeptide is a polypeptide complex.

21. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said at least one polypeptide is present in an amount of at least about 0.01% by weight of said biocompatible membrane.

22. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said at least one polypeptide is present in an amount of at least about 5% by weight of said biocompatible membrane.

23. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said at least one polypeptide is present in an amount of at least about 10% by weight of said biocompatible membrane.

24. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said synthetic polymer includes at least one block copolymer wherein said at least one block copolymer has a hydrophobic content that exceeds its hydrophilic content.

25. The sensor of claim 24 wherein said at least one block copolymer has at least one block having an average molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 20,000 Daltons.

26. The sensor of claim 25 wherein said at least one block copolymer has at least a second block having an average molecular weight of about 1,000 to about 20,000 Daltons.

27. The sensor of claim 24, wherein said at least one block copolymer is provided in an amount of at least about 35% by weight based on the weight of said biocompatible membrane.

28. The sensor of claim 24, wherein said at least one block copolymer is provided in an amount of about 35% to about 99% by weight based on the weight of said biocompatible membrane.

29. The sensor of claim 24, wherein said synthetic polymer comprises a plurality of block copolymers.

30. The sensor of claim 14 or 15 wherein said at least one polypeptide can participate in a redox reaction.

31. The sensor of claim 15, wherein said at least one polymer or copolymer has a molecular weight of about 5,000 to about 500,000 Daltons.

32. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said transported species is transported from said first compartment to said second compartment.

33. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said transported species is transported from said second compartment to said first compartment.

34. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said first compartment further comprises at least one component adapted to effect formation of said derivative of said analyte.

35. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said first compartment or second compartment further comprises at least one component adapted to effect formation of said derivative of said transported species.

36. The sensor of claim 14, wherein said detector is selected from the group consisting of current and voltage meters, gas chromatographs, liquid chromatographs, mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance detectors, infra-red, ultra-violet or Raman spectrophotometers, C, H, N, O detectors, moisture detectors, conductivity sensors, thermometers, oxygen sensors, biological oxygen sensors, pH detectors, colorimetric detectors, turbidity meters, and particle size and distribution detectors.

45. An analyte sensor for detecting an analyte comprising:

a first compartment adapted for introduction of said analyte;

a second compartment;

a barrier separating said first and second compartments, said barrier comprising a membrane associated with at least one polypeptide wherein said polypeptide is capable of participating in the transport of a detected species across said barrier and wherein said polypeptide is adapted to interact with said analyte or a derivative of said analyte whereby transport of said detected species is reduced;

and a detector adapted to detect said reduction, thereby detecting the presence of said analyte.

46. The analyte sensor of claim 45 wherein said polypeptide is a pore forming polypeptide.

47. The analyte sensor of claim 46 wherein said polypeptide is gramaciden.

48. The analyte sensor of any of claims 45, 46 and 47 wherein said membrane is a biocompatible membrane having at least one layer comprising synthetic polymer.

49. The analyte sensor of claim 45 wherein the mass ratio of said polypeptide to polymer is about 1:

100 to about 1;

50,000.