Sensor for luminescense-optical determination of an analyte

• US 20040166024A1
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations Incorporated (Roche Holding AG)
• Inventors: Klimant, Ingo
• Granted Patent: US 7,067,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/542 with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/585 with a particulate label, e.g. coloured latex
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/587 Nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/175383 Ammonia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/204998 Inorganic carbon compounds

Abstract

The invention relates to an optochemical sensor functioning in accordance with the FRET-principle and exhibiting an acceptor (chromophore or luminophore) responsive to an analyte contained in a sample medium as well as a donor (luminophore), characterized in that acceptor and donor are located in separate chemical phases, whereby the phase containing the donor is essentially impermeable to the sample medium or to components of the sample medium affecting the luminescence characteristics of the luminophore. The invention further relates to a method for qualitative and/or quantitative determination of at least one analyte and/or component of a gaseous or liquid measuring medium according to the FRET-principle, characterized by the use of the sensor according to the invention.

Claims

1. An optochemical sensor functioning in accordance with the FRET-principle and exhibiting an acceptor (chromophore or luminophore) responsive to an analyte contained in a sample medium as well as a donor (luminophore), characterized in that acceptor and donor are located in separate chemical phases, whereby the phase containing the donor is essentially impermeable to the sample medium or to components of the sample medium affecting the luminescence characteristics of the luminophore.

2. A sensor according to claim 1, characterized in that donor and acceptor are each present in a matrix material, whereby the matrix material of the acceptor and donor phases is provided in mixed form or in the form of a thin layer (sensor layer), respectively.

3. A sensor according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor layer is attached to a transparent substrate or to a light guide.

4. A sensor according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that an optical insulation layer permeable to the analyte and located between the sensor layer and the substance to be analyzed is provided.

5. A sensor according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the sensor layer consists of a thin porous material, the pores of that material containing the matrix material of the donor phase and the matrix material of the acceptor phase (FIG. 5).

6. A sensor according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the sensor layer is composed of a thin film, said thin film representing the matrix material of the acceptor phase (FIG. 6).

7. A sensor according to claim 6, characterized in that the matrix material of the donor phase is provided in homogeneously distributed fashion in the matrix material of the acceptor phase.

8. A sensor according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the donor phase is provided in the form of particles.

9. A sensor according to claim 8, characterized in that the acceptor molecules are attached to the surface of the particles of the donor phase.

10. A sensor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that unplasticized polymers are used as a material for the donor phase.

11. A sensor according to claim 10, characterized in that polyacryl nitrile and derivatives thereof, PVC and/or polyvinylidene chloride are used as polymers.

12. A sensor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that polyvinyl chloride, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, polyethylenes, polyurethanes, silicones, copolymers of polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, copolymers of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl acetate, cellulose, polyurethanes with hydrophilic groups, polyhydroxyethylmethacrylates, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohols, and/or polyacrylamides, optionally with up to 80% of plasticizer, are used as materials for the acceptor phase.

13. A method for qualitative and/or quantitative determination of at least one analyte and/or component of a gaseous or liquid measuring medium according to the FRET-principle, characterized by the use of a sensor according to any of claims 1 to 12.

14. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that it is carried out for the determination of the pH-value of a sample, for the determination of concentrations and/or activities of ions in a sample or for the determination of components exhibiting acid or alkaline reactions in aqueous media while being gaseous under normal conditions.

15. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that it is carried out for the determination of concentrations and/or activities of Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg⁺⁺, Ca⁺⁺ or Cl⁻

.

16. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that it is carried out for the determination of CO₂ or NH₃ in a liquid measuring medium.

17. A method according to any of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the measuring medium is a body fluid, in particular blood, plasma or serum.

18. A method according to any of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the sensor is used as a transducer.

19. A method according to claim 18, characterized in that an enzymatical sensor is used.