Functionalized apertures for the detection of chemical and biological materials

• US 20050074778A1
• Filed: 10/01/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Buuren, Anthony W. van, Hart, Bradley R., Letant, Sonia E., Terminello, Louis J., Thelen, Michael P., Hope-Weeks, Louisa J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,851,203 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/6
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2323/30 Cross-linking
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/006 by elimination of segments of the precursor, e.g. nucleation-track membranes, lithography or laser methods
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 67/0062 by micromachining techniques, e.g. using masking and etching steps, photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/0213 Silicon
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 71/0215 Silicon carbide; Silicon nitride; Silicon oxycarbide

Abstract

Disclosed are nanometer to micron scale functionalized apertures constructed on a substrate made of glass, carbon, semiconductors or polymeric materials that allow for the real time detection of biological materials or chemical moieties. Many apertures can exist on one substrate allowing for the simultaneous detection of numerous chemical and biological molecules. One embodiment features a macrocyclic ring attached to cross-linkers, wherein the macrocyclic ring has a biological or chemical probe extending through the aperture. Another embodiment achieves functionalization by attaching chemical or biological anchors directly to the walls of the apertures via cross-linkers.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate having at least one aperture having a tapered portion with a top diameter greater than a bottom diameter and wherein the tapered portion of the aperture transitions into a cylindrical portion having a diameter equal to said bottom diameter of said tapered portion;

cross-linkers attached to the inner walls of said aperture; and

a macro-cyclic ring, having a diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the cylindrical portion of said aperture, attached at or near the circumference of one end of the cylindrical portion of said aperture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate is chosen from the group consisting of glass, carbon, polymeric materials, and semiconductors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the macro-cyclic ring has a rigid phenylethynyl backbone.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a biological or chemical probe is attached to the macro-cyclic ring such that the biological or chemical probe extends into and rests between at least a portion of the surfaces of the inner walls of the cylindrical portion of said aperture.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the biological probe comprises a single strand sequence of DNA.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a layer of Silicon Nitride, a Silicon On Insulator (SOI) wafer and a layer of Silicon Nitride

7. An apparatus comprising:

a substrate having at least one aperture having a tapered portion with a top diameter greater than a bottom diameter and wherein the tapered portion of the aperture transitions into a cylindrical portion having a diameter equal to said bottom diameter of said tapered portion;

cross-linkers attached to the inner walls of said aperture; and

antibodies or chemical functional groups deposited around the inner walls of the aperture or around the circumference of one end of said aperture.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the substrate is chosen from the group consisting of glass, carbon, polymeric materials, and semiconductors.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the substrate comprises a layer of Silicon Nitride, a Silicon On Insulator (SOI) wafer and a layer of Silicon Nitride.

10. A method comprising:

providing a substrate having at least one aperture having a tapered portion with a top diameter greater than the bottom diameter and wherein the tapered portion of the aperture transitions into a cylindrical portion having a diameter equal to said bottom diameter of said tapered portion; and

functionalizing said aperture to bind to a specific biological or chemical moiety.

11. A method comprising:

providing a substrate having at least one aperture having a tapered portion with a top diameter greater than the bottom diameter and wherein the tapered portion of the aperture transitions into a cylindrical portion having a diameter equal to said bottom diameter of said tapered portion, wherein said aperture is functionalized to bind to a specific biological or chemical moiety; and

passing a sample through said aperture while simultaneously measuring the variation in ionic current across the depth of said aperture.