Biochemical concentrator and drug discovery

• US 20050208647A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Hawai'i
• Original Assignee: University of Hawai'i
• Inventors: Holm-Kennedy, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,566,418 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3276 being a hybridisation with immobilised receptors using a FET type sensor G01N27/4145; concerning the hybridisation C12Q1/68

Abstract

A novel label-free sensitive detection method by employing a novel sensitive charge sensor is provided. Dissociation constant information is provided by a simple measurement of the dissociation of the target molecule form the target'"'"'s receptor. The later process is affected by a novel system and its configuration as described herein. Basic objectives are to provide a drug discovery and characterization system that is an improvement over the current state of the art, low cost, highly sensitive, accurate, fast and easy to use. This invention involves both a physical system and a methodology.

Claims

1. A biochemical concentrator apparatus comprising:

a solution containing a target species,

an electric field generator for generating an electric field and for effecting movement of the target species within the solution and changing species flux within regions of the solution,

a sensor having receptors for the target species, and

a voltage source connected to the electric field generator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electric field generator comprises an electrode spaced from the sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a ground connected to the sensor and to the source.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a grid surrounding the sensor and spaced between the sensor and the electrode.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising multiple grids surrounding the sensor and multiple voltage sources connected between the grids.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the multiple grids are shaped for effecting concentrations of the species near the sensor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the source provides pulsed, alternating, sinusoidal or other DC or AC power to the field generator.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source provides pulsed, alternating, sinusoidal or other DC or AC power to the field generator.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target species comprise new drugs for testing binding ability to the receptors on the sensor.

10. A method of concentrating target species in a solution comprising:

providing a solution,

providing species in the solution,

providing receptors for receiving the target species on the sensor,

providing an electric field in the solution, and

influencing movement of the target species toward the sensor with the electric field.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the providing the electric field comprises providing at least one electrode in the solution spaced from the sensor and connecting at least one voltage source between the at least one electrode and the sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the providing the at least one electrode further comprises providing plural grids in the solution spaced from each other and from the sensor and wherein the connecting the at least one voltage source comprises connecting voltage sources between the sensor and a grid and connecting voltage sources between grids.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the grids are differentially shaped from each other and are differentially spaced from each other.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing a varying or variable electric field, steady pulsating, alternating, sinusoidally alternating, or other DC or AC voltage to the grids.

15. A method of drug discovery comprising providing a solution, providing target drug species in the solution, providing an electrode in the solution spaced from the sensor providing an electric field in the solution and moving the target drug species toward the sensor under influence of the electric field.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the providing an electric field further comprises providing multiple electric fields in the solution and wherein the providing and electrode further comprises providing multiple spaced grids in the solution and connecting multiple voltage sources between the spaced grids.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing voltages between the spaced grids.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising connecting the target species with the receptors on the sensor and measuring the target species in contact with the receptors.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising reversing the field and tending to move the target species away from the sensor and measuring the decay of target species in contact with the receptors.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising eluating the target species from the sensor and measuring and determining the target species in a resultant eluent.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the providing target drug species comprises providing plural target drug species and wherein the method further comprises simultaneously evaluating and comparing the plural target drug species.

22. The method of claim 15, further comprising attaching a charge bearing particle to the target drug species.