Addressable chem/bio chip array

• US 20050252777A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
• Original Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
• Inventors: Li, Changming
• Granted Patent: US 8,097,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/600
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/0046 Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays synthesis methods per se C40B50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00286 Reactor vessels with top and bottom openings
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00497 Features relating to the solid phase supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00527 Sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00585 Parallel processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00596 Solid-phase processes
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00653 the compounds being bound to electrodes embedded in or on the solid supports
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00659 Two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00704 integrated with the reactor apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00713 Electrochemical synthesis
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00722 Nucleotides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/00725 Peptides
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0645 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0877 Flow chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/5027 by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip B01L3/5023 takes precedence; micromixers B01F33/30; microreactors for synthesis B01J19/0093; microcapillary devices in general B81B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 3/502715 characterised by interfacing components, e.g. fluidic, electrical, optical or mechanical interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 15/00 Nanotechnology for interacting, sensing or actuating, e.g. quantum dots as markers in protein assays or molecular motors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00158 Elements containing microarrays, i.e. "biochip"
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3276 being a hybridisation with immobilised receptors using a FET type sensor G01N27/4145; concerning the hybridisation C12Q1/68
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 : Electrodes

Abstract

Addressable bio/chem chips include a plurality of isolated test cells, each addressable by at least two electrodes for measuring electrical characteristics of probe/test molecule interactions. In one embodiment, electrodes are located within a channel to allow for four terminal measurement. In another embodiment, electrodes are arranged in rows and columns and interconnected with electrolyte pads used as test sites. In yet another embodiment, electrodes are arranged in cells, with each cell including a counter electrode surrounded encircled by working electrodes.

Claims

1. A column-and-row addressable chip comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of channels formed in the substrate;

a plurality of column electrodes, each one of the plurality extending along a length of one of the channels;

a plurality of spaced row electrodes, within each of the channels and electrically isolated from the column electrode of the channel;

at least one pair of electrodes for interconnection with a voltage source, electrically isolated from the row and column electrodes, and positioned to generate a widthwise potential across at least a portion of one of the channels.

2. The chip of claim 1, wherein said at least one pair of electrodes for interconnection with a voltage source comprises a plurality of pairs of electrodes within one of said plurality of channels, one of each of said pairs on one side of the column electrode within said one of said of said plurality of channels, the other of each of said pairs on the other side of the column electrode within said one of said of said plurality of channels.

3. The chip of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one pair of electrodes for interconnection with a voltage source is embedded within said substrate.

4. The chip of claim 1, wherein each of said channels has a width between 0.1 μ

m to 2000 μ

m.

5. The chip of claim 4, wherein spacings between said row electrodes within each channel are between 0.1 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

6. The chip of claim 1, wherein said substrate is formed of an insulating material.

7. The chip of claim 6, wherein said substrate is formed of at least one of plastic, ceramic, glass, rubber, fabric, printed circuit board, and silicon.

8. The chip of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of interconnects allowing independent measurement of current flow between each one of said row electrodes and one of said column electrodes.

9. The chip of claim 1, wherein each of said row electrodes is generally rectangular, square or circular in shape.

10. An addressable chip comprising:

a substrate having a planar surface;

a plurality of row electrodes formed atop said planar surface;

a plurality of column electrodes, each formed atop said planar surface proximate a row electrode and electrically isolated from said row electrodes;

electrolyte pads covering each of said row electrodes, proximate a column electrode;

pairs of said row and column electrodes for interconnection with a voltage source, to generate a potential for detection of chem/biological probe and target molecule interaction proximate said pairs of said row and column electrodes,

wherein portions of said planar surface not covered by said pads are hydrophobic.

11. The chip of claim 10, wherein said planar surface of said substrate is formed of hydrophobic material.

12. The chip of claim 10, wherein said planar surface of said substrate is coated with a hydrophobic layer.

13. The chip of claim 11, wherein spacings between said row electrodes within each channel are between 0.1 μ

m to 500 μ

m.

14. The chip of claim 10, wherein said substrate is formed of an insulating material.

15. The chip of claim 14, wherein said substrate is formed of at least one of plastic, ceramic, glass, rubber, fabric, printed circuit board, and silicon.

16. The chip of claim 10, wherein said electrolyte is insoluble.

17. The chip of claim 10, wherein said electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene oxide, polyvinyl(alcohol), polyvinyl acetate, polyacrylamide, poly(vinylpyridine), polyethyleneimine, and their combinations.

18. The chip of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of interconnects allowing independent measurement of current flow between each one of said row electrodes and one of said column electrodes.

19. The chip of claim 10, wherein each of said row electrodes is generally rectangular, square, or circular in shape.

20. An addressable chip comprising:

a substrate;

a plurality of counter electrodes formed on said substrate;

a plurality of working electrodes, groups of said plurality of working electrodes encircling each of said plurality of counter electrodes and electrically isolated from said counter electrodes;

pairs of said counter/working electrodes for interconnection with a voltage source, to generate a potential for detection of chem/biological probe and target molecule interaction proximate a pair of said counter/working electrodes.

21. The chip of claim 20, wherein said working and counter electrodes are formed of at least one of platinum, gold, metal, carbon, carbides, nitrides, and conductive polymers.

22. The chip of claim 20, further comprising at least one wall isolating fluids proximate each of said counter electrodes from other ones of said counter electrodes.

23. The chip of claim 20, further comprising at least one trench isolating fluids proximate each of said counter electrodes from other ones of said counter electrodes.

24. The chip of claim 20, wherein said substrate is formed of at least one of plastic, ceramic, glass, rubber, fabric, printed circuit board, and silicon.

25. The chip of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of interconnects allowing independent measurement of current flow between each one of said counter electrodes and one of said working electrodes about said each one of said counter electrodes.

26. The chip of claim 25, wherein one working electrode about each of said counter electrodes is interconnected with one working electrode of each of said groups of working electrodes.

27. The chip of claim 20, wherein each of said counter electrodes is generally rectangular, square or circular in shape.

28. The chip of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of electrolyte pads, each covering one of said counter electrodes and its surrounding group of working electrodes.

29. A test apparatus comprising

a substrate,

a plurality of pads formed of insoluble material for binding to samples of interest, arranged on said substrate;

a plurality of working electrodes, each of said plurality of working electrodes electrically interconnected to first groups of said plurality of pads;

a plurality of counter electrodes, each of said plurality of counter electrodes electrically interconnected to second groups of said plurality of pads;

wherein each of said pads is interconnected to one of said plurality of working electrodes and one of said plurality of counter electrodes;

a measuring device for measuring electrical characteristics at a selected pair of said counter and working electrodes, to analyse an analyte proximate said one of said plurality of pads interconnected with said selected pair of said counter and working electrodes.

30. The test apparatus of claim 29, further comprising at least one inductor interconnected between said measuring device and said pair of said working and counter electrodes.

31. The test apparatus of claim 29, wherein said measuring device measures the frequency response of said selected pair of said working and counter electrodes.

32. The test apparatus of claim 29, wherein said pads are formed of electrolyte.

33. The test apparatus of claim 29, wherein said pads are formed of cross-linked hydrogel.

34. The test apparatus of claim 29, wherein said pads are formed of polyacrylamide.

35. The test apparatus of claim 29, wherein said measuring device measures variation in impedance of said selected pair of said row and column electrodes near a resonant frequency of said of said selected pair of said row and column electrodes.

36. The test apparatus of claim 29, further comprising row and column selectors, to select said selected pair of said row and column electrodes for interconnection to said measuring device.

37. The test apparatus of claim 29, wherein said measuring device comprises a variable frequency voltage source.