Organic materials able to detect analytes

• US 20060073607A1
• Filed: 12/06/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Madigan, Conor F., Bulovic, Vladimir, Zhu, Zhengguo, Swager, Timothy M., Rose, Aimee
• Granted Patent: US 7,759,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/166
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0057 for warfare agents or explosives properties of explosives G01N33/227
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 2301/02 ASE (amplified spontaneous emission), noise; Reduction thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/067 Fibre lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/178 plastic
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/12 the resonator having a periodic structure, e.g. in distributed feedback [DFB] lasers comprising a photonic bandgap structure H01S5/11; surface-emitting lasers H01S5/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/36 comprising organic materials

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to polymers with lasing characteristics that allow the polymers to be useful in detecting analytes. In one aspect, the polymer, upon an interaction with an analyte, may exhibit a change in a lasing characteristic that can be determined in some fashion. For example, interaction of an analyte with the polymer may affect the ability of the polymer to reach an excited state that allows stimulated emission of photons to occur, which may be determined, thereby determining the analyte. In another aspect, the polymer, upon interaction with an analyte, may exhibit a change in stimulated emission that is at least 10 times greater with respect to a change in the spontaneous emission of the polymer upon interaction with the analyte. The polymer may be a conjugated polymer in some cases. In one set of embodiments, the polymer includes one or more hydrocarbon side chains, which may be parallel to the polymer backbone in some instances. In another set of embodiments, the polymer may include one or more pendant aromatic rings. In yet another set of embodiments, the polymer may be substantially encapsulated in a hydrocarbon. In still another set of embodiments, the polymer may be substantially resistant to photobleaching. In certain aspects, the polymer may be useful in the detection of explosive agents, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT).

Claims

1. A device for detecting an analyte, comprising:

a polymer that, upon interaction with an analyte, exhibits a change in a lasing characteristic, in combination with an energy source able to cause the polymer to lase.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the analyte is able to directly interact with the polymer.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the analyte is explosive.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the lasing characteristic is gain.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the lasing characteristic is a lasing threshold.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the lasing threshold increases upon interaction of the polymer with the analyte.

30. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the polymer is conjugated.

44. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a structure:

45. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a structure:

47. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a structure:

49. The device of claim 4%1, wherein the polymer comprises a structure:

50. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymer has a quantum yield of at least about 50% at a wavelength of electromagnetic radiation produced by the energy source.

58. The device of claim 1, further comprising a detector constructed and arranged to determine a change in the lasing characteristic of the polymer.

62. The device of claim 1, wherein the polymer can be exposed to air without substantially altering the lasing characteristic.

80. The device of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a film comprising the polymer, the film having a thickness of less than about 1 micron, the film being present on a substrate, the substrate and the polymer each having a refractive index, wherein the refractive index of the substrate is substantially equal to the refractive index of the polymer.

83. The device of claim 1, wherein the article comprises a film comprising the polymer, the film having a thickness of less than about 1 micron, the film being present on a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a distributed feedback structure.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

7-9. -9. (canceled)

11-12. -12. (canceled)

15-29. -29. (canceled)

31-43. -43. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

51-57. -57. (canceled)

59-61. -61. (canceled)

63-79. -79. (canceled)

81-82. -82. (canceled)

84. A method of determining an analyte, comprising acts of:

contacting a polymer with a sample suspected of containing an analyte; and

determining a change in a lasing characteristic of the polymer indicative of the presence of the analyte in the sample.

85-104. -104. (canceled)

105. An article, comprising:

a polymer, that, upon interaction with an analyte, exhibits a change in a stimulated emission signal that is at least 10 times greater than a change in a spontaneous emission signal of the polymer.

106-142. -142. (canceled)

143. A method of determining an analyte, comprising acts of:

contacting a polymer with a sample suspected of containing an analyte; and

determining a change in a stimulated emission signal of the polymer that is at least 10 times greater than a change in a spontaneous emission signal of the polymer indicative of the presence of the analyte in the sample.

144-162. -162. (canceled)

163. An article, comprising:

a polymer that, upon interaction with an analyte, exhibits a change in a lasing characteristic, the polymer further comprising a binding site for an analyte which, when it binds at the site, changes the lasing characteristic.

164-188. -188. (canceled)