Nanotube-based sensors and probes

• US 20070009379A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drexel University, Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania (University of Pennsylvania)
• Inventors: Gogotsi, Yury, Kim, Byong, Bau, Haim, Riegelman, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,964,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/57
• 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: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/34 Microscope slides, e.g. mounting specimens on microscope slides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/92 Detection of biochemical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/924 using nanostructure as support of dna analysis

Abstract

Described herein are novel devices for the study of transport characteristics of complex or simple fluids, interactions among molecules in suspension, interactions between molecules in suspension and wall-bound molecules, and biochemical sensing devices made of reservoirs for fluid containment linked by a nanotubes. Also disclosed are methods of delivering medicaments and monitoring fluidic interactions of molecules or analytes.

Claims

1. An analytical device comprising:

a substrate;

a barrier structure defining two reservoirs for fluid containment; and

at least one nanotube between said reservoirs, the lumen of which nanotube is at least partially observable by electron or ion-beam microscopy, the openings of said nanotube being in fluid communication with each of said reservoirs.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said nanotube comprises carbon, silicon, silicon oxide, semiconductor, metal, or glass.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said nanotube is amorphous, multi-walled, or single walled.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said reservoirs are capped.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said reservoirs are capped with polymer, semiconductor, glass, or metal.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said reservoirs comprise electrodes.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the properties of said nanotube are modified by chemical or thermal treatment.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the wall of said nanotube is functionalized with immobilized ligands.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said reservoirs hold fluid.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said fluid comprises liquids, suspensions, emulsions, or gases.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein said suspensions comprise fluorescent beads, functionalized beads, unfunctionalized beads, magnetic beads, or macromolecules.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein said macromolecules comprise nucleic acids, enzymes, dendrimers, or proteins.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein said barrier structure comprises polymer, silicon, or silicon dioxide.

14. An analytical device comprising:

a substrate;

a barrier structure defining at least two reservoirs for fluid containment;

at least one nanotube between said reservoirs and the ends of said nanotubes are in fluid communication with said reservoirs.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein more than one nanotube is between two reservoirs with the ends of said nanotube in fluid communication with said reservoirs.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein more than one nanotube has an end in fluid communication with a reservoir.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein said nanotube comprises carbon, silicon, silicon oxide, semiconductor, metal, or glass.

18. The device of claim 14 wherein said nanotube is amorphous, multi-walled, or single walled.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein said reservoirs are capped.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein said reservoirs are capped with polymer, semiconductor, glass, or metal.

21. The device of claim 14 wherein said reservoirs comprise electrodes.

22. The device of claim 14 wherein the properties of said nanotube are modified by chemical or thermal treatment.

23. The device of claim 14 wherein the wall of said nanotube is functionalized with immobilized ligands.

24. The device of claim 14 wherein said reservoirs hold fluid.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the fluid within said reservoirs independently comprise liquids, suspensions, emulsions, or gases.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein said suspensions comprise fluorescent beads, functionalized beads, unfunctionalized beads, magnetic beads, or macromolecules.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein said macromolecules comprise nucleic acids, enzymes, dendrimers, or proteins.

28. The device of claim 14 wherein said barrier structure comprises polymer, silicon, or silicon dioxide.

29. The device of claim 14 wherein at least one nanotube differs from the remainder in diameter, wall thicknesses, or functionalization.

30. The device of claim 14 wherein the lumen of said nanotubes are at least partially observable by an electron, ion-beam, or optical microscope.

31. A probe comprising:

a substrate;

a barrier structure defining one reservoir for fluid containment; and

a nanotube having an opening proximal to and in fluid communication with said reservoir and an opening distal to said reservoir for insertion.

32. The probe of claim 31 wherein said nanotube comprises carbon.

33. The probe of claim 31 wherein said nanotube is amorphous, multi-walled, or single-walled.

34. The probe of claim 31 wherein said reservoir is capped.

35. The probe of claim 34 wherein said reservoir is capped with polymer, semiconductor, glass, or metal.

36. The probe of claim 31 wherein said reservoir comprises electrodes.

37. The probe of claim 31 wherein the nanotube properties are modified by chemical or thermal treatment.

38. The probe of claim 31 wherein the wall of said nanotube is functionalized with immobilized ligands.

39. The probe of claim 31 wherein said reservoir holds fluid.

40. The probe of claim 39 wherein said fluid comprises liquids, suspensions, emulsions, or gases.

41. The probe of claim 40 wherein said suspensions comprise fluorescent beads, functionalized beads, unfunctionalized beads, magnetic beads, or macromolecules.

42. The probe of claim 41 wherein said macromolecules comprise nucleic acids, enzymes, dendrimers, or proteins.

43. The probe of claim 31 wherein said barrier structure comprises polymer, silicon, or silicon dioxide.

44. An array comprising more than one probe comprising:

a substrate;

barrier structures on said substrate defining reservoirs for fluid containment; and

more than one nanotube having an opening proximal to and in fluid communication with said reservoir and an opening distal to said reservoir for insertion.

45. The array of claim 44 wherein at least one nanotube differs from the remainder of said nanotubes in diameter, wall thickness, or functionalization.

46. The array of claim 44 wherein said nanotubes comprise carbon, silicon, silicon oxide, semiconductor, metal, or glass.

47. The array of claim 44 wherein said nanotubes is amorphous, single walled, or multi-walled.

48. The array of claim 44 wherein said reservoirs are capped.

49. The array of claim 44 wherein said reservoirs are capped polymer, glass, semiconductor, or metal.

50. The array of claim 44 wherein said reservoirs comprises electrodes.

51. The array of claim 44 wherein the properties of said nanotubes are modified by chemical or thermal treatment.

52. The array of claim 51 wherein the properties of at least one nanotube differs from the remainder of said nanotubes.

53. The array of claim 44 wherein the walls of at least one nanotube are functionalized with immobilized ligands.

54. The array of claim 44 wherein said reservoirs hold fluid.

55. The array of claim 54 wherein the fluid differs in each probe.

56. The array of claim 54 wherein said fluid comprises suspensions, emulsion, or gases.

57. The array of claim 56 wherein said suspensions comprise fluorescent beads, functionalized beads, unfunctionalized beads, magnetic beads, or macromolecules.

58. The array of claim 57 wherein said macromolecules comprise nucleic acids, enzymes, dendrimers, or proteins.

59. The array of claim 44 wherein said barrier structures comprise polymer, silicon, or silicon dioxide.

60. A method of delivery comprising:

placing a medicament in a fluid;

placing said fluid into at least one probe comprising;

a substrate;

a barrier structure on said substrate defining a reservoir for fluid containment; and

a nanotube having an opening proximal to and in fluid communication with said reservoir and an opening distal to said reservoir; and

delivering said medicament contained within said fluid into said biological membrane through said nanotube.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein said medicament comprises a protein, nucleic acids, DNA, RNA, hormone, antibiotic, enzyme, or chemical reagent.

62. The method of claim 60 wherein said biological membrane is a cell membrane.

63. The method of claim 60 wherein said reservoir is capped with polymer, semiconductor, or metal.

64. The method of claim 60 wherein said reservoir comprises electrodes.

65. The method of claim 60 wherein said nanotube comprises carbon, silicon, silicon oxide, semiconductor, metal, or glass.

66. The method of claim 60 wherein said nanotube is amorphous, single-walled, or multi-walled.

67. The method of claim 60 wherein said fluid further comprises suspensions, emulsion, macromolecules, or gases.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein said suspensions comprise fluorescent beads, functionalized beads, unfunctionalized beads, magnetic beads, or macromolecules.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein said macromolecules are nucleic acids, dendrimers, enzymes, or proteins.

70. The method of claim 60 wherein said barrier structure comprises polymer, silicon, or silicon dioxide.

71. The method of claim 60 comprising more than one probe.

72. The method of claim 71 wherein said medicament contained within said fluid is injected into said membrane through more than one probe.

73. The method of claim 71 wherein more than one probe acts in parallel during injection.

74. A method of analysis comprising:

placing an analyte in a fluid;

placing said fluid into an array comprising more than one probe comprising;

a substrate;

a barrier structure on said substrate defining reservoirs for fluid containment;

a nanotube having openings proximal to and in fluid communication with said reservoirs and opening distal to said reservoirs; and

monitoring the interaction of said analyte within said nanotubes.

75. The method of claim 74 wherein said observing step is performed via electron microscopy.

76. The method of claim 74 wherein said observing step is performed via optical or fluorescent microscopy.

77. The method of claim 74 further comprising monitoring the effects of the analyte on an ionic current.

78. The method of claim 74 comprising of monitoring the effects of the analyte on the electrical and mechanical properties of the tube.

79. The method of claim 74 further comprising monitoring the size and velocity of the analyte.

80. The method of claim 74 wherein said fluid further comprises suspensions, emulsion, or gases.

81. The method of claim 80 wherein said suspensions comprise fluorescent beads, functionalized beads, unfunctionalized beads, magnetic beads, or macromolecules.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein said macromolecules are nucleic acids, dendrimers, enzymes, or proteins.

83. The method of claim 74 wherein said analyte comprises a drug to be screened.

84. The method of claim 74 wherein said probes interact with multiple cells in parallel fashion.

85. The method of claim 74 wherein the tube is functionalized with a ligand.

86. A method of monitoring the fluidic interactions of analytes comprising:

placing said analytes in a fluid;

placing said fluid into at least one device comprising;

a substrate;

a barrier structure defining two reservoirs for fluid containment; and

a nanotube between said reservoirs and the ends of which nanotube are in fluid communication with said reservoirs; and

observing the fluidic interactions of said analytes within said nanotube.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein said observing step is performed via electron microscopy.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein said observing step is performed via optical or fluorescent microscopy.

89. The method of claim 86 further comprising observing the effects of the analyte on an ionic current.

90. The method of claim 86 further comprising observing the size and velocity of the analyte.

91. The method of claim 86 further comprising observing the mechanical properties, the optical properties, or the electrical properties of the nanotube.

92. The method of claim 86 further comprising observing the resonance frequency, the resistance, or the impedence of the nanotube.

93. The method of claim 86 further comprising applying a vacuum to at least one device.

94. The method of claim 86 wherein said nanotube comprises carbon, silicon, silicon oxide, semiconductor, metal, or glass.

95. The method of claim 86 wherein said nanotube is amorphous, single-walled, or multi-walled.

96. The method of claim 86 wherein said reservoirs are capped with such as polymer, semiconductor, or metal.

97. The method of claim 86 wherein said reservoir comprises electrodes.

98. The method of claim 86 wherein the properties of said nanotube are modified by chemical or thermal treatment.

99. The method of claim 86 wherein the wall of said nanotube is functionalized with immobilized ligands.

100. The method of claim 86 wherein said interactions are those between molecules in suspension and molecules attached to the nanotube wall.

101. The method of claim 86 further comprising applying an electric field across said electrodes.

102. The method of claim 86 wherein said fluid further comprises suspensions, emulsion, or gases.

103. The method of claim 101 wherein said suspensions comprise fluorescent beads, functionalized beads, unfunctionalized beads, magnetic beads, or macromolecules.

104. The method of claim 103 wherein said macromolecules are nucleic acids, dendrimers, enzymes, or proteins.

105. The method of claim 86 wherein said barrier structure comprises polymer, silicon, or silicon dioxide.

106. The method of claim 86 having more than one device.

107. The method of claim 106 wherein at least one nanotube differs from the remainder in diameter, wall thickness, or functionalization.