Analyte detector

• US 20070048178A1
• Filed: 08/26/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gu, Yuandong
• Granted Patent: US 7,629,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/56
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/14 Heterocyclic carbon compound [i.e. , O, S, N, Se, Te, as only ring hetero atom]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/144444 Glucose

Abstract

An analyte detector is disclosed. The analyte detector includes a substrate having a surface, a self-assembled monolayer comprising a plurality of molecules bonded to the surface, the molecules having a structure (I) defined herein, and a liquid crystal layer having a plurality of liquid crystal molecules aligned on a top surface of the self-assembled monolayer. The liquid crystal molecule includes a diol moiety that interacts with the molecule having a structure (I). Methods of detecting an analyte are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An analyte detector comprising:

a substrate having a surface;

a self-assembled monolayer comprising a plurality of molecules bonded to the surface, the molecules having a structure (I);

wherein,

R is a ligand bonded to the surface of the device;

R₁ is a (C₁₀-C₂₄) alkylene, or (C₁₀-C₂₄) alkenylene;

R₂ is an (C₃-C₁₄) cycloalkylene, (C₃-C₁₄) heterocyclylene, (C₃-C₂₄) arylene, or (C₃-C₁₄) heteroarylene; and

a liquid crystal layer comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, aligned on a top surface of the self-assembled monolayer, the liquid crystal molecule comprising a diol moiety that interacts with the molecule having a structure (I).

2. An analyte detector according to claim 1 wherein R₁ is a (C₁₀-C₂₀) alkylene.

3. An analyte detector according to claim 1 wherein R₂ is a phenylene or naphthalene.

4. An analyte detector according to claim 1 wherein the ligand is a thiol, phosphate, or siloxane.

5. An analyte detector according to claim 1 wherein the ligand is a thiol, R₁ is a (C₁₀-C₂₀) alkylene, and R₂ is a phenylene.

6. An analyte detector according to claim 1 wherein the liquid crystal molecule comprises a terminal diol moiety that interacts with the molecule having a structure (I).

7. An analyte detector according to claim 1 further comprising a light source transmitting light through the liquid crystal layer and a light detector receiving light transmitted through the liquid layer.

8. An analyte detector according to claim 7 further comprising a light polarizer disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal layer.

9. An analyte detector according to claim 7 further comprising a light polarizer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the light detector.

10. A method of detecting an analyte comprising the steps of:

contacting an analyte detector with a sample, wherein the analyte detector comprises;

a substrate having a surface;

a self-assembled monolayer comprising a plurality of molecules bonded to the metallized surface, the molecules having a structure (I);

wherein,

R is a ligand bonded to the surface of the device;

R₁ is a (C₁₀-C₂₄) alkylene, or (C₁₀-C₂₄) alkenylene;

R₂ is an (C₃-C₁₄) cycloalkylene, (C₃-C₁₄) heterocyclylene, (C₃-C₂₄) arylene, or (C₃-C₁₄) heteroarylene; and

a liquid crystal layer comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, aligned on a top surface of the self-assembled monolayer, the liquid crystal molecule comprising a diol moiety that interacts with the molecule having a structure (I) and the liquid crystal layer having an alignment; and

determining whether the alignment of the liquid crystal layer changes after the analyte detector contacts the sample.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the contacting step comprises contacting an analyte detector with a sample comprising glucose to induce a change in the alignment of the liquid crystal layer.

12. A method according to claim 10 wherein the determining step comprises illuminating the liquid crystal layer with light to determine the degree of disorder introduced into the liquid crystal layer after the analyte detector contacts the sample.

13. A method according to claim 10 wherein the contacting step comprises contacting an analyte detector with a sample, the analyte detector comprises:

a substrate having a surface;

a self-assembled monolayer comprising a plurality of molecules, each molecule bonded to the surface, the molecules having a structure (I);

14. A method according to claim 10 wherein the determining step comprises transmitting light from a light source through the liquid crystal layer and detecting light transmitted through the liquid crystal layer with a light detector to determine the degree of disorder introduced into the liquid crystal layer after the analyte detector contacts the sample.

15. A glucose sensor for providing an output signal indicative of a glucose concentration, the glucose sensor comprising:

a substrate having a surface;

a self-assembled monolayer comprising a plurality of molecules, each molecule bonded to the surface, the molecules having a structure (I);

wherein,

R is a ligand bonded to the surface of the device;

R₁ is a (C₁₀-C₂₄) alkylene, or (C₁₀-C₂₄) alkenylene;

R₂ is an (C₃-C₁₄) cycloalkylene, (C₃-C₁₄) heterocyclylene, (C₃-C₂₄) arylene, or (C₃-C₁₄) heteroarylene; and

a liquid crystal layer comprising a plurality of liquid crystal molecules, aligned on a top surface of the self-assembled monolayer, the liquid crystal molecule comprising a diol moiety that interacts with the molecule having a structure (I).

16. A glucose sensor according to claim 15 wherein the ligand is a thiol, R₁ is a (C₁₀-C₂₀) alkylene, and R₂ is a phenylene.

17. A glucose sensor according to claim 15 wherein the liquid crystal comprises a terminal diol moiety that interacts with the molecule having a structure (I).

18. An analyte detector according to claim 15 further comprising a light source transmitting light through the liquid crystal layer and a light detector receiving light transmitted through the liquid layer.

19. An analyte detector according to claim 18 further comprising a first light polarizer disposed between the light source and the liquid crystal layer and a second light polarizer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the light detector.