Chip assay having improved efficiency

• US 20090011952A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jen-Jr Gau
• Original Assignee: GeneFluidics, Inc.
• Inventors: Gau, Jen-Jr
• Granted Patent: US 8,329,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 506/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 Electrodes

Abstract

The chip includes electrodes on a substrate. The electrodes include a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode. The reference electrode is constructed so as to not have an intrinsic potential. A self-assembly monolayer is positioned on the reference electrode. The self-assembly monolayer includes spacers and active probes. The active probes are configured to have a higher affinity for a capture probe than the spacers have for the capture probe.

Claims

1. An electrochemical sensor device, comprising:

electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes including a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode,

the reference electrode constructed so as to not have an intrinsic potential; and

a self-assembly monolayer on the reference electrode, the self-assembly monolayer including a heterogeneous selection of compounds.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the selection of compounds includes spacers and active probes,

the active probes configured to have a higher affinity for a capture probe than the spacers have for the capture probe.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the active probes extend further above the substrate than the spacers.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the active probes are longer than the spacers.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the active probes include a biotinylated thiol and the spacers include a hydroxylated thiol.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the biotinylated thiol is bonded to streptavidin.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the active probes include 12-mercapto(8-biotinamide-3,6-dioxaoctyl)dodecanamide) and the spacers include 11-mercapto-1-undecanol.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the active probes include a sulfur linked directly to the reference electrode.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the active probes include a sulfur linked directly to the reference electrode.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the active probes include a terminal end opposite the sulfur that is bonded directly to the reference electrode, the terminal end of the active probes including a component selected from a group consisting of an amine and a hydroxyl group.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the spacers include a terminal end opposite the sulfur that is bonded directly to the reference electrode,

the terminal end of the spacers being different from the terminal end of the active probes,

the terminal end of the spacers including a component selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group, an amine and a hydroxyl group.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode consists of a single layer of metal.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode consists of a single layer of gold.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode, the working electrode, and the counter electrode each consists of a single layer of metal.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode, the working electrode, and the counter electrode each consists of a single layer of gold.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode and the counter electrode each have a shape that is different from a shape of the working electrode.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor occupies an area of 160 μ

m² to 25 mm².

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode, the working electrode and the counter electrode each consist of a single layer of an electrically conducting material.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the self-assembly monolayer is on the working electrode.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the reference electrode is arranged about the perimeter of the working electrode such that a portion of the working electrode is positioned between different regions of the reference electrode.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the counter electrode is arranged about the perimeter of the working electrode such that a portion of the working electrode is positioned between different regions of the reference electrode.

22. An electrochemical sensor device, comprising:

electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes including a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode,

the reference electrode constructed so as to not have an intrinsic potential and including a single layer of a conductive material; and

a self-assembly monolayer on the reference electrode, the self-assembly monolayer including spacers and active probes,

the active probes configured to have a higher affinity for a capture probe than the spacers have for the capture probe,

the active probes extend further above the substrate than the spacers,

the active probes and the spacers each including a sulfur bonded directly to the reference electrode,

the active probes and the spacers each including one or more alkylene moieties,

the active probes include a terminal end opposite the sulfur that is bonded directly to the reference electrode, the terminal end of the active probes including a component selected from a group consisting of an amine and a hydroxyl group

the spacers include a terminal end opposite the sulfur that is bonded directly to the reference electrode, the terminal end of the spacers being different from the terminal end of the active probes, the terminal end of the spacers including a component selected from a group consisting of an alkyl group, an amine and a hydroxyl group

23. A method, comprising:

providing a device that includes electrodes on a substrate, the electrodes including a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode,

the reference electrode constructed so as to not have an intrinsic potential; and

a self-assembly monolayer on the reference electrode, the self-assembly monolayer including a heterogeneous selection of compounds; and

employing the electrodes to determine whether a target agent is present in a solution and/or the amount of the target agent in the solution.