LABEL-FREE MOLECULE DETECTION AND MEASUREMENT

• US 20100294659A1
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Imperial Innovations Limited (Imperial College London)
• Original Assignee: Electrical & Electronic Engineering BLDG Level 12
• Inventors: Green, Mino
• Application Number:
  US12/863,900
• Publication Number:
  US 20100294659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/400
• 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: C12Q 1/6825 Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/607 being a sensor, e.g. electrode
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2565/631 being a biochannel or pore
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3277 being a redox reaction, e.g. detection by cyclic voltammetry voltammetry per se G01N27/42, G01N27/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/48 using polarography, i.e. measuring changes in current under a slowly-varying voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5438 Electrodes

Abstract

A system and method for electrically detecting a target material in a sample without the need for labeling is described. A probe supporting member (8) defining at least one hole is functionalized with target specific probe material and a change in the hole area on binding of target material is detected as a change in an ionic current through the hole. In some embodiments, an electro-chemical cell comprising an electrode having a conducting layer (2) and a porous insulating layer (4) is provided. In some embodiments, an electrically addressable array (70) is provided for detection of a potentially large number of target materials in a sample.

Claims

1. A probe supporting member for use in detecting a target binding to a probe, the member defining a hole therethrough which defines an effective cross-section through which, in an electrolyte, a current can flow between two electrodes;

wherein a probe is disposed on the member in relation to the hole such that the effective cross-section is changed on binding of a target to the probe, thereby enabling the binding to be detected by a corresponding change in the current.

2-43. -43. (canceled)