Digital biosensors and method of using same
First Claim
1. A sensor for detecting a characteristic of a component of a medium comprising:
- a plurality of field-effect transistors for responding electronically when exposed to said component; and
organic ligand binders for binding said component to said field-effect transistors, a separate said organic ligand binder being coupled to each said field-effect transistor, each said separate organic ligand binder having a different binding coefficient with respect to said component of said solution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mearsuring instrument is disclosed having a reversibly selective binding protein immobilized upon the insulated-gate region of a field-effect transistor located on a sensor. With the sensor immersed in solution, the protein binds a select component of the solution to the gate producing an effect on a current flowing through the IGFET. A plurality of such binding protein-IGFET arrangements can be provided on the same sensor, including the same binding proteins having different binding coefficients KD or an array of proteins with different ligand specificity and/or affinity. Analysis of the IGFET'"'"'s response to binding by a microprocessor allows, for example, the concentration of the component in solution to be determined. With a plurality of different binding proteins employed, the concentration of different components can be determined. Similarly, with binding proteins employed having different binding coefficients KD, the output of the sensor can be analyzed in either a digital or analog manner, or some combination of the two. To release the component from the protein, heat can be applied to the sensor through a resistive bank integrated into the sensor chip. Alternatively, the application of a reverse bias to the gate can be used to enhance release.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A sensor for detecting a characteristic of a component of a medium comprising:
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a plurality of field-effect transistors for responding electronically when exposed to said component; and organic ligand binders for binding said component to said field-effect transistors, a separate said organic ligand binder being coupled to each said field-effect transistor, each said separate organic ligand binder having a different binding coefficient with respect to said component of said solution.
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2. A system for detecting a characteristic of a component of a medium, said system comprising:
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a sensor including detection means for responding electronically when exposed to said component and a plurality of binding means for binding said component to said detection means, said detection means including a plurality of detection elements, upon which said binding means are immobilized, said binding means being immobilized on at least two separate said detection elements binding the same component of said medium but having different binding coefficients, each said detection element producing an electronic response to the binding of said component to said detection element by said binding means immobilized thereon; and processing means, coupled to said sensor, for producing an output indicative of said characteristic of said component of said medium. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of detecting a characteristic of a component of a medium, said method comprising the steps of:
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binding said component to a plurality of detection elements that respond electronically to said component, said component being bound to different said detection elements in different degrees; monitoring the electronic response of said detection elements to said component; and producing an output indicative of said characteristic of interest, said output being a function of the electronic response monitored. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for detecting a characteristic of a component of a medium, said system comprising:
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a sensor including a plurality of detection elements for responding electronically when exposed to said component and a plurality of binding means for binding said component to said detection elements, each said binding means being selectively responsive to a specific range of said component characteristic and being immobilized on separate said detection elements, each said detection element responding electronically to the binding of said component to said detection element; and processing means coupled to said sensor, for producing a digital output corresponding to the electronic response of each said detection element and analyzing said digital outputs to determine said characteristic of said component without reference to an external calibration standard.
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Specification