Chemical sensors
First Claim
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1. A device for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte comprising:
- a sensing element comprising at least one bead having an outer film layer of a polymer substrate, said polymer substrate being capable of receiving and discharging light, and said polymer substrate having a porous matrix and sensing reagent;
said sensing reagent being entrapped within and chemically bound to the polymer substrate and having a first absorption spectra in the presence of analyte and a second absorption spectra in the absence of analyte;
said porous matrix expanding the effective surface area of said polymer substrate for receiving analyte, said polymer substrate allowing said sensing reagent to alter the spectra of light passing through said polymer substrate in the presence of analyte; and
said bead comprising a material for providing mechanical strength to the polymer substrate.
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Abstract
A device for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte, a method of making the device, and a method of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte. The invention features one or more supports, such as beads, which carry a thin film of polymer substrate. The polymer substrate has a sensing reagent and a porous matrix. The sensing reagent alters the optical properties of the polymer substrate in the presence of analyte.
157 Citations
51 Claims
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1. A device for detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte comprising:
- a sensing element comprising at least one bead having an outer film layer of a polymer substrate, said polymer substrate being capable of receiving and discharging light, and said polymer substrate having a porous matrix and sensing reagent;
said sensing reagent being entrapped within and chemically bound to the polymer substrate and having a first absorption spectra in the presence of analyte and a second absorption spectra in the absence of analyte;
said porous matrix expanding the effective surface area of said polymer substrate for receiving analyte, said polymer substrate allowing said sensing reagent to alter the spectra of light passing through said polymer substrate in the presence of analyte; and
said bead comprising a material for providing mechanical strength to the polymer substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- a sensing element comprising at least one bead having an outer film layer of a polymer substrate, said polymer substrate being capable of receiving and discharging light, and said polymer substrate having a porous matrix and sensing reagent;
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20. A method of detecting the presence or concentration of an analyte comprising the following steps:
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a) contacting a sample potentially containing analyte with a sensing element comprising at least one bead having an outer film layer of a polymer substrate, said polymer substrate being capable of receiving and discharging light, and said polymer substrate having a porous matrix and sensing reagent;
said sensing reagent being chemically bound to the polymer substrate and having a first absorption spectra in the presence of analyte and a second absorption spectra in the absence of analyte;
said porous matrix expanding the effective surface area of said polymer substrate, said sensing reagent altering the spectra of light passing through said polymeric substrate in the presence of analyte; and
said bead comprising a material which is capable of providing mechanical strength to the polymer substrate; andb) inputting light into said polymer substrate, said light having a spectra capable of being altered by said sensing reagent; and c) monitoring light leaving said polymer substrate for alteration indicative of the presence or absence or concentration of analyte. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method of making a device for detecting the presence or concentration of analyte comprising the following steps:
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a) providing a mixture of at least one monomer, sensing reagent and solvent; b) polymerizing the mixture in the presence of beads to form an outer film layer of a polymer substrate on each of the beads, the polymer substrate including a porous matrix formed by elimination of the solvent and the sensing reagent being chemically bound to the matrix; wherein said polymer substrate is capable of receiving and discharging light, said sensing reagent having a first absorption spectra in the presence of analyte and a second absorption spectra in the absence of analyte;
said porous matrix expanding the effective surface area of said polymer substrate for receiving analyte, said polymer substrate allowing said sensor reagent to alter the spectra of light passing through said polymer substrate in the presence of analyte; and
said bead comprising the material for providing mechanical support to the polymer substrate. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification