Method and apparatus for pulsed electrochemical detection using polymer electroactive electrodes
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a target analyte within a solution, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) exposing said solution to an electrode that includes a conducting electroactive polymer;
(b) coupling a periodic alternating voltage to said electrode; and
(c) measuring current flow through said electrode as a function of time and as a function of said alternating voltage to detect said target analyte within said solution;
wherein a characteristic of said electrode is varied upon exposure to said target analyte, causing current flow through said electrode to vary.
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Abstract
In a first embodiment, a target analyte in solution is detected by exposing the solution to an electrode that includes a conducting electroactive polymer to which a periodic alternating voltage is coupled. Upon exposure to the analyte, an electrode characteristic is varied, which variation is detected by measuring electrode current as a function of time and as a function of the periodic alternating voltage. The alternating voltage waveform has an oxidizing time period and a reduction time period, which periods and waveform duty cycle may be controlled to enhance electrode sensitivity, selectivity, and to substantially eliminate electrode fouling and data hysteresis. In a second embodiment, a receptor is bound to the electrode, to which is coupled an alternating voltage waveform that permits a mating target substance to reversibly bind to the receptor such that measurement of electrode current provides a measure of such reversible binding. The second embodiment is especially useful for detecting antibodies, antigens, haptens, DNA, RNA, and enzymes. Either embodiment may be used for detection in flow-through electrochemical cells, flow injection analysis, liquid, and ion chromatography, as well as in capillary electrophoresis.
180 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a target analyte within a solution, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) exposing said solution to an electrode that includes a conducting electroactive polymer; (b) coupling a periodic alternating voltage to said electrode; and (c) measuring current flow through said electrode as a function of time and as a function of said alternating voltage to detect said target analyte within said solution; wherein a characteristic of said electrode is varied upon exposure to said target analyte, causing current flow through said electrode to vary. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for detecting a bindable target substance having an attachment affinity for an immobilized receptor, the method comprising the following steps:
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(i) (a) forming an electrode having an conducting electroactive polymer layer that includes an immobilized receptor will bind to a bindable target substance; (b) contacting said electrode with an aqueous solution including a bindable target substance; (c) coupling a periodic alternating voltage to said electrode; and (d) measuring current flow through said electrode as a function of time and as a function of said alternating voltage to determine whether attachment of said bindable target substance to said immobilized receptor has occurred; wherein at least one characteristic of said electrode is varied upon an attachment between said immobilized receptor and bindable target substance, causing current flow through said electrode to vary. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification