Sensors based on polymer transformation
First Claim
1. In a method for determining the presence or amounts of an analyte in a sample of assay medium suspected of containing said analyte, said analyte reacting with an enzyme or catalyst to produce an amount of detectible signal which is a function of the amount of analyte in the assay medium, said detectible signal being detected at an electrode in an electrolyte, the improvement wherein:
- (a) the electrode is covered with a thin layer of an electrically insulating polymer that separates the electrode from the electrolyte; and
(b) the enzyme or catalytic reaction with the said analyte directly or indirectly effects a reaction with the said electrically insulating polymer layer wherein the polymer layer becomes porous or more porous to the electrolyte, causing a measurable change in electrical properties at the electrode surface.
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Abstract
A sensor format is based on impedance analysis of polymer coatings of electrodes. A detectable signal is produced by the effect of a reactive or catalytic species at or very near the polymer coated electrode. The reactive or catalytic species directly or indirectly effects a reaction with the polymer layers, whereby the polymer layer becomes porous and thus causes a measurable change in electrical properties of the electrode surface.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a method for determining the presence or amounts of an analyte in a sample of assay medium suspected of containing said analyte, said analyte reacting with an enzyme or catalyst to produce an amount of detectible signal which is a function of the amount of analyte in the assay medium, said detectible signal being detected at an electrode in an electrolyte, the improvement wherein:
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(a) the electrode is covered with a thin layer of an electrically insulating polymer that separates the electrode from the electrolyte; and (b) the enzyme or catalytic reaction with the said analyte directly or indirectly effects a reaction with the said electrically insulating polymer layer wherein the polymer layer becomes porous or more porous to the electrolyte, causing a measurable change in electrical properties at the electrode surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In an immunoassay method in which an enzyme-antibody or enzyme-antigen conjugate becomes bound at or very near a layer of polymer via a specific immunochemical reaction, the improvement wherein the polymer is an electrically insulating polymer, the layer of polymer covers an electrode and enzyme activity of the conjugate leads to an increased permeability of the polymer layer to electrolyte, measured by a change in capacitance or current passed by the underlying electrode.
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