Polymerized crystalline colloidal array sensor methods
First Claim
1. A method for detecting the concentration of a gas in a solution comprising:
- preparing a sensor device comprising a crystalline colloidal array polymerized in a hydrogel that undergoes a volume change in response to said gas, said crystalline colloidal array having a lattice spacing that changes when said volume of said hydrogel changes, thereby causing the diffracted wavelength of the crystalline colloidal array to change;
measuring the diffracted wavelength of said crystalline colloidal array polymerized in said hydrogel;
contacting said polymerized crystalline colloidal array with said solution;
measuring the diffracted wavelength of said crystalline colloidal array following exposure to said solution; and
comparing the change in diffracted wavelength measurements to determine the concentration of said gas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Novel sensor devices composed of a crystalline colloidal array (CCA) polymerized in a hydrogel are disclosed. The hydrogels are characterized as being capable of shrinking and swelling in response to specific stimuli applied thereto. As the hydrogels shrink or swell, the lattice structure of the CCA embedded therein changes, thereby changing the wavelength of light diffracted by the CCA. Thus by monitoring the change in diffracted wavelength, the concentration of a stimulus is determined. The gels can be modified to sense numerous different stimuli. The sensor devices are specific in that they are modified to react with only one species or family of species. These sensors have various applications in areas including, for example, environmental and chemical systems, chemomechanical systems, sensor devices and medical diagnostic tools. Various methods for making and using these devices are also disclosed.
250 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A method for detecting the concentration of a gas in a solution comprising:
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preparing a sensor device comprising a crystalline colloidal array polymerized in a hydrogel that undergoes a volume change in response to said gas, said crystalline colloidal array having a lattice spacing that changes when said volume of said hydrogel changes, thereby causing the diffracted wavelength of the crystalline colloidal array to change; measuring the diffracted wavelength of said crystalline colloidal array polymerized in said hydrogel; contacting said polymerized crystalline colloidal array with said solution; measuring the diffracted wavelength of said crystalline colloidal array following exposure to said solution; and comparing the change in diffracted wavelength measurements to determine the concentration of said gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification