Electrostatic enzyme biosensor
First Claim
1. A biosensor for detecting the presence and/or concentration of an analyte based on the physical change in position of immobilized enzyme molecules in the presence of said analyte, comprising:
- (i) a multilayer sensor comprising a conducting or semiconducting layer and an optional self-assembled monolayer or other chemical entity directly or indirectly bound to this layer;
(ii) enzyme molecules bound to or coordinated with the conducting or semiconducting layer of the multilayer substrate either through their interaction with the self-assembled monolayer/chemical entity or their interaction with the conducting or semiconducting support itself; and
(iii) a means for measuring directly or indirectly electrostatic effects that result from motions of the immobilized enzyme molecules during their contact with analyte.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The device described herein is an enzyme-based biosensor for detecting and/or quantifying molecules of interest. The biosensor relies on the following properties shared by all enzymes: (1) that enzymes are highly specific molecules designed to bind with only one analyte type or one class of analyte molecules; (2) that enzymes contain charges; (3) that enzymes undergo significant spacial fluctuation during periods of interaction with substrates; and (4) that these spacial fluctuations cause the charged moieties on the enzyme to move and thus generate a measurable electrostatic potential (voltage) in both the enzyme and support layers. The instant device determines analyte presence/concentration through measurement of changes in voltage or current in a conducting or semiconducting support material as a result of changes in the position of immobilized charged enzyme molecules during their interaction with analyte. More particularly, the instant device immobilizes enzyme molecules sufficiently close to a conducting or semiconducting layer to insure that any alteration in the position of charged groups of the enzyme during interaction with analyte will cause the generation of a voltage in the base layer. When the enzymes encounter the targeted analyte the enzymes move, thus causing the enzyme charges to move. The movement of charges, in turn, changes the electrostatic field around the enzymes and results in a corresponding generation of a dipole (as measured in a generated voltage) in the conducting or semiconducting base layer. The presence and quantity of generated voltage is used to signal the presence and quantity of analyte.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A biosensor for detecting the presence and/or concentration of an analyte based on the physical change in position of immobilized enzyme molecules in the presence of said analyte, comprising:
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(i) a multilayer sensor comprising a conducting or semiconducting layer and an optional self-assembled monolayer or other chemical entity directly or indirectly bound to this layer; (ii) enzyme molecules bound to or coordinated with the conducting or semiconducting layer of the multilayer substrate either through their interaction with the self-assembled monolayer/chemical entity or their interaction with the conducting or semiconducting support itself; and (iii) a means for measuring directly or indirectly electrostatic effects that result from motions of the immobilized enzyme molecules during their contact with analyte. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 18)
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13. A method for detecting and/or quantifying the presence of an analyte through the motion of enzymes in contact with said analyte comprising the following steps:
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i) forming a multilayer sensor comprising a conductive or semiconductive layer and an optional self-assembled monolayer directly or indirectly bound to this layer; ii) immobilizing enzyme molecules on the conductive or semiconductive layer of the multilayer substrate through direct or indirect binding with either the conductive/semiconductive layer or with the self-assembled monolayer; and (iii) providing a means for measuring a voltage or current generated by the movement of the enzymes in response to their contact with analyte. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 32)
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25. A method for detecting and/or quantifying the presence of an analyte in a sample comprising the following steps:
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(i) immobilization of enzyme molecules by any means to a solid support; and (ii) direct or indirect measurement of the changes in enzyme electrostatic fields generated by the motions of enzyme molecules during their interaction with said analyte. - View Dependent Claims (28, 36)
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26. A biosensor for detecting and/or determining the concentration of an analyte, comprising:
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(i) one or more immobilized enzyme molecules; and (ii) means for measuring the voltage or current generated by the change in location of said immobilized enzyme molecules as a result of an interaction of said immobilized enzyme molecules with said analyte. - View Dependent Claims (27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification