Colloidal particles used in sensing arrays

• US 6,537,498 B1
• Filed: 06/08/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Severin, Erik J., Doleman, Brett J., Briglin, Shawn, Lewis, Nathan S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOGUEROLA, ALEXANDER STEPHAN
• Application Number:
  US09/328,871
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 204/403, 204/416, 204/412, 204/400, 204/403.01, 422/82.01, 422/82.02, 422/68.1, 422/82.05
• US Class Current: 422/82.01
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 34/225 from spent catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C22B 7/001 Dry processes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 10/20 Recycling

Abstract

Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprising a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive material) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material). In preferred embodiments, the conducting region comprises a nanoparticle. Variability in chemical sensitivity from sensor to sensor is provided by qualitatively or quantitatively varying the composition of the conductive and/or nonconductive regions. An electronic nose for detecting an analyte in a fluid may be constructed by using such arrays in conjunction with an electrical measuring device electrically connected to the conductive elements of each sensor.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a chemical analyte, said device comprising:

a sensor array connected to a measuring apparatus having at least one sensor comprising regions of nonconductive material and conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, wherein said conductive material comprises a nanoparticle covalenty linked to said nonconductive material and said nonconductive material comprises a biomolecule, and

a response path through said regions of nonconductive material and said conductive material.

2. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said nanoparticle comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an organic material, an inorganic material or a mixed inorganic-organic material.

3. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 2, wherein said nanoparticle has a core, wherein said core is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.

4. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 3, wherein said core is a metal.

5. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 4, wherein said metal is a member selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, Pd, Ni, AuCu and mixtures thereof.

6. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 5, wherein said metal is Au.

7. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said biomolecule is polyfunctionalized.

8. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said biomolecule is ω

-functionalized.

9. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said biomolecule selected from the group consisting of a carbohydrate, a polysaccharide, a protein complex, a polypeptide, an oligonucleotide, a fluorescent moiety, and mixtures thereof.

10. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 9, wherein said biomolecule is an oligonucleotide.

11. A device for detecting a chemical analyte to claim 1, wherein said nanoparticle comprises a gold cluster and an organic ligand.

12. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said measuring device is an electrical measuring device.

13. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said response is a member selected from the group consisting of resistance, impedance, capacitance, inductance, or a combination thereof.

14. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor of said array of sensors is a member selected from the group consisting of a surface acoustic wave sensor, a quartz microbalance sensor, a conductive composite;

a chemiresitor, a metal oxide gas sensor and a conducting polymer sensor, a dye-impregnated polymer film on fiber optic detector, a polymer-coated micromirror, an electrochemical gas detector, a chemically sensitive field-effect transistor, a carbon black-polymer composite, a micro-electro-mechanical system device and a micro-opto-electro-mechanical system device.

15. A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said response path is an electrical response path that is measured to detect the chemical analyte.