Molecular wire injection sensors
First Claim
1. A method of sensing the presence of an analyte component in an analyte with a sensor including (i) a plurality of polymer strands each having at least a first end and a second end and each aligned in a non random orientation, (ii) a plurality of molecular recognition headgroups having an affinity for said analyte component, being attached to said first ends of said polymer strands, and participating in a redox reaction when contacting a molecule of said analyte component, and (iii) an electrode substrate attached to said polymer strands at said second ends, the method comprising:
- contacting said molecular recognition headgroups with said analyte; and
detecting an electrical signal at the electrode substrate resulting from mobile charge carriers generated by said redox reaction and transferred by said polymer strands to said electrode substrate to thereby sense the presence of the analyte component, wherein when said redox reaction occurs at a headgroup, a mobile charge carrier is transferred directly to a polymer strand attached to said headgroup, and wherein the analyte comprises a second component that changes conductivity of the polymer strands and thereby affects the electrical signal.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a sensor for sensing the presence of an analyte component without relying on redox mediators. This sensor includes (a) a plurality of conductive polymer strands each having at least a first end and a second end and each aligned in a substantially common orientation; (b) a plurality of molecular recognition headgroups having an affinity for the analyte component and being attached to the first ends of the conductive polymer strands; and (c) an electrode substrate attached to the conductive polymer strands at the second ends. The electrode substrate is capable of reporting to an electronic circuit reception of mobile charge carriers (electrons or holes) from the conductive polymer strands. The electrode substrate may be a photovoltaic diode.
227 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of sensing the presence of an analyte component in an analyte with a sensor including (i) a plurality of polymer strands each having at least a first end and a second end and each aligned in a non random orientation, (ii) a plurality of molecular recognition headgroups having an affinity for said analyte component, being attached to said first ends of said polymer strands, and participating in a redox reaction when contacting a molecule of said analyte component, and (iii) an electrode substrate attached to said polymer strands at said second ends, the method comprising:
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contacting said molecular recognition headgroups with said analyte; and detecting an electrical signal at the electrode substrate resulting from mobile charge carriers generated by said redox reaction and transferred by said polymer strands to said electrode substrate to thereby sense the presence of the analyte component, wherein when said redox reaction occurs at a headgroup, a mobile charge carrier is transferred directly to a polymer strand attached to said headgroup, and wherein the analyte comprises a second component that changes conductivity of the polymer strands and thereby affects the electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification