Sensors with variable response behavior
First Claim
1. A sensor for detecting a chemical or biological molecule or a pathogen, said sensor comprising:
- a dielectric substrate;
a plurality of interdigitated electrodes attached to said substrate;
a film applied over said plurality of interdigitated electrodes;
a film applied over said plurality of interdigitated electrodes, wherein said film comprises a conductive polymer and a first and a second sol-gel derived material;
one or more bioindicator molecules incorporated within said film, wherein said bioindicator molecule is ensconced within an interpenetrating network, wherein said network is formed by said first sol-gel derived material and said second sol-gel derived material; and
an instrument to measure an electric current flowing through said plurality of interdigitated electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor and method for detecting biological and chemical agents comprising metal interdigitized electrodes coated with hybrid polymer-based conducting film and an instrument for applying electrical voltage to the electrodes and registering the change in electrical current. The hybrid film also comprises indicator biomolecules encapsulated within the film or attached to it. The bioindicator molecules preferably comprise enzyme acetylcholinesterase. When these indicator biomolecules come in a contact with a pathogen, chemical and/or morphological changes occur in the film and electrical current flowing through the electrodes is modulated. The pathogen comprise inhibitors of enzymes, preferably organophosphates, thiophosphates or phosphonates. The change in current indicates the presence of a biological and chemical agent and is registered.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A sensor for detecting a chemical or biological molecule or a pathogen, said sensor comprising:
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a dielectric substrate; a plurality of interdigitated electrodes attached to said substrate; a film applied over said plurality of interdigitated electrodes; a film applied over said plurality of interdigitated electrodes, wherein said film comprises a conductive polymer and a first and a second sol-gel derived material; one or more bioindicator molecules incorporated within said film, wherein said bioindicator molecule is ensconced within an interpenetrating network, wherein said network is formed by said first sol-gel derived material and said second sol-gel derived material; and an instrument to measure an electric current flowing through said plurality of interdigitated electrodes. - 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, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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28. A method for detecting a chemical or biological molecule or a pathogen, the method comprising the steps of:
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disposing a plurality of interdigitated electrodes on a dielectric substrate; applying a film over said plurality of interdigitated electrodes, wherein said film comprises a conductive polymer and a first and second sol-gel derived material; incorporating one or more bioindicator molecules into said film by embedding said bioindicator molecule within said film or attaching said bioindicator molecule to said film, wherein said bioindicator molecule is ensconced within an interpenetrating network, wherein said network is formed by said first sol-gel derived material and said second sol-gel derived material; exposing said film to an environment containing said chemical or biological molecule or pathogen; applying an electric voltage to said plurality of interdigitated electrodes; and measuring a change in an electric current flowing through said plurality of interdigitated electrodes, said change being caused by interaction of said chemical or biological molecule or pathogen with said film. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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Specification