Polymer based lanthanide luminescent sensors for the detection of organophosphorus compounds

• US 7,416,703 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Murray, George M., Jenkins, Amanda L., Uy, O. Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Sines; Brian J
• Application Number:
  US10/919,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20050019218A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 422/50, 422/68.1, 422/91, 422/88, 422/82.07, 422/82.08, 422/52, 422/55, 422/83, 436/172, 436/104, 436/106, 436/43, 436/164, 436/166, 435/18, 435/19, 435/21, 73/10.1, 73/10.2, 73/232, 73/530.1
• US Class Current: 422/91
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/772 Tip coated light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/163333 Organic [e.g., chemical warfare agents, insecticides, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/17 Nitrogen containing

Abstract

A device for measuring and detecting the organophosphonis compounds, such as a pesticides or a nerve agents is provided. The devices function by selectively binding an organophosphorous compound to a luminescent functionality-imprinted copolymer. The copolymers possess a securely bound luminescent lanthamide ion, such as Eu³⁺, in a coordination complex that has been templated for the chemical functionality.

Claims

1. A fiber optic sensor device for detecting the presence of an organophosphorus compound, the sensor comprising:

at least one optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end for transmitting light energy, the proximal end being disposed within a probe housing;

a MIP containing a lanthanide-complex disposed on the distal end of the optical fiber, wherein the lanthanide-complex is capable of chemically binding with said organophosphorus compound;

a light source for generating excitation energy, said light source operatively associated with said optical fiber such that said excitation energy passes through said optical fiber; and

a detector operatively associated with said optical fiber, for detecting an emission signal generated by said lanthanide complex.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of an argon laser, blue laser, tunable laser, and light emitting diode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector means is selected from the group consisting of a spectrophotometer, spectrometer (gas or mass), photomultiplier tube, monochromator equipped with a CCD camera, filters, and the naked eye.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the lanthanide is selected from the group consisting of:

lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the lanthanide is europium or terbium.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the sensor is enclosed within a semi-permeable membrane.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the organophosphorus compound is a member selected from the group consisting of soman, sarin, tabun, VX, malathion, parathion, paraoxon, diazinon and hydrolysis products thereof.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the organophosphorus compound is pinacolylmethylphosphonate.

9. A sensor device for detecting an analyte comprising at least one optical fiber having disposed thereon a molecularly imprinted polymer containing a lanthanide-complex capable of chemically binding the analyte to be detected, said optical fiber having operatively associated therewith:

a light source for generating excitation energy for said lanthanide-complex; and

a detector for detecting luminescent energy generated by said lanthanide-complex upon excitation.

10. The sensor device of claim 9 wherein said lanthanide-complex comprises a lanthanide ion derived from a lanthanide selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium.

11. The sensor device of claim 10 wherein said lanthanide ion is europium or terbium ion.

12. The sensor device of claim 11 wherein said lanthanide ion is a +3 europium ion.

13. The sensor device of claim 11 wherein the lanthanide ion is chelated with the polymerized derivate(s) of one or more ligands selected from the group consisting of 4-vinyl benzoic acid, methyl-3,5-divinyl benzoate, 4-vinyl-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde oxime, and 2-hydroxy-1,2-di-4-vinylphenylethanone (benzoin oxime vinyl derivative).

14. The sensor device of claim 13 wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of an argon laser, blue laser, tunable laser, light emitting diode, and combinations of two or more thereof.

15. The sensor device of claim 14 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

16. The sensor device of claim 15 wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of a spectrophotometer, spectrometer, photomultiplier tube, monochromator equipped with a CCD camera, filters, the naked eye, and combinations of two or more thereof.