Enzyme-based device for environmental monitoring
First Claim
1. An enzyme-based environmental monitoring device for detecting a target analyte comprising:
- an immobilized enzyme;
a mechanism for continuously or coordinated intermittently delivering an environmental sample to said immobilized enzyme, wherein said environmental sample optionally contains a target analyte;
a mechanism for continuously or semi-continuously delivering an enzyme substrate compound and optionally a pH sensitive dye to said immobilized enzyme; and
one or more sensors located at a point downstream of the area of interaction of said immobilized enzyme, said environmental sample, and said enzyme substrate compound, for detecting for extended periods of operation the level of enzyme activity of said immobilized enzyme and presence, if any, of said target analyte, wherein said target analyte acts as an enzyme inhibitor in the presence of said immobilized enzyme and said enzyme substrate compound, and wherein said environmental sample is either water, air, or a combination thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor for the intermittent or continuous detection of the presence of at least one analyte in an environmental sample includes at least one enzyme that is selected to either (i) catalyze a reaction of the analyte to chemically convert the analyte to a product compound or (ii) be inhibited by the analyte in the presence of a substrate compound. The sensor also includes at least one sensor for monitoring or at least one indicator compound selected to produce a measurable change of state as a result of the interaction of the analyte and the enzyme. Optionally, each of the enzyme and the indicator compound are incorporated within a single polymer.
30 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An enzyme-based environmental monitoring device for detecting a target analyte comprising:
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an immobilized enzyme; a mechanism for continuously or coordinated intermittently delivering an environmental sample to said immobilized enzyme, wherein said environmental sample optionally contains a target analyte; a mechanism for continuously or semi-continuously delivering an enzyme substrate compound and optionally a pH sensitive dye to said immobilized enzyme; and one or more sensors located at a point downstream of the area of interaction of said immobilized enzyme, said environmental sample, and said enzyme substrate compound, for detecting for extended periods of operation the level of enzyme activity of said immobilized enzyme and presence, if any, of said target analyte, wherein said target analyte acts as an enzyme inhibitor in the presence of said immobilized enzyme and said enzyme substrate compound, and wherein said environmental sample is either water, air, or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23)
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21. An enzyme-based environmental monitoring device for detecting a target analyte comprising:
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an immobilized enzyme; a mechanism for delivering an environmental sample to said immobilized enzyme, wherein said environmental sample optionally contains a target analyte; a mechanism for delivering an enzyme substrate compound and optionally a pH sensitive dye to said immobilized enzyme; and one or more sensors for detecting the level of enzyme activity of said immobilized enzyme and presence, if any, of said target analyte, wherein said target analyte acts as an enzyme inhibitor in the presence of said immobilized enzyme and said enzyme substrate compound, and wherein said immobilized enzyme is a hydrolase enzyme, wherein one or more of said sensors are selected from the group consisting of one or more pH electrodes and one or more color readers, wherein data read from said sensors are recorded are recoded for later analysis, and wherein said data is wirelessly transmitted by said device, and wherein a plurality of sensors are used and further wherein said alarm is activated only if all of said plurality of sensors return consistent data. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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22. An enzyme-based environmental monitoring device for detecting contamination in a sample of water or air comprising:
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an immobilized enzyme covalently bonded with a polymer to form an immobilization matrix; a first pump or fan for continuously or coordinated intermittently delivering a stream of environmental water or air to said immobilization matrix; a second pump for continuously or semi-continuously delivering an enzyme substrate compound and optionally a pH sensitive dye compound to said stream of water or air prior to its delivery to said immobilization matrix; and one or more sensors located at a point downstream of the area of the interaction of said immobilization matrix, said environmental sample, and said enzyme substrate, for detecting the level of enzyme activity at said immobilization matrix. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification