Device and method for the regeneration of biosensors

• US 9,162,259 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Reidt, Ulrich, Friedberger, Alois, Eickhoff, Martin, Mueller, Gerhard, Baur, Barbara, Lueders, Tom
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US12/678,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20110139189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,594 Days
• Field of Search: 134/34, 134/42, 134/184, 134/198, 204/402
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 13/00 Cleaning or rinsing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B01L 2300/0636 Integrated biosensor, microarrays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/04 Cleaning involving contact with liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/12 by sonic or ultrasonic vibrations washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware using sonic or ultrasonic waves A47L15/13; of natural teeth, of prostheses using ultrasonic techniques similar to those used for natural teeth A61C17/20; application of ultrasonic vibrations to chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general B01J19/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/00277 Special precautions to avoid contamination (e.g. enclosures, glove- boxes, sealed sample carriers, disposal of contaminated material)

Abstract

A device for the regeneration of a biosensor having an immobilized and biologically active material applied to the surface of a carrier that is suitable for interacting with a substance to be analyzed. The device comprises at least one injector through which, by means of a pump, at least one solution can be applied to the surface of the carrier for the purposes of rinsing the biologically active material.

Claims

1. A fluorescent excitation biosensor having a light source that is positioned on the backside of a surface, comprising an immobilized and biologically active material that is applied to the surface of a carrier and is suited to interact with a substance to be analyzed, wherein the surface of the carrier is an optically transparent semiconductor in form of a gallium nitride-, a zinc oxide- or a diamond coating, or a composition including these materials, epitaxially grown on a sapphire substance;

the biosensor further including a regenerating device comprising;

at least two solution containers each containing different solutions, wherein at least one solution is a molecular-removal solution and at least one solution is a biologically active material; and

an automated microfluid system integrated into the biosensor comprising;

at least one injector through which, via a pump, at least one of the solutions is applied onto the surface of the carrier for rinsing the biologically active material;

further comprising a valve arrangement, though which the solutions are applied successively by the injector and the pump to the surface of the carrier; and

wherein the reagents and/or the carrier are temperature-controlled; and

/or

wherein a chamber with the carrier can be subjected to ultrasound.

2. The biosensor according to claim 1,

wherein the biologically active material of the biosensor comprises one of antibodies, enzymes, organelles, microorganisms, proteins or nucleic acids.

3. The biosensor according to claim 1,

wherein the biosensor has a transducer, which releases a signal that is amplifiable by an amplifier (9) and is delivered to an analysis system.

4. A method for the regeneration of a biosensor using a device according to claim 1,

wherein the biologically active material on the surface of the carrier is exchanged by rinsing the surface of the carrier, wherein the specific binding properties of the biologically active material are exchanged, by removing the biologically active material present from the surface of the carrier, and

applying afterwards a different biologically active material, wherein antibodies or enzymes on the surface of the carrier are removed manually or in an automated manner by removing protein-protein interactions by applying the purified Fc-domain as a part of the antibodies or enzymes to the biosensor in excess, and

wherein the process of purification and of renewed immobilization is supported by temperature controlled fluids and/or sensor components and/or through coupling with ultrasound.

5. The method according to claim 4,

wherein biologically active material including nucleic acids, coenzymes, substrates or other macromolecules on the surface of a carrier are removed manually or in an automated manner by removing physical or chemical bonds.

6. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the biologically active materials to be removed and to be re-immobilized on the surface of the carrier are removed and re-immobilized by applying the solutions, and that the rinsing step is automated.