Chemical-analysis device integrated with metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing

• US 9,279,767 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2010
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Li, Zhiyong, Williams, R. Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Xu, Robert
• Application Number:
  US13/879,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20130217143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 21/648 using evanescent coupling or surface plasmon coupling for the excitation of fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/658 enhancement Raman, e.g. surface plasmons
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings

Abstract

A chemical-analysis device integrated with a metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing. The chemical-analysis device includes a metallic-nanofinger device, and a platform. The metallic-nanofinger device includes a substrate, and a plurality of nanofingers coupled with the substrate. A nanofinger of the plurality includes a flexible column, and a metallic cap coupled to an apex of the flexible column. At least the nanofinger and a second nanofinger of the plurality of nanofingers are to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with at least one analyte molecule. A morphology of the metallic cap is to generate a shifted plasmonic-resonance peak associated with amplified luminescence from the analyte molecule. A method for using, and a chemical-analysis apparatus including the chemical-analysis device are also provided.

Claims

1. A chemical-analysis device integrated with a metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing, said chemical-analysis device comprising:

a metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing, said metallic-nanofinger device comprising;

a substrate; and

a plurality of nanofingers coupled with said substrate, a nanofinger of said plurality comprising;

a flexible column; and

a metallic cap coupled to an apex of said flexible column;

wherein at least said nanofinger and a second nanofinger of said plurality of nanofingers are to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with at least one analyte molecule disposed between at least said metallic cap and a second metallic cap of respective nanofinger and second nanofinger; and

wherein a morphology of said metallic cap is to generate a shifted plasmonic resonance peak associated with amplified luminescence from said analyte molecule; and

a platform with which said metallic-nanofinger device is coupled.

2. The chemical-analysis device of claim 1, wherein said metallic-nanofinger device is to produce a change in optical response from said metallic-nanofinger device upon exposing said chemical-analysis device to a liquid, and purging said metallic-nanofinger device of said liquid.

3. The chemical-analysis device of claim 1, said chemical-analysis device further comprising:

an enclosure encapsulating said metallic-nanofinger device and to confine said analyte molecule within said enclosure, said enclosure comprising;

a micro-fluidic channel to transport a liquid to and from said metallic-nanofinger device disposed within a portion of said micro-fluidic channel.

4. The chemical-analysis device of claim 1, said chemical-analysis device further comprising:

an enclosure encapsulating said metallic-nanofinger device and to confine said analyte molecule within said enclosure, said enclosure comprising;

a combined micro-fluidic channel and waveguide configured both to transport a liquid to and from said metallic-nanofinger device contained within a portion of said micro-fluidic channel, and to conduct exciting electromagnetic radiation to said metallic-nanofinger device and emitted electromagnetic radiation away from said metallic-nanofinger device.

5. The chemical-analysis device of claim 1, said chemical-analysis device further comprising:

an enclosure encapsulating said metallic-nanofinger device and to confine said analyte molecule within said enclosure, said enclosure comprising;

an enclosure cover;

an enclosure base;

enclosure sidewalls attached to said enclosure cover and attached to said enclosure base;

an enclosure inlet to admit a liquid into said enclosure; and

an enclosure outlet to remove said liquid from said enclosure.

6. The chemical-analysis device of claim 5, wherein a component of said chemical analysis device, which is selected from the group consisting of said enclosure cover, said enclosure base, said enclosure sidewalls, said platform, said substrate, and a combination thereof, is transparent to exciting electromagnetic radiation and to emitted electromagnetic radiation.

7. The chemical-analysis device of claim 1, wherein said plurality of nanofingers coupled with said substrate of said metallic-nanofinger device further comprises:

a coating encapsulating said metallic cap; and

wherein said coating is to develop a response upon exposure to a liquid.

8. The chemical-analysis device of claim 7, further comprising:

a chemical-sensing chip, comprising;

said metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing, said device further comprising;

an array of patches, a patch of said array comprising;

said plurality of nanofingers coupled with said substrate; and

wherein said coating of said metallic cap in said patch is functionalized with certain probe species to develop a specific response upon exposure to certain targets in said liquid.

9. The chemical-analysis device of claim 8, wherein each patch of said array of patches further comprises:

a micro-fluidic channel configured both to confine said analyte molecule within said micro-fluidic channel, and to transport said liquid to and from said metallic-nanofinger device disposed within a portion of said micro-fluidic channel; and

wherein said array of patches is configured as a lab-on-chip.

10. The chemical-analysis device of claim 1, wherein said chemical-analysis device further comprises:

a test strip.

11. A chemical-analysis apparatus, comprising:

a chemical-analysis device integrated with a metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing, said chemical-analysis device comprising;

a metallic-nanofinger device for chemical sensing, said metallic-nanofinger device comprising;

a substrate; and

a plurality of nanofingers coupled with said substrate, a nanofinger of said plurality comprising;

a flexible column;

a metallic cap coupled to an apex of said flexible column; and

a coating encapsulating said metallic cap;

wherein at least said nanofinger and a second nanofinger of said plurality of nanofingers are to self-arrange into a close-packed configuration with at least one analyte molecule disposed between at least said metallic cap and a second metallic cap of respective nanofinger and second nanofinger;

wherein a morphology of said metallic cap is to generate a shifted plasmonic resonance peak associated with amplified luminescence from said analyte molecule; and

wherein said coating is to develop a response upon exposure to a liquid; and

a platform with which said metallic-nanofinger device is coupled; and

a source of exciting electromagnetic radiation to excite said analyte molecule captured by said chemical-analysis device; and

a detector to detect emitted electromagnetic radiation that may be emitted from said analyte molecule in response to said exciting electromagnetic radiation.

12. The chemical-analysis apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

an instrument selected from the group consisting of a colorimeter, a reflectometer, a spectrometer, a spectrophotometer, a Raman spectrometer, an optical microscope, and an instrument to accept said chemical-analysis device for optical analysis.