Detecting chemical and biological agents using textile-based sensors

• US 9,982,292 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2012
• Issued: 05/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRC, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SRC, Inc.
• Inventors: Lowe, Adam J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Long, Scott
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hollinden, Gary E
• Application Number:
  US13/629,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20150004593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,069 Days
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6804 Nucleic acid analysis using immunogens immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6823 Release of bound markers
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/6825 Nucleic acid detection involving sensors
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2525/205 Aptamer
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 2563/155 Particles of a defined size, e.g. nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/543 with an insoluble carrier for immobilising immunochemicals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54346 Nanoparticles

Abstract

Methods and systems for detecting chemical and biological agents using oligonucleotide aptamers. A sensor includes a detection aptamer that has a binding domain for the chemical or biological agent, and is bound to fibers of a textile such as a patch or article of clothing. The detection aptamer can be stabilized and enhanced through a stabilization agent such as trehalose or through binding to a nanoparticle which is then bound to the fiber. Binding of the chemical and biological agent of interest to the detection aptamer can be reported to the user or wearer of the textile in a variety of ways, including visually and electrically.

Claims

1. A textile-based sensor for detecting the presence of a biological or chemical target, the sensor comprising:

a textile patch worn on a clothing item of a user in an environment where the biological or chemical target may be present, the textile patch comprising a plurality of textile fibers;

a plurality of aptamer molecules extending outwardly from at least some of the plurality of textile fibers of the textile patch, each aptamer molecule comprising a target binding domain selected to bind to the target when the target is present, and each aptamer molecule further comprising a metal nanoparticle reversibly immobilized to a first end of each of said plurality of aptamer molecules, wherein said metal nanoparticle is released from the aptamer molecule when the target binds to the target binding domain; and

a stabilizing agent selected to stabilize the plurality of aptamer molecules, wherein the stabilizing agent is selected from the group consisting of trehalose, a natural polymer, a synthetic polymer, and combinations thereof, and further wherein the stabilizing agent comprises a plurality of stabilizing nanoparticles immobilized to the plurality of textile fibers, wherein each aptamer molecule is immobilized at a second end to at least one of the stabilizing nanoparticles;

wherein each of the plurality of aptamer molecules generates a reporter signal when the metal nanoparticle is released from the aptamer molecule, wherein the reporter signal notifies the user to the presence of a biological or chemical target.

2. The textile-based sensor of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing agent is a hydrogel.