Use of an array of polymeric sensors of varying thickness for detecting analytes in fluids

• US 20020141901A1
• Filed: 07/20/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adam J. Matzger, Erik J. Severin, Michael Freund, Nathan S. Lewis
• Original Assignee: Adam J. Matzger, Erik J. Severin, Michael Freund, Nathan S. Lewis
• Inventors: Lewis, Nathan S., Matzger, Adam J., Severin, Erik J., Freund, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,759,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 422/82.01
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/0826 and measuring fluid flow rate, i.e. permeation rate or pressure change
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0217 Smoke, combustion gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0256 Adsorption, desorption, surface mass change, e.g. on biosensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02863 Electric or magnetic parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0423 Surface waves, e.g. Rayleigh waves, Love waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0426 Bulk waves, e.g. quartz crystal microbalance, torsional waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/022 Fluid sensors based on microsensors, e.g. quartz crystal-microbalance [QCM], surface acoustic wave [SAW] devices, tuning forks, cantilevers, flexural plate wave [FPW] devices microdevices per se B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/449 Statistical methods not provided for in G01N29/4409, e.g. averaging, smoothing and interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0031 comprising two or more sensors, e.g. a sensor array electrochemical electrode arrays G01N27/27

Abstract

Chemical sensors for detecting the activity of a molecule or analyte of interest is provided. The chemical sensors comprise and array or plurality of sensors that are capable of interacting with a molecule of interest, wherein the interaction provides a response fingerprint. The fingerprint can be associated with a library of similar molecules of interest to determine the molecule'"'"'s activity and diffusion coefficient.

Claims

1. A sensor, comprising:

regions of a first conductive material and a second material compositionally different than the first material, wherein the sensor provides an electrical path through the regions of the second material and the regions of the first material,

wherein the sensor comprises at least one region of second material having a different thickness than at least one other region of second material, the second material being selected from the group consisting of a conductive organic material, a semi-conductive material and a non-conductive material.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the conductive organic material is selected from the group consisting of polyanilines, an emeraldine salt of polyanilines, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, polyEDOTs, and derivatives thereof.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the conductive material is carbon black.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the non-conductive material is selected from the group consisting poly(styrene), poly(a-methyl styrene), poly(n-vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(4-vinyl phenol), poly(vinyl butral), poly(vinyl acetate), and poly(bis phenol A carbonate).

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the nonconductive polymer is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylonitrile), poly(maleic anhydride), and poly(allyl alcohol).

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the nonconductive polymer is selected from the group consisting of main-chain carbon polymers, main-chain acyclic heteroatom polymers and main-chain heterocyclic polymers.

7. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the main-chain carbon polymer is selected from the group consisting of polydienes, polyalkenes, polyacrylics, polymethacrylics, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl thioethers, polyvinyl alcohols, polyvinyl ketones, polyvinyl halides, polyvinyl nitriles, polyvinyl esters, polystyrenes and polyarylenes.

8. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the main-chain acyclic heteroatom polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyoxides, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyurethanes, polysulfonates, polysiloxanes, polysulfides, polythioesters, polysulfones, polysulfonamides, polyamides, polyureas, polyphosphazenes, polysilanes and polysilazanes.

9. The sensor of claim 6, wherein the main-chain heterocyclic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyfuran tetracarboxylic acid diimides, polybenzoxazoles, polyoxadiazoles, polybenzothiazinophenothiazines, polybenzothiazoles, polypyrazinoquinoxalines, polypyromellitimides, polyquinoxalines, polybenzimidazoles, polyoxindoles, polyoxoisoindolines, polydioxoisoindolines, polytriazines, polypyridazines, polypiperazines, polypyridines, polypiperidines, polytriazoles, polypyrazoles, polypyrrolidines, polycarboranes, polyoxabicyclononanes, polydibenzofurans, polyphthalides, polyacetals, polyanhydrides and carbohydrates.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the second material ranges from about 0.1 μ

m to about 100 μ

m.

11. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the second material ranges from about 0.1 μ

m to about 20 μ

m.

13. The sensor array of claim 12, wherein the measuring apparatus is an electrical measuring device in electrical communication with at least one of said sensors.

14. The sensor array of claim 12, wherein the array comprises a plurality of sensors having regions of an first conductive material and a second material compositionally different than the first material wherein the second material of at least one sensor is different from the second material of at least one other sensor.

15. The sensor array of claim 12, wherein the each of the sensors in the array have a different thickness than any other sensor in the array.

16. The sensor array of claim 12, wherein the conductive material is an inorganic conductor.

17. The sensor array of claim 12, wherein the response is a change in resistance in the sensors.

18. The sensor array of claim 12, wherein the organic material of the plurality of sensors are compositionally the same or compositionally different.

19. The sensor array of claim 12, wherein the organic material is selected from the group consisting of polyanilines, an emeraldine salt of polyanilines, polypyrroles, polythiophenes, and polyEDOTs, and the conductive material is selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, carbon black and AuCu.

20. The sensor array of claim 12, further comprising a temperature control apparatus, the temperature control apparatus in thermal communication with at least one sensor.

21. The sensor array of claim 20, wherein the resistance of the sensor is Rm at temperature Tm when contacted with a chemical analyte, where m is an integer greater than 1.

22. The sensor array of claim 12, wherein the response is a change in impedance.

23. The sensor array of claim 16, wherein the inorganic conductor is a member selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, carbon black, and AuCu.

24. The sensor array of claim 16, wherein the inorganic conductor is carbon black.

25. The sensor array of claim 16, wherein the conductive material is a member selected from the group consisting of an organic conductor, an inorganic conductor or a mixed inorganic-organic conductor.

12. A sensor array comprising:

a plurality of sensors; and

a measuring apparatus, wherein the sensors are in communication with the measuring apparatus,

at least one sensor comprising;

regions of a first conductive material and a second material compositionally different than the first material, wherein the sensor provides an electrical path through the regions of the first material and the regions of the second material, and

wherein the sensor comprises at least one region of second material having a different thickness than at least one other region of second material, the second material being selected from the group consisting of a conductive organic material, a semi-conductive material and a non-conductive material;

the sensors constructed to provide a first response when contacted with a first chemical analyte, and a second different response when contacted with a second different chemical analyte.

26. A sensor array system comprising:

a plurality of sensors; and

a measuring apparatus, wherein the sensors are in communication with the measuring apparatus,

a processor,

at least one of the sensors comprising;

regions of a first conductive material and a second material compositionally different than the first material, wherein the sensor provides an electrical path through the regions of the first material and the regions of the second material, and

wherein the sensor comprises at least one region of second material having a different thickness than at least one other region of second material, the second material being selected from the group consisting of a conductive organic material, a semi-conductive material and a non-conductive material;

the sensors constructed to provide a first response when contacted with a first chemical analyte, and a second different response when contacted with a second different chemical analyte;

wherein the processor processes the difference between the first response and the second response and the change in response over the period of time.