HYDROGEL THIN FILM FOR USE AS A BIOSENSOR

• US 20090170124A1
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Covidien LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Campbell, Shannon E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56905 Protozoa
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/56911 Bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a biosensor capable of producing an indicator response upon detection of the presence of certain metabolites in a biological sample. The biosensor includes a hydrogel that is functionalized with affinity molecules specific to markers for one or more pathogens. The biosensor also includes a detection system adapted to detect the binding the pathogen-specific markers with their corresponding affinity molecules.

Claims

1. A biosensor for detecting a pathogen comprising:

a hydrogel functionalized with;

a first affinity molecule with binding specificity for a first pathogen specific marker;

a second affinity molecule with binding specificity for a second pathogen-specific marker; and

a third affinity molecule with binding specificity for a third pathogen-specific marker;

a first indicator capable of producing a first output upon binding of the first affinity molecule with the first pathogen-specific marker;

a second indicator capable of producing a second output upon binding of the second affinity molecule with the second pathogen-specific marker; and

a third indicator capable of producing a third output upon binding of the third affinity molecule with the third pathogen-specific marker.

2. The biosensor in claim 1, wherein the biosensor is adapted to be directly affixed to a patient.

3. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third pathogen-specific markers are metabolic products of the pathogen.

4. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, or third outputs comprises an electrical output.

5. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, or third outputs comprises a change in electrical impedance of the hydrogel triggered by binding of the respective first, second, or third pathogen-specific marker.

6. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, or third pathogen-specific markers is specific to Helicobacter pylori.

7. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third pathogen-specific markers are part of a secretome of the pathogen.

8. The biosensor recited in claim 7, wherein the first, second, and third pathogen-specific markers are part of the secretome of Plasmodium falciparum.

9. The biosensor recited in claim 7, wherein the first, second, and third pathogen-specific markers comprise proteins having the pexel/vacuolar transport signal.

10. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, or third affinity molecules is an antibody.

11. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein the first affinity molecule is disposed on a first region of the hydrogel, the second affinity molecule is disposed on a second region of the hydrogel, and a third affinity molecule is disposed on a third region of the hydrogel.

12. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein the hydrogel comprises HEMA, or NIPAAm.

13. The biosensor recited in claim 1, wherein the hydrogel comprises a mucoadhesive.

14. A method of detecting a pathogen in a biological sample comprising:

contacting the biological sample with a hydrogel functionalized with;

a first affinity molecule with binding specificity for a first pathogen-specific marker;

a second affinity molecule with binding specificity for a second pathogen-specific marker; and

a third affinity molecule with binding specificity for a third pathogen-specific marker;

detecting an output upon binding of the first, second, and third pathogen-specific markers with respective first, second, and third affinity molecules; and

performing an operation on the output to detect the pathogen based upon the presence of the first, second, and third pathogen-specific markers in the biological sample.

15. The method recited in claim 14 comprising triggering an alarm upon detection of the pathogen.

16. The method recited in claim 14, wherein detecting the output comprises detecting a conformational change in the hydrogel.

17. The method recited in claim 14, wherein detecting the output comprises detecting a change in fluorescence.

18. A system for detecting a pathogen comprising:

a hydrogel functionalized with;

a first affinity molecule with binding specificity for a first pathogen-specific marker;

a second affinity molecule with binding specificity for a second pathogen-specific marker; and

a third affinity molecule with binding specificity for a third pathogen-specific marker;

a first indicator capable of producing a first output upon binding of the first affinity molecule with the first pathogen-specific marker;

a second indicator capable of producing a second output upon binding of the second affinity molecule with the second pathogen-specific marker;

a third indicator capable of producing a third output upon binding of the third affinity molecule with the third pathogen-specific marker; and

a monitor operatively coupled to the first indicator, the second indicator, and the third indicator, wherein the monitor is configured to receive the first output, the second output, and the third output and perform an operation to determine if the pathogen is present in a biological sample.

19. The system recited in claim 18, comprising an alarm that is adapted to be triggered upon detection of the pathogen.

20. The system recited in claim 18, wherein the hydrogel is adapted to directly contact a patient.