METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NANOPARTICLE ELECTROGENERATED CHEMILUMINESCENCE AMPLIFICATION

• US 20140042037A1
• Filed: 10/17/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Original Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System (University of Texas System)
• Inventors: Fan, Fu-Ren F., Bard, Allen J., Xiao, Xiaoying
• Granted Patent: US 9,086,370 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/775
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/10 Investigating individual particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/14 Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/76 Chemiluminescence; Bioluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2458/30 Electrochemically active labels
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/26 by investigating electrochemical variables; by using electrolysis or electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/542 with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54373 involving physiochemical end-point determination, e.g. wave-guides, FETS, gratings

Abstract

Methods and devices for analyzing a chemical analyte using an electrochemical cell connected to a measuring apparatus are provided. The electrochemical cell contains a solution having one or more conductive or redox active NPs, one or more chemical analytes, and an indicator. In addition, the electrochemical cell contains one or more electrodes in communication with the solution. One or more catalytic ECL properties are generated by the interaction of the one or more conductive or redox active NPs and the liquid sample and measured at the one or more electrodes or with an optical detection system.

Claims

1. A method of signal amplification comprising the steps of:

combining one or more conductive or redox active NPs and a sample in a chamber having one or more electrodes; and

measuring one or more electrochemical and/or optical properties generated by the interaction of the one or more conductive or redox active NPs and the sample at the one or more electrodes.

2. A nanoscale electrochemical device for analyzing a sample comprising:

one or more electrodes positioned to communicate with a liquid sample housed within a sample chamber;

wherein the liquid sample comprises one or more conductive or redox active NPs which can interact with the sample and the one or more electrodes to generate one or more electrocatalytic current or ECL properties; and

one or more detectors capable of detecting the one or more electrocatalytic current or ECL properties.