Organic semiconductor recognition complex and system
First Claim
1. A recognition complex comprising a nucleic acid ligand operably coupled to an organic semiconductor.
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Abstract
In a recognition complex system, nucleic acid ligands comprising random DNA sequences are operatively coupled to an organic semiconductor and distributed so as to form an array of recognition complexes. When an unknown chemical or biological analyte is applied to the array, the electrical and/or photochemical properties of one or more of the recognition complexes are altered upon binding of the nucleic acid ligand to the analyte. The degree to which the electrical and/or photochemical properties change is a function of the affinity of the nucleic acid ligand sequence for the analyte. The electrical and photochemical changes associated with the array, as a whole, can be used as a unique signature to identify the analyte. In certain embodiments, an iterative process of selection and amplification of nucleic acid ligands that bind to the analyte can be used to generate a new array with greater affinity and specificity for a target analyte, or to produce one or more nucleic acid ligands with high binding affinity for an analyte. The present invention also provides methods for preparing nucleic acid ligands that bind with high affinity to an analyte and using such nucleic acid ligands to neutralize the analyte.
153 Citations
62 Claims
- 1. A recognition complex comprising a nucleic acid ligand operably coupled to an organic semiconductor.
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35. A method for identifying an analyte comprising the steps of:
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a) generating a recognition complex system comprising one or more recognition complexes each recognition complex comprising a nucleic acid ligand operably coupled to an organic semiconductor;
b) contacting each recognition complex with the analyte;
c) quantifying an electrochemical signal produced by one or more recognition complexes following contact with the analyte, wherein the signal produced by a recognition complex is a function of the affinity the analyte has for the nucleic acid ligand; and
d) identifying the analyte based on the signals produced by the one or more recognition complexes. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 62)
a) transmitting ultraviolet light through each of the recognition complexes after contacting the recognition complexes with the analyte;
b) measuring the electrochemical signals produced by the recognition complexes; and
c) generating a unique signature for the analyte based on the signals produced by the recognition complexes.
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37. The method of claim 35, wherein the signal is a photochemical signal, a fluorescent signal, a luminescent signal, a change of color or a change in electrical conductivity.
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45. The method of claim 35, wherein the analyte is a pharmaceutical, a toxin, a poison, an explosive, a pesticide, a bacterium, a virus, a mold, a yeast, a spore, an algae, an amobae, a dinoflagellate, a unicellualr organism, an allergen, a chemical warfare agent, a biohazardous agent, a protein, a lipid, a carbohydrate, a prion, a radiosotope, a vitamin, a heterocyclic aromatic compound, a carcinogen, a mutagen, a narcotic, an amphetamine, a barbiturate, a hallucinogen, a waste product or a contaminant.
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46. The method of claim 35, further comprising detecting explosives or illegal drugs in an airport detection system.
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47. The method of claim 35, further comprising detecting air-borne pathogens in an air conditioner monitoring system.
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48. The method of claim 35, further comprising detecting water-borne pathogens, carcinogens, teratogens or toxins in a water quality monitoring system.
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49. The method of claim 35, further comprising detecting pathogens in an operating room monitoring system.
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50. The method of claim 35, further comprising detecting allergens, pathogens or contaminants in an food production monitoring system.
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51. The method of claim 35, further comprising detecting genetically modified organisms.
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52. The method of claim 35, further comprising performing high through-put screening for pharmaceutical compounds.
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53. The method of claim 52, wherein said recognition complex comprises a nucleic acid ligand that is selected to bind specifically to a known agonist or antagonist of an enzyme, receptor protein, transport protein, cytokine, transcription factor, protein kinase or structural protein.
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54. The method of claim 53, further comprising screening a library of small molecule drug candidates, wherein binding of said candidate to said nucleic acid ligand indicates an affinity of said candidate for said enzyme, receptor protein, transport protein, cytokine, transcription factor, protein kinase or structural protein.
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62. The method of claim 35, further comprising performing high through-put screening for pharmaceutical compounds.
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38. A method for producing one or more nucleic acid ligands that bind with high affinity to an analyte comprising the steps of:
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a) generating multiple recognition complexes, each recognition complex containing a nucleic acid ligand operably coupled to DALM, wherein each nucleic acid ligand contains a random DNA sequence;
b) contacting the recognition complexes with the analyte;
c) separating those recognition complexes that bind to the analyte from those recognition complexes that do not bind to the analyte;
d) amplifying the nucleic acid ligands from the recognition complexes that bind to the analyte;
e) using the amplified nucleic acid ligands to generate a new set of recognition complexes; and
f) repeating steps (b) through (e) until one or more nucleic acid ligands that bind with high affinity to the analyte are produced. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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41. A method for neutralizing an analyte comprising the steps of:
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a) producing one or more nucleic acid ligands that bind with high affinity to the analyte;
b) amplifying the one or more nucleic acid ligands;
c) using the amplified nucleic acid ligands to prepare one or more recognition complexes, each recognition complex containing a nucleic acid ligand attached to DALM;
d) contacting the analyte with the recognition complexes under conditions effective to bind the nucleic acid ligand to the analyte; and
e) activating the DALM;
wherein activation of the DALM attached to the nucleic acid ligand is effective to neutralize the analyte. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44)
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Specification