Sensors for long-term and continuous monitoring of biochemicals

• US 9,400,233 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2011
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Lin, Qiao, Huang, Xian
• Primary Examiner(s): SIEFKE, SAMUEL P
• Application Number:
  US13/246,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20120043203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/16 with provision for intake at several levels G01N1/2035 G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3275 Sensing specific biomolecules, e.g. nucleic acid strands, based on an electrode surface reaction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/40 Semi-permeable membranes or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/413 Concentration cells using liquid electrolytes measuring currents or voltages in voltaic cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54366 Apparatus specially adapted for solid-phase testing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose

Abstract

The disclosed subject matter relates to a sensor or system for monitoring a target analyte by using a polymer solution that is capable of binding to the analyte. The sensor of the disclosed subject matter includes a viscosity-based sensor or a permittivity-based sensor. The viscosity-based sensor contains a semi-permeable membrane, a substrate, and a microchamber including a vibrational element. The permittivity-based sensor contains a semi-permeable membrane, a substrate, and a microchamber. The sensor discussed herein provides excellent reversibility and stability as highly desired for long-term analyte monitoring.

Claims

1. A sensor for monitoring a target analyte by using a polymer solution that is capable of binding to the analyte, comprising

(a) a semi-permeable membrane comprising a material permeable to the analyte;

(b) a substrate; and

(c) a microchamber including a vibrational diaphragm having a periphery formed between the semi-permeable membrane and the substrate, and adapted to receive the polymer solution, such that when the analyte is placed on the semi-permeable membrane, at least a portion of the analyte will permeate through the semi-permeable membrane and bind to at least a portion of the polymer solution to thereby cause a change in vibration of the vibrational diaphragm,

wherein the vibrational diaphragm is attached to the substrate around the entire periphery of the vibrational diaphragm.

2. the sensor of claim 1, wherein the change in vibration of the vibrational diaphragm is caused by a change in viscosity of the polymer solution.

3. the sensor of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a polymer that reversely binds to the analyte.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the analyte comprises glucose.

5. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a plurality of boronic acid moieties.

6. The sensor of claim 5, wherein the polymer comprises poly(acrylamide-ran-3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid).

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the vibrational diaphragm is fabricated from Parylene.

8. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a top electrode embedded in the vibrational diaphragm within the micro chamber to thereby form a capacitor with a bottom electrode on the substrate.

9. The sensor of claim 8, wherein the capacitor is adapted to sense a change in the capacitance between the top electrode and the bottom electrode caused by binding between the analyte and the polymer.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the vibrational diaphragm further comprises at least one integrated permalloy film.

11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein the permalloy film further comprises a Parylene layer for passivation.