Sensor and methods for detecting and quantifying ions and molecules
Inventors
Savoy, Steve M • Ledwosinska, Elzbieta A • John, Jeremy J • Hoover, Kyle W • Mitchell, Daniel R • Mann, Chris W • Greis, Alexander P
Assignees
Publication Number
US-11131615-B2
Publication Date
2021-09-28
Expiration Date
2039-06-06
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber that has a liquid disposed therein, and a sensor submerged in the liquid. The sensor comprises a porous conductive film on a substrate, and the film comprises chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures. The sensor also comprises an electrode pair operably connected to the porous conductive film for generating electric current in the film and for detecting a change in an electrical property of the film. The apparatus can be used to detect, identify, and quantify ions and molecules in a liquid sample. Molecules and ions, in a liquid sample, that interact with the porous conductive film can cause a change in an electrical property of the film. The change in electrical property of the film can be correlated with the presence and amount of the molecules or ions.
Core Innovation
The invention describes an apparatus and sensor for detecting, identifying, and quantifying nongaseous ions and molecules in a liquid sample. The core component is a sensor comprising a porous conductive film made of chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures positioned on a substrate, operably connected to an electrode pair. The sensor is submerged in a liquid within a housing chamber, and an electric current generated through the film allows for detection of changes in the electrical property of the film when ions or molecules interact with its surface.
The described system addresses challenges in current ion and molecule detection methods, which often require bulky, expensive, and complex instruments with slow response times and are usually limited to detecting specific ions. The proposed innovation allows for rapid, cost-effective, and multiplexed detection and quantification of various ions and molecules, with the ability to analyze single or multiple analytes in a single liquid sample using a miniaturizable sensor format.
By exploiting changes in the electrical property—such as conductance or resistance—of the porous conductive film upon analyte interaction, and by optionally including features like semipermeable barriers, wicking materials, or derivatized diffusion matrices, the apparatus can distinguish between analytes, enhance separation and detection, and enable real-time or high-throughput monitoring for applications in chemical reactions, industrial production, environmental analysis, and biological fluids.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three main inventive features: the sensor apparatus for detecting ions and molecules in liquid using a porous conductive film, a method for quantifying analytes using the sensor with multiple electrode pairs, and a method for monitoring nucleic acid polymerization reactions via the sensor.
Sensor apparatus with porous conductive film for detection of ions and molecules
An apparatus comprising: - A housing defining a chamber containing a liquid. - A sensor submerged in the liquid, including: - A porous conductive film positioned on a substrate and made of chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures. - At least one pair of electrodes operably connected to the porous conductive film for generating electric current in the film between the electrodes and for detecting a change in an electrical property of the film. This sensor arrangement enables detection of molecules and ions in the liquid through changes in the electrical property of the film.
Quantification of analytes using sensor with multiple electrode pairs
A method employing the apparatus with a plurality of electrode pairs spaced along the porous conductive film, consisting of: 1. Exposing the sensor to a liquid sample. 2. Generating electric current in the porous conductive film at each electrode pair. 3. Measuring an electrical property of the film at each electrode pair. 4. Identifying a change in the measured property at each electrode pair. 5. Quantifying one or more ion or molecule analytes based on the binding capacity of a selected mass of metal oxide structures and the measured property at each electrode pair.
Monitoring nucleic acid polymerization reaction using the sensor apparatus
A method for monitoring nucleic acid polymerization reactions with the apparatus, including: 1. Exposing the sensor to the nucleic acid polymerization reaction. 2. Generating an electric current in the porous conductive film and measuring its electrical property for a selected period of time. 3. Identifying a change in the property of the film. 4. Identifying a nucleotide incorporated into the nucleic acid based on the interaction of a plurality of reaction products with the film. 5. Identifying a sequence of the nucleic acid based on the identity of the incorporated nucleotide.
The claims comprehensively cover a hardware configuration for ion/molecule detection in liquids, multiplexed quantification using multiple electrodes, and detailed methods for chemical and biological analysis, including nucleic acid sequencing.
Stated Advantages
Enables rapid detection, identification, and quantification of multiple types of nongaseous ions and molecules in a single liquid sample.
Reduces the need for numerous different ion-selective electrodes and reference electrodes, lowering instrumentation complexity and cost.
Provides increased sample throughput and reduces or eliminates the need for manual supervision compared to existing sensors and methods.
Offers faster response times to detected molecules and ions than current instruments.
The sensor apparatus is rapid and cost-effective to fabricate compared to other sensors.
The sensing apparatus can be easily miniaturized, enabling applications not possible with other sensor formats.
Documented Applications
Monitoring the progress or yield of chemical and biochemical reactions, such as in vitro chemical or biochemical reactions.
Analyzing and quantifying biomarkers in biological fluids, including blood and sweat samples.
Electrolyte analyses for diagnosing dietary deficiencies, excessive nutrient loss, organ failure, and hormone production abnormalities.
Monitoring end-product yield during industrial chemical production and petrochemical refining.
Analysis of water or wastewater for ionic species such as fluoride, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, chlorides, and heavy metals.
Monitoring chemical breakdown products, including those from chemical and biological weapons, for detection of terroristic threats and actions.
Wearable devices for detection and analysis of ionic and molecular species in sweat or other biological fluids indicative of mental or physical fatigue, conditions, or diseases.
Miniaturized devices for use within a human or animal body for monitoring various biological molecules and/or ions.
Monitoring nucleic acid polymerization reactions, including methods for DNA sequencing and detection of nucleotide incorporation.
Evaluation of commercial liquids and beverages, environmental samples, and liquids involved in industrial processes for ion and molecule analysis.
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