Methods and devices for detection of pathogens
Inventors
Fotouhi, Mohammed • Taslim, Mohammad E. • Abedi, Mehdi • Greenfield, Edward Alvin • Mollaaghababa, Reza • Nawana, Namal
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11149318-B2
Publication Date
2021-10-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
In one aspect, a method of detecting a pathogen, e.g., listeria bacterium, chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and/or HPV, in a sample is disclosed, which comprises bringing a sample into contact with a graphene layer functionalized with an antibody exhibiting specific binding to the pathogen, monitoring electrical resistance of said antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction with said sample, and detecting presence of the pathogen in said sample by detecting a change in said electrical resistance indicative of interaction of the pathogen with said antibody-functionalized graphene layer. For example, a decrease of the electrical resistance of the graphene layer can indicate the presence of the pathogen in the sample under study. In some embodiments, a method according to the present teachings is capable of detecting pathogens, such as listeria bacteria, chlamydia bacteria, gonorrhea bacteria and HPV in a sample at a concentration as low as 4 cfu per 100 grams of a sample.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a method of detecting a pathogenic agent in a sample using a sensor that includes a graphene layer functionalized with an antibody exhibiting specific binding affinity to the pathogenic agent. The sample is brought into contact with the antibody-functionalized graphene layer, and the presence of the pathogenic agent is detected by detecting a change in at least one electrical property indicative of interaction of the pathogenic agent with the antibody-functionalized graphene layer.
Electrical measurement is performed using a sensor that includes a plurality of conductive pads in electrical contact with the graphene layer. The sensor further includes a reference electrode disposed in proximity of the antibody-functionalized graphene layer, and an AC signal is applied to the reference electrode so as to generate a time-varying electric field extending between the reference electrode and the antibody-functionalized graphene layer while monitoring the electrical property of the antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction with the sample.
The disclosure further describes sensor device configurations for pathogen detection using antibody-functionalized graphene, including microfluidic structures with reservoirs and fluidic channels coupled to at least part of a graphene layer for sample delivery. Systems may include multiple sensing units with multiple antibodies and/or multiple reference electrodes, and the document identifies representative pathogens including Listeria, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and HPV (human papillomavirus).
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set includes one independent claim directed to detecting a pathogenic agent with an antibody-functionalized graphene sensor under an AC-generated time-varying electric field and electrical property monitoring, for a total of 1 independent claim. The inventive features focus on specific antibody-functionalized graphene interaction detection using conductive-pad electrical readout and a nearby reference electrode that generates a time-varying electric field during monitoring.
Antibody-functionalized graphene contacted with the sample
bringing a sample into contact with a graphene layer of a sensor, wherein said graphene layer is functionalized with an antibody exhibiting specific binding affinity to said pathogenic agent
Conductive pads enabling measurement of electrical property
wherein said sensor further comprises a plurality of conductive pads in electrical contact with said graphene layer to allow measurement of at least one electrical property of the antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction thereof with said sample
Nearby reference electrode generating a time-varying electric field via an AC signal
said sensor further comprising a reference electrode disposed in proximity of said antibody-functionalized graphene layer, applying an AC signal to said reference electrode so as to generate a time-varying electric field extending between said reference electrode and said antibody-functionalized graphene layer
Monitoring electrical property and detecting pathogenic agent by change indicative of interaction
monitoring said at least one electrical property of said antibody-functionalized graphene layer in response to interaction with said sample, and detecting presence of said pathogenic agent in said sample by detecting a change in said at least one electrical property indicative of interaction of said pathogenic agent with said antibody-functionalized graphene layer
Overall, the claim coverage centers on detecting a pathogenic agent by antibody-functionalized graphene interaction, read out through conductive-pad electrical property measurement, while a nearby reference electrode applies an AC signal to generate a time-varying electric field during monitoring.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Pathogen detection for representative pathogens including Listeria (including Listeria monocytogenes), Chlamydia, Gonorrhea (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), and HPV (human papillomavirus).
Detection of Listeria monocytogenes with time-phased resistance decrease during sample exposure.
Detection in a low-detection context as low as 4 cfu/100 g.
Multiplexing using multiple sensing units with multiple antibodies and/or multiple reference electrodes.
Sample delivery using microfluidic structure including reservoirs and a fluidic channel communicating with at least part of a graphene layer.
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