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Publication Number
US-11486842-B2
Publication Date
2022-11-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Sensors having an advantageous design and methods for fabricating such sensors are generally provided. Some sensors described herein comprise pairs of electrodes having radial symmetry, pairs of nested electrodes, and/or nanowires. Some embodiments relate to fabricating electrodes by methods in which nanowires are deposited from a fluid contacted with a substrate in a manner such that it evaporates and is replenished.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to sensor architectures for sensing bodily fluids using a pair of electrodes and a nanowire in electrical communication with the electrodes. The electrodes include a first electrode having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion connecting the first and second portions, and a second electrode having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion connecting the first and second portions. The first and second portions of the second electrode are positioned between the first and second portions of the first electrode, and the second electrode is nested inside the first electrode such that the third portion of the first electrode is adjacent the third portion of the second electrode.
A spacing relationship is defined between electrode portions, where at least a subportion of the third portion of the first electrode is separated from the third portion of the second electrode by a distance greater than a spacing between the first portion of the first electrode and the first portion of the second electrode. The sensor further includes a nanowire electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, where the length of the nanowire is greater than or equal to 8 microns and less than or equal to the spacing between the subportion of the third portion of the first electrode and the third portion of the second electrode.
The disclosed sensor architecture further includes circular nanowire structures, radial symmetry electrode pairs, blocking layers to reduce nonspecific interactions and charge screening, electrically insulating layers, passivation, and ohmic contacts with exposing electrode regions for electrical communication. Example sensor measurements report improved analyte-responsive behavior with functionalized nanowires and specific antibody/protein binding, including SARS-CoV-2 spike protein detection in saliva.
Claims Coverage
The document provides one independent claim with core coverage focused on a nested electrode pair architecture and a constrained-length nanowire electrically connected to both electrodes. The independent claim contains two main inventive aspects: the nested electrode geometry and spacing relationship, and the nanowire length constrained relative to an electrode-to-electrode spacing region.
Nested, parallel electrode nesting with defined spacing relationship
A sensor comprising a pair of electrodes where each electrode includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion connecting the first and second portions; the first and second portions of the second electrode are positioned between the first and second portions of the first electrode; the second electrode is nested inside the first electrode such that the third portion of the first electrode is adjacent the third portion of the second electrode; and at least a subportion of the third portion of the first electrode is separated from the third portion of the second electrode by a distance greater than a spacing between the first portion of the first electrode and the first portion of the second electrode.
Nanowire constrained-length electrical communication with nested electrodes
A sensor including a nanowire in electrical communication with the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the length of the nanowire is greater than or equal to 8 microns and less than or equal to the spacing between the subportion of the third portion of the first electrode and the third portion of the second electrode.
Overall claim coverage centers on the nested electrode geometry with adjacency and spacing relationships, combined with a nanowire electrically connected to both electrodes whose length is constrained within the electrode-to-electrode separation region.
Stated Advantages
Improved analyte-responsive behavior as shown by pH sensitivity enhancement with functionalized nanowires.
Equivalent surface potential changes over time for specific antibody/protein binding, including SARS-CoV-2 spike protein detection in saliva.
Blocking layers reduce nonspecific interactions and charge screening.
Documented Applications
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in saliva using antibody/protein binding associated measurements.
Sensing pH using functionalized nanowires, reporting pH sensitivity enhancement.
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