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Publication Number
US-11761917-B2
Publication Date
2023-09-19
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
A sensor is described that uses a plurality of nanowires arranged to form a circular structure about a center point. The nanowires have electrodes disposed on the nanowires, including electrode pairs arranged with radial symmetry around the center point, and the architecture supports electrical communication through the nanowires.
The nanowire surfaces include functional groups and/or binding entities configured to bind with a biological protein, a small molecule, and/or lipids. The disclosed sensor is functionalized with silane-linked chemistries using functional groups positioned on the nanowire surfaces, and binding targets include biological protein biomarkers and viral proteins, including SARS-CoV-2 spike.
A fabrication approach is described for forming circular nanowire structures using nozzle-based fluid expulsion with controlled evaporation and replenishment to form circular nanowire structures. The document also describes design rationale that supports enhanced sensitivity by using predictable resistance when electrode pairs are bridged by exactly one nanowire and by using blocking layers to reduce non-specific interactions and charge screening.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Both independent claims cover a nanowire-based sensor with surface functional groups or binding entities for biological proteins, small molecules, and/or lipids, combined with an electrode arrangement that supports electrical sensing from the nanowires.
Circular nanowire structure with functionalized surfaces and electrodes
A sensor comprising a plurality of nanowires arranged to form a circular structure about a center point, wherein the plurality of nanowires comprises at least 30 nanowires; and a plurality of electrodes disposed on the plurality of nanowires, wherein the plurality of nanowires comprises functional groups positioned on their surfaces configured to bind with a biological protein, the plurality of nanowires comprises functional groups positioned on their surfaces configured to bind with a small molecule, and/or the plurality of nanowires comprises a binding entity for lipids.
Radially symmetric electrode pairs with functionalized nanowires
A sensor comprising a plurality of nanowires; a plurality of pairs of electrodes disposed on the plurality of nanowires and arranged to have radial symmetry around a center point, wherein the plurality of pairs of electrodes comprises at least ten pairs of electrodes; wherein the plurality of nanowires comprises functional groups positioned on their surfaces configured to bind with a biological protein, the plurality of nanowires comprises functional groups positioned on their surfaces configured to bind with a small molecule, and/or the plurality of nanowires comprises a binding entity for lipids.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is a sensor having functionalized nanowire surfaces configured to bind biological proteins, small molecules, and/or lipids, combined with electrode arrangements over nanowires. One independent claim anchors the geometry as a circular nanowire structure about a center point with at least 30 nanowires, while the other requires radially symmetric electrode pairs with at least ten pairs.
Stated Advantages
Enhanced sensitivity supported by predictable resistance when electrode pairs are bridged by exactly one nanowire.
Reduced non-specific interactions and charge screening using blocking layers.
Time-dependent equivalent surface potential changes indicative of specific binding of S100β and SARS-CoV-2 spike in saliva.
Documented Applications
Sensing in saliva, including detection behavior associated with binding of S100β and SARS-CoV-2 spike.
Biomarker binding for traumatic brain injury (TBI) related targets referenced in the document, including GFAP, UCH-L1, S100β, ICH, NFL-1.
Viral protein binding applications referenced in the document, including SARS-CoV-2 spike.
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