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-11892386-B2
Publication Date
2024-02-06
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 provides an apparatus and methods for detecting, identifying, and quantifying one or more types of nongaseous ions and/or molecules in a liquid sample. The core sensor consists of a porous conductive film made of chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide (MOx) structures positioned on a substrate, with an electrode pair operably connected to the film for generating electric current and detecting changes in an electrical property such as resistance or conductance. The sensor is submerged in a liquid within a housing-defined chamber so that ions and molecules in the sample can interact with the film, causing measurable changes in its electrical properties.
The problem addressed by this invention is the limitations of current methods for detecting ions and molecules in liquid samples, which include bulky and expensive instrumentation, slow operation, extensive manual supervision, significant waste, and restricted selectivity and sensitivity for different ion species. Existing sensors are often selective for specific ions and may have limited abilities to separate and detect multiple ionic species simultaneously with rapid response.
By utilizing a porous conductive film made from chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide nanostructures or microstructures, and through the use of various chamber designs (including options for semipermeable barriers, liquid flow configurations, and diffusion matrices), the apparatus enables rapid separation, detection, identification, and quantification of a broad range of molecules and ions in a single sample. Changes in the electrical property of the film, which are correlated with the presence and concentration of analyte molecules or ions, are measured and analyzed to deliver information about the sample composition.
This platform further allows for high-throughput, cost-effective, rapid, and miniaturizable sensing, with the capacity to monitor diverse types of chemical, biochemical, or biological samples. Enhanced flexibility in sensor design and operation provides improvements over prior technologies in performance, scalability, and range of application.
Claims Coverage
The patent contains two independent claims covering the apparatus for detecting ions and molecules and a method for determining the presence of analytes produced during a chemical reaction.
Apparatus for use in detecting molecules and ions
An apparatus comprising: - A housing defining a chamber that contains a liquid. - A sensor array (plurality of sensors) submerged in the liquid, where each sensor includes: - A porous conductive film made of chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures positioned on a substrate. - 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 enables detection, identification, and quantification of molecules and ions in a liquid sample by correlating changes in the measured electrical property with the presence and amount of analytes.
Method for determining the presence of a molecule and/or ion species analyte produced during a chemical reaction
A method utilizing the apparatus for detecting molecules and ions, comprising: 1. Exposing the sensor array (each sensor comprising a porous conductive film of chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures) to a chemical reaction mixture. 2. Generating electric current in the porous conductive film of each sensor and measuring an electrical property of the porous conductive film for a selected period of time. 3. Identifying a change in the measured electrical property of the porous conductive film of at least one sensor. 4. Correlating the change in the measured electrical property with the presence of a molecule and/or ion species analyte produced during the chemical reaction.
In summary, the independent claims cover (1) a sensor apparatus based on porous conductive films of chemiresistive semiconducting metal oxide structures for liquid-phase ion and molecule detection, and (2) a method using such apparatus to detect analytes produced during chemical reactions by correlating changes in sensor electrical properties with analyte presence.
Stated Advantages
The sensor apparatus enables rapid separation, detection, identification, and quantification of a wide variety of ions and molecules in a single liquid sample.
Eliminates the need for numerous different ion-selective electrodes and reference electrodes, reducing cost and complexity compared to some current sensing methods.
Provides increased sample throughput and reduces or eliminates manual supervision required by instruments as compared to currently used sensors and methods.
Exhibits faster response times to molecules and ions than are observed with current detection instruments.
Sensor fabrication is rapid and cost-effective in comparison with other sensors in current use.
The sensing apparatus can be easily and readily miniaturized, enabling detection and analysis of ions and molecules in applications not possible with other sensor formats.
Documented Applications
Monitoring the progress or yield of chemical or biochemical reactions, including in vitro reactions.
Analyzing and quantifying biomarkers in biological samples such as blood, sweat, or other biological fluids.
Electrolyte analyses for purposes such as diagnosing dietary deficiencies, excessive nutrient loss, organ failure, and hormone production abnormalities.
Monitoring reaction end-product yield during industrial chemical production and petrochemical refining.
Analysis of water or wastewater for the presence or quantity of ionic species such as fluoride, phosphates, nitrates, sulfates, chlorides, and heavy metals.
Monitoring chemical breakdown products, including breakdown products of chemical and biological weapons for detection of terroristic threats and actions.
Wearable device applications for detection and analysis of ionic and molecular species in sweat or other biological liquid samples to indicate mental or physical fatigue and other conditions or diseases.
Miniaturized device applications for use within a human or animal body for monitoring biological molecules and/or ions.
Determination of nucleic acid sequence and quantification of amplified nucleic acids during nucleic acid polymerization or amplification reactions.
In situ detection and analysis of ions and molecules within the body, e.g., in swallowed capsules or devices affixed to teeth.
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