Sensor device and methods
Inventors
KRALICEK, Andrew Vladimir • CARRAHER, Colm • ZHENG, Han Yue • PLANK, Natalie Olivia Victoria • Travas-Sejdic, Jadranka • Aydemir, Nihan • MURUGATHAS, Thanihaichelvan • KHADKA, Roshan
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12044651-B2
Publication Date
2024-07-23
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention provides a sensor device comprising an insect odorant receptor (OrX) in electrical communication with a substrate, wherein the sensor device is configured to detect a change in an electrical characteristic of the substrate. The invention also provides sensor device component comprising an insect odorant receptor (OrX) in electrical communication with a substrate. The invention also provides methods for manufacture and use of the sensor device and sensor device component. The invention also provides methods of use of the sensor to detect an analyte.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a sensor device that includes a purified insect odorant receptor (OrX) subunit in electrical communication with a substrate. The sensor device is configured to detect a change in an electrical characteristic of the substrate in response to analyte binding, and the sensor device does not comprise an insect odorant co-receptor (Orco). The core arrangement focuses on electrical communication between the OrX subunit and the substrate so that analyte binding produces an electrical readout.
The disclosure further specifies that the electrical readout is driven by analyte binding to OrX followed by a detectable change in an electrical characteristic of the substrate, and that the OrX subunit undergoes a conformational change when binding an analyte. The sensor device presents the OrX subunit using membrane mimics, including liposomes, amphipoles, detergent micelles, nanovesicles, lipid bilayers, nanodiscs, or surfactants, thereby providing a non-Orco presentation form for OrX within the sensing architecture.
The substrate includes electrodes, semiconductors, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, oxides, doped silicon, conducting polymers, and resonator components, and the electrical characteristic is selected from conductivity, resistance, complex resistance, impedance, electrochemical impedance, current flow, or resonance frequency of oscillations induced by an alternating electric field. Documented embodiments include electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), CNT-FET based readout, and quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) resonance frequency readout, with analyte binding producing measurable electrical changes.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims: one for a sensor device, one for manufacturing a sensor device, and one for a sensor device component. Across these claims, the coverage centers on electrically coupling a purified OrX subunit to a substrate for electrical detection of changes in an electrical characteristic, while excluding Orco, with further refinement options for OrX conformational change, membrane-mimic presentation, substrate/material selection, and enumerated electrical characteristics.
Purified OrX in electrical communication with a substrate without Orco
A sensor device comprising a purified insect odorant receptor OrX subunit in electrical communication with a substrate, configured to detect a change in an electrical characteristic of the substrate, wherein the sensor device does not comprise an insect odorant co-receptor (Orco).
OrX conformational change upon analyte binding
The OrX subunit undergoes a conformational change when binding an analyte occurs.
Membrane-mimic presentation of OrX subunit
The membrane-mimicking component of the sensor device is chosen from liposomes, amphipoles, detergent micelles, nanovesicles, lipid bilayers, nanodiscs, or surfactants.
Substrate selected from electrodes/semiconductors/CNT/graphene/resonator materials
The sensor device is defined by a substrate selected from or composed of one or more specified materials including electrodes, semiconductors, CNTs, graphene, oxides, doped silicon, conducting polymers, and resonator components.
Electrical characteristic selected from conductivity/resistance/impedance/current/resonance frequency
The sensor device includes an electrical characteristic chosen from conductivity, resistance, complex resistance, impedance, electrochemical impedance, current flow, or resonance frequency of oscillations induced by an alternating electric field.
Manufacturing by establishing electrical communication between purified OrX and substrate without Orco
A method of manufacturing a sensor device comprising the step of establishing electrical communication between a purified insect odorant receptor OrX subunit and a substrate, configured to detect a change in an electrical characteristic of the substrate, wherein the sensor device does not comprise an insect odorant co-receptor (Orco).
Sensor device component excluding Orco with OrX in electrical communication
A sensor device component comprising a purified insect odorant receptor OrX subunit in electrical communication with a substrate, wherein the sensor device component does not comprise an insect odorant co-receptor (Orco).
Overall claim coverage is directed to purified OrX subunit electrically coupled to a substrate, detection of analyte-induced changes in a substrate electrical characteristic, and explicit exclusion of Orco, with dependent refinements for membrane-mimic presentation, selectable substrate materials, and selectable electrical-parameter readouts.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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