Site Selectively Tagged and Templated Xerogels for Sensor Applications

Chemical sensor arrays are low cost, compact, robust and versatile alternatives to large analytical tools and hence drive the need to rapidly fabricate reusable chemical sensor arrays for simultaneous multi-analyte quantification.

This invention includes the rapid fabrication of reusable chemical sensor arrays for simultaneous multi-analyte quantification by machining a novel array of minature spherical sensor dots atop an LED. The array can be specifically tailored for any known class of a nalytes. LED's provide an inexpensive sensor light source, low power consumption, and automated, customizable fabrication procedure. LEDs have a very long lifetime (>10,000 hrs) are physically robust (solid state) and can be computer controlled f unattended operation. Novel porous chemical xerogels with recognition chemicals (luminophores sequestered within) form the dots. Additionally, this invention extends the technique above to detect and quantify complex biomolecule analytes. Molecular imprints ( MIPs) of the target analyte sequestered within porous xerogels are the recognition elements. An MIP is a molecular mold fitting the specific contours of the target biomolecule (a lock around a key). Each such analyte is recognized and captured by a c orresponding MIP; special kinds of chemical reactions fit the former into the latter. These reactions initiate fluorescence changes that are detected and measured. The principal values are:

a)The system is comprehensive (a detector array and a com

Categories: Sensors, Screening

Type of Offer: Licensing



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