System and method for single molecule detection
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsStuart Lindsay, Peiming Zhang, Yanan Zhao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A single molecule sensing or detecting device includes a first electrode and a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap. The first electrode and the second electrode have an opening formed therethrough. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is functionalized with a recognition molecule. The recognition molecule has an effective length L1 and is configured to selectively bind to a target molecule having an effective length L2. The size of the gap is configured to be greater than L2, but less than or equal to the sum of L1 and L2.
Claims24
A single molecule sensing or detecting device comprising:
- a first electrode;
- and
- a second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap, the first electrode and the second electrode having an opening formed therethrough;
- wherein:
- at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is functionalized with at least one recognition molecule,
- the recognition molecule having an effective length L1 and configured to selectively bind to a target molecule having an effective length L2,
- the size of the gap is configured to be greater than L2, but less than or equal to the sum of L1 and L2, so that the gap is bridged by the target molecule bound by the at least one recognition molecule, thereby completing an electrical circuit.
A method for sensing or detecting a target molecule, comprising:
- applying a voltage bias across a first electrode and a second electrode of a molecular sensing or detecting device, the first electrode and second electrode collectively having an opening formed therethrough, wherein:
- the second electrode separated from the first electrode by a gap,
- at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode being functionalized with a recognition molecule,
- the recognition molecule includes an effective length L1 and is configured to selectively bind to a target molecule having an effective length L2 so that the gap between the first electrode and second electrode is bridged when the target molecule binds to the recognition molecule, thereby completing an electrical circuit and generating a unique electrical recognition signal corresponding to the target molecule;
- contacting the first electrode and the second electrode with a solution containing the target molecule in a concentration from about 10 fM to about 1 μM;
- monitoring current generated between the first electrode and the second electrode over time;
- and
- determining one or more of:
- the presence of the target molecule;
- and
- a number of non-target molecules adsorbed on the first electrode and/or on the second electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.