Molecularly imprinted polymer-based passive sensor
AssigneeFreshair Sensor, LLC
InventorJoseph James Belbruno
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Abstract
Systems and methods for the detection of one or more target molecules emitted from microbial sources are described. The systems and methods may include a molecularly imprinted polymer film; a strain sensitive surface, wherein the molecularly imprinted polymer film comprises a polymer host with one or more binding sites for one or more target molecules. The molecularly imprinted polymer film may be coated upon the strain sensitive surface.
Claims29
A method for detecting one or more target molecules emitted from microbial sources, the method comprising:
- providing a system comprising a molecularly imprinted polymer film including a polymer host with one or more binding sites for detection of one or more target molecules, wherein the one or more target molecules are airborne, the molecularly imprinted polymer film being formed by coating a liquid polymer solution, including the target molecule, onto a strain sensitive film configured to enable detection of the target molecule via a change of at least one of color, electrical resistance, and electrical conductivity in response to strain induced by binding of the target molecule to the one or more binding sites;
- exposing said system to a gas, air sample, or vapor;
- and
- measuring the change of said system, wherein said change is used to detect said one or more target molecules emitted from microbial sources in said gas, air sample, or vapor.
A method for producing a strain sensitive molecularly imprinted polymer film for detection of one or more target molecules emitted from microbial sources, the method comprising:
- dissolving a polymer host comprising a structural component and a reporting component in a first solvent to form a first solution;
- adding a target molecule to said first solution;
- mixing said target molecule into said first solution to form a molecularly imprinted polymer solution;
- coating said molecularly imprinted polymer solution onto a strain sensitive film to form molecularly imprinted polymer film including a polymer host with one or more binding sites for the target molecule, the target molecule being airborne, the strain sensitive film configured to enable detection of the target molecule via change of at least one of color, electrical resistance, and electrical conductivity in response to strain induced by binding of the target molecule to the one or more binding sites;
- and
- removing the target molecule to form a strain sensitive molecularly imprinted polymer film.
A system for detecting a target molecule, comprising:
- a molecularly imprinted polymer film including a polymer host with one or more binding sites for the target molecule, the target molecule being airborne;
- and
- a strain sensitive film in contact with the molecularly imprinted polymer film and configured to enable detection of the target molecule via change of at least one of color, electrical resistance, and electrical conductivity in response to strain induced by binding of the target molecule to the one or more binding sites;
- the molecularly imprinted polymer film being formed by coating a liquid polymer solution, including the target molecule, onto the strain sensitive film.
A system for detecting target molecules, comprising:
- two or more molecularly imprinted polymer films comprising a polymer host with one or more binding sites for different respective target molecules, the target molecules being airborne;
- a strain sensitive film in contact with the one or more molecularly imprinted polymer films and configured to enable detection of target molecules via change of at least one of color, electrical resistance, and electrical conductivity in response to strain induced by binding of the target molecule to the one or more binding sites;
- and
- a substrate, the strain sensitive film being coated onto the substrate, and the molecularly imprinted film being coated onto the strain sensitive film;
- wherein the two or more molecularly imprinted polymer films are coated onto different respective regions of the strain sensitive film, to enable multiplexed detection of the different respective target molecules via the strain sensitive film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.