Real-time and Continuous Measurement in Vivo Using Aptamer-Based Biosensors

A sensor for measuring the concentration of a target species in a fluid sample, comprising

• a sensing element which generates a signal in response to binding of the target species, wherein the sensing element comprises a sensing element selected from the group consisting of the following:
• electrode functionalized with aptamers, a surface plasmon resonance sensor, a quartz crystal micro-balance sensor, a field-effect transistor, and a microcantilever-based sensor;
• and
• a microporous encasement;
• wherein the sensing element is encased within the microporous encasement, which allows the fluid sample to contact the sensing element while preventing contact between the sensing element and fouling species present in the sample.

A drug monitoring system, comprising

• a sensor for measuring the concentration of a target species in a fluid sample, comprising a sensing element which generates a signal in response to binding of the target species, wherein the sensing element comprises a sensing element selected from the group consisting of the following:
• electrode functionalized with aptamers, a surface plasmon resonance sensor, a quartz crystal micro-balance sensor, a field-effect transistor, and a microcantilever-based sensor;
• and a microporous encasement;
• wherein the sensing element is encased within the microporous encasement, which allows the fluid sample to contact the sensing element while preventing contact between the sensing element and fouling species present in the sample;
• and
• a secondary device coupled with or in communication with the sensor, wherein the secondary device is activated when the concentration of the target species detected by the sensor meets or passes a selected threshold value.

A method of measuring the concentration of a target species in a sample, comprising

• utilizing a sensor to measure the concentration of the target species in the sample, wherein the sensor comprises
• a sensing element which generates a signal in response to binding of the target species, wherein the sensing element comprises a sensing element selected from the group consisting of the following:
• electrode functionalized with aptamers, a surface plasmon resonance sensor, a quartz crystal micro-balance sensor, a field-effect transistor, and a microcantilever-based sensor;
• and
• a microporous encasement;
• and
• wherein the sensing element is encased within the microporous encasement, which allows the fluid sample to contact the sensing element while preventing contact between the sensing element and fouling species present in the sample.