Sensor for ultra-low concentration molecular recognition
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsRichard J. Colton, David A. Kidwell
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Abstract
A sensor for ultra-low concentration chemical recognition comprises a force transducer, a tip coupled to this force transducer, and a substrate positioned for force interaction with the force transducer tip, where the substrate and tip are chemically modified with antigens, antibodies, nucleic acids, or chelating agents so that there is a specific force interaction between the tip and the substrate in the presence of the target species, and a measurably different force interaction in the absence of the target species.
Claims18
A sensor for a selected target molecule, comprising:
- a.) a tip which has been chemically modified by attachment of chemical modifiers selected from the group consisting of antigens, antibodies, nucleic acids, and chelating agents,
- b.) a substrate positioned for force interaction with said tip, wherein said substrate has been chemically modified by attachment of chemical modifiers selected from the group consisting of antigens, antibodies, nucleic acids, and chelating agents, to produce a specific force interaction between said chemically modified tip and said chemically modified substrate in the presence of said target molecule as chemical modifiers on said tip and/or substrate bind to said target molecule, and a measurably different force interaction between said chemically modified tip and said chemically modified substrate in the absence of said target molecule, and
- c.) an atomic force transducer, coupled to said tip, for measuring said force interaction between said substrate and said tip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.