Nanoelectrode arrays
AssigneeProtiveris, Inc.
InventorJohn P. Peeters
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An array of electrodes at the atomic or nano scale (nanoelectrodes) is built on a chip. The spatial distribution, height, width and electrochemical composition of the nanoelectrodes is varied, such that protein-specific electronic receptors are built directly on the chip with the nanoelectrodes without the use of any specific binding agents or molecules. Because of their size, a very large number of different receptors can be built as arrays on a single chip. The chip can be used to detect, characterize and quantify single molecules in solution such as individual proteins, complex protein mixtures, DNA or other molecules.
Claims28
A sensor for detecting biological molecules, said sensor comprising:
- a substrate;
- an electrode on said substrate, said electrode having the capacity to bind a preselected biological molecule, said electrode extending from a principal surface of said substrate a distance of from 2 Angstroms to 5 nanometers and said electrode having a width of from 2 Angstroms to 5 nanometers.
A sensor for detecting proteins, said sensor comprising:
- a micro-capillary tube;
- a plurality of electrodes disposed in said tube, said electrodes having the capacity to bind a preselected protein, said electrodes being between about 10.sup.-9 and 10.sup.-10 meters in height and width.
A method of sequencing nucleic acids, comprising the steps of:
- providing a sensor assembly, said sensor assembly having a substrate on which plurality of electrodes are disposed, said electrodes each extending from a principal surface of said substrate a distance of from 2 Angstroms to 5 nanometers and having a width of from 2 Angstroms to 5 nanometers;
- contacting said electrodes with a solution containing nucleic acids;
- said electrodes having the capacity to bind at least some of said nucleic acids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.