Optical amplification of molecular interactions using liquid crystals
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsNicholas L. Abbott, Justin J. Skaife, Vinay K. Gupta, Timothy B. Dubrovsky, Rahul Shah
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Abstract
Interactions between molecules which are components of self-assembled monolayers and other molecules can be amplified and transduced into an optical signal through the use of a mesogenic layer. The invention provides a device and methods for detecting analytes. The device comprises a substrate onto which a self-assembled monolayer is attached and a mesogenic layer which is anchored by the self-assembled monolayer. The mesogenic layer undergoes a change in conformation in response to the molecular interaction.
Claims21
A method of visually detecting an analyte-recognition moiety complex formed by an interaction between an analyte and a recognition moiety for said analyte by transducing said interaction to an organic mesogenic layer, said method comprising:
- (a) interacting said analyte with a surface comprising said recognition moiety, thereby forming an analyte-recognition moiety complex, said surface comprising:
- (i) a substrate;
- (ii) a self-assembled organosulfur or oganosilane monolayer bound to substrate;
- and
- (iii) said recognition moiety bound to said self-assembled monolayer;
- (b) contacting said analyte-recognition moiety complex with said organic mesogenic layer, thereby anchoring said organic mesogenic layer onto said self-assembled monolayer and causing at least a portion of a plurality of mesogens proximate to said recognition moiety to detectably switch from a first orientation to a second orientation, thereby transducing said interaction to said mesogenic layer, said transducing causing said mesogenic layer to register a visually detectable feature;
- and
- (c) visually detecting said feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.