Fiber optic biosensor for selectively detecting oligonucleotide species in a mixed fluid sample
AssigneeTrustees of Tufts College
InventorsDavid R. Walt, Brian G. Healey
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Abstract
The present invention provides biosensors, apparatus and methods for selectively detecting at least one complementary oligonucleotide target specie in a fluid sample containing a mixture of different oligonucleotide fragments. One preferred embodiment of the biosensor is as a unitary fiber optic array having species of single stranded nucleic acid disposed as individual deposits in aligned organization upon multiple strand end faces at differing spatial positions on the distal array end surface.
Claims19
An optical sensor for detecting nucleic acids in a fluid sample comprising:
- a) a preformed, unitary fiber optic array comprising a plurality of optical fiber strands, said strands being disposed co-axially and joined along their lengths, said fiber optic array having a proximal and distal end, each of said ends being formed by multiple strand faces of said strands, at least one of said array ends presenting a discrete fiber optic array surface for introduction and conveyance of light energy;
- and
- b) at least a first and a second nucleic acid attached to a first and second portion, respectively, of said distal array end, said first nucleic acid being optically coupled to and in optical communication with a first of said multiple end faces at said distal array end, and said second nucleic acid being optically coupled to and in optical communication with a second of said multiple end faces at said distal array end.
A method of making a fiber optic sensor comprising:
- a) providing a preformed, unitary fiber optic array comprising a plurality of optic fiber strands disposed co-axially and joined along their lengths, said fiber optic array having a proximal and a distal array end, each of said ends being formed of multiple strand end faces and at least one of said array ends presenting a discrete optic array surface for introduction and conveyance of light energy;
- b) contacting at least a first nucleic acid and a photoactivatable compound with at least a first proximal optic fiber strand end face;
- and
- c) attaching said first nucleic acid to said end face by introducing light energy to said first optic fiber strand.
A method of detecting at least one target sequence in a fluid sample comprising:
- a) providing a a preformed, unitary fiber optic array comprising a plurality of optic fiber strands disposed co-axially and joined along their lengths, said fiber optic array having a proximal and a distal array end, each of said ends being formed of multiple strand end faces and at least one of said array ends presenting a discrete optic array surface for introduction and conveyance of light energy, said distal array end comprising a plurality of nucleic acid probes, each of which is attached to a different strand end face;
- b) contacting said distal end of said array with said sample;
- and
- c) detecting the presence of a target sequence.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.