Microscale sensor element and related device and method of use
AssigneePurdue Research Foundation
InventorsRashid Bashir, Nicholas A. Peppas, James Z. Hilt, Amit K. Gupta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A monitoring apparatus useful in detecting viability of biological cells. A substrate defines a microscopic chamber. One or more microcantilevers extend from the substrate into the chamber. A detector is operatively connected to the microcantilevers for sensing a state of deformation thereof. On each microcantilevers is deposited a layer of an environmentally sensitive hydrogel polymer having a configuration changing in accordance with presence of an environmental parameter.
Claims29
An apparatus useful in detecting viability and metabolic activity of biological cells, comprising
- a substrate defining a microscopic chamber;
- at least two valves disposed in operative relationship to said chamber for controlling fluid flowthrough said chamber to effectuate temporary capture of a liquid sample and subsequent siphoning off of said liquid sample after testing has been completed, whereby biological cells are captured and concentrated to minimize a detection time;
- at least one microcantilever connected to said substrate and extending into said chamber;
- a detector device operatively connected to said microcantilever for sensing a state of deformation thereof;
- and
- a layer of an environmentally sensitive hydrogel polymer provided on at least one surface of said microcantilever, said hydrogel polymer having a configuration changing in accordance with presence and absence of an environmental parameter.
An apparatus useful in detecting viability and metabolic activity of biological cells, comprising
- a substrate defining a microscopic chamber;
- at least one microcantilever connected to said substrate and extending into said chamber;
- a detector device operatively connected to said microcantilever for sensing a state of deformation thereof;
- and
- a layer of an environmentally sensitive hydrogel polymer provided on at least one surface of said microcantilever, said hydrogel polymer having a configuration changing in accordance with presence and absence of glucose,
- wherein said hydrogel polymer is a boronate-containing polymer complex that swells due to diffusion of ion species upon chemical responsiveness when in contact with glucose.
A method for the detection of cell viability and metabolic activity, comprising:
- providing a solid state microbiological testing device including a microcantilever coated on at least one side with a hydrogel polymer sensitive to an environmental parameter modifiable by cellular metabolism, said microcantilever projecting into a chamber;
- feeding a liquid sample to said chamber, said liquid sample containing at least one biological cell;
- operating at least one inlet valve and at least one outlet valve to control fluid flow into and out of said chamber and to hold said liquid sample and concentrate said biological cell in said chamber;
- and
- automatically monitoring a state of deflection of said microcantilever to determine a change in a state of said microbiological parameter owing to metabolic activity of said biological cell.
A method for the detection of cell viability and metabolic activity, comprising:
- providing a solid state microbiological testing device including a deformable cantilever element coated on at least one side with a hydrogel polymer sensitive to an environmental parameter modifiable by cellular metabolism, said cantilever element being in contact with a microscale-size chamber;
- feeding a liquid sample to said chamber, said liquid sample containing at least one biological cell;
- operating at least two valves to hold said liquid sample at least temporarily in said chamber, thereby performing a concentration of one or more biological cells in as small a volume as possible to achieve as high a cell concentration as possible in order to reduce the time to detection of the metabolic activity;
- and
- automatically monitoring a state of deformation of said cantilever element to determine a change in a state of said microbiological parameter owing to metabolic activity of said biological cell, said liquid sample being held in said chamber sufficiently long for metabolic activity of said biological cell to effect a detectable change in state of said microbiological parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.