# US 7,745,856 B2 · Lipid nanotube or nanowire sensor

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- Number: US 7,745,856 B2
- Document ID: US7745856B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/368,382
- Filed: 2009-02-10
- Published: 2010-03-18
- Granted: 2010-06-29
- Earliest claimed: 2005-01-24
- Assignees: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
- Inventors: Aleksandr Noy; Olgica Bakajin; Sonia Létant; Michael Stadermann; Alexander B. Artyukhin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7745856B2

## CPC

- G01N 27/4146: {involving nanosized elements, e.g. nanotubes, nanowires}
- B82Y 30/00: Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
- Y10S 977/702: having biological material component
- Y10S 977/907: Liposome
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)
- B82Y: SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A sensor apparatus comprising a nanotube or nanowire, a lipid bilayer around the nanotube or nanowire, and a sensing element connected to the lipid bilayer. Also a biosensor apparatus comprising a gate electrode; a source electrode; a drain electrode; a nanotube or nanowire operatively connected to the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; a lipid bilayer around the nanotube or nanowire, and a sensing element connected to the lipid bilayer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A nanoscale sensor apparatus for detection of biological toxins, comprising:
a base,
a microfluidic channel in said base,
a gate in said microfluidic channel,
a source in said microfluidic channel,
a drain in said microfluidic channel,
a lipid bilayer-carbon nanotube or nanowire transistor in said microfluidic channel, said lipid bilayer-carbon nanotube or nanowire transistor connected to said gate, said source, and said drain, said lipid bilayer-carbon nanotube or nanowire transistor including
a nanotube or nanowire,
a lipid bilayer around said nanotube or nanowire,
a hydrophilic cushion between said nanotube or nanowire and said lipid bilayer, wherein said hydrophilic cushion is a polymer cushion,
a sensing element connected to said lipid bilayer, and
a cover covering said microfluidic channel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a pore.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a membrane agent.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a bilayer pore.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a natural bilayer pore.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a synthetic bilayer pore.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a sensing ion channel connected to said lipid bilayer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is a single-wall carbon nanotube.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is a multi-wall carbon nanotube.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is a nanowire.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is an inorganic nanowire.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lipid bilayer is a lipid bilayer shell that surrounds said nanotube or nanowire.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a protein pore in said lipid bilayer wherein said protein pore is sensitive to specific agents.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a protein pore in said lipid bilayer wherein said protein pore is sensitive to a full spectrum of biowarfare agents including bacteria, viruses and toxins.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a protein pore in said lipid bilayer wherein said protein pore is sensitive to a full spectrum of health related agents including bacteria, viruses and toxins.

### Claim 16

A nanoscale biosensor apparatus for detection of biological toxins, comprising:
a base,
a microfluidic channel in said base,
a gate electrode in said microfluidic channel;
a source electrode in said microfluidic channel;
a drain electrode in said microfluidic channel;
a lipid bilayer-carbon nanotube or nanowire transistor in said microfluidic channel, said lipid bilayer-carbon nanotube or nanowire transistor including
a nanotube or nanowire operatively connected to said gate electrode, said source electrode, and said drain electrode;
a lipid bilayer around said nanotube or nanowire,
a hydrophilic cushion between said nanotube or nanowire and said lipid bilayer,
a sensing element connected to said lipid bilayer, and
a cover covering said microfluidic channel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The biosensor apparatus of claim 16 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is a single-wall carbon nanotube.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The biosensor apparatus of claim 16 wherein said lipid bilayer is a lipid bilayer shell that surrounds said nanotube or nanowire.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The biosensor apparatus of claim 16 wherein said sensing element is a sensing ion channel and wherein said sensing ion channel is a protein pore in said lipid bilayer wherein said protein pore is sensitive to specific agents.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The biosensor apparatus of claim 16 wherein said sensing element is a sensing ion channel and wherein said sensing ion channel is a protein pore in said lipid bilayer wherein said protein pore is sensitive to a full spectrum of biowarfare agents including bacteria, viruses and toxins.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The biosensor apparatus of claim 16 wherein said sensing element is a sensing ion channel and wherein said sensing ion channel is a protein pore in said lipid bilayer wherein said protein pore is sensitive to a full spectrum of health related agents including bacteria, viruses and toxins.