Sensor platform using a non-horizontally oriented nanotube element
View Patent ↗Sensor platforms and methods of making them are described. A platform having a non-horizontally oriented sensor element comprising one or more nanostructures such as nanotubes is described. Under certain embodiments, a sensor element has or is made to have an affinity for an analyte. Under certain embodiments, such a sensor element comprises one or more pristine nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises derivatized or functionalized nanotubes. Under certain embodiments, a sensor is made by providing a support structure; providing one or more nanotubes on the structure to provide material for a sensor element; and providing circuitry to electrically sense the sensor element's electrical characterization. Under certain embodiments, the sensor element comprises pre-derivatized or pre-functionalized nanotubes. Under other embodiments, sensor material is derivatized or functionalized after provision on the structure or after patterning. Under certain embodiments, a large-scale array of sensor platforms includes a plurality of sensor elements.
1. A sensor platform, comprising:
a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element so that it may be exposed to a fluid, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element; and
control circuitry to electrically sense the electrical characterization of the sensor element so that the presence of a corresponding analyte may be detected,
wherein the sensor element has an affinity for the corresponding analyte, and wherein the sensor element comprises a pristine nanotube.
2. A sensor platform, comprising:
a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element so that it may be exposed to a fluid, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element; and
control circuitry to electrically sense the electrical characterization of the sensor element so that the presence of a corresponding analyte may be detected,
wherein the sensor element has an affinity for at least two analytes and wherein the sensor element comprises at least two types of nanotubes, a first type having an affinity for a first analyte and a second type having an affinity for a second analyte.
3. A sensor platform, comprising:
a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element so that it may be exposed to a fluid, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element; and
control circuitry to electrically sense the electrical characterization of the sensor element so that the presence of a corresponding analyte may be detected,
wherein the support structure includes a channel and wherein the sensor element is suspended to span the channel, and wherein the support structure includes a first conductive electrode positioned, at least in part, in the channel, and wherein the sensor element is deflectable in response to the control circuitry to contact the electrode so that a gating effect of the nanotubes in the sensor element may be electrically detected.
4. The sensor platform of claim 3 wherein the sensor element is oriented substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate.
5. The sensor platform of claim 3 further including a second conductive electrode positioned on the side of the sensor element opposite the first conductive electrode.
6. A sensor platform, comprising:
a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element so that it may be exposed to a fluid, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element;
control circuitry to electrically sense the electrical characterization of the sensor element so that the presence of a corresponding analyte may be detected; and
a fluid separator in fluid communication with the sensor platform to deliver a fluid potentially having the analyte.
7. A sensor platform, comprising:
a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element so that it may be exposed to a fluid, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element; and
control circuitry to electrically sense the electrical characterization of the sensor element so that the presence of a corresponding analyte may be detected,
wherein the sensor element is reusable in that, after exposure to the corresponding analyte, the sensor element can be substantially returned to its pre-exposure state by applying a voltage.
8. A sensor platform, comprising:
a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element so that it may be exposed to a fluid, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element; and
control circuitry to electrically sense the electrical characterization of the sensor element so that the presence of a corresponding analyte may be detected,
wherein a first conductive element contacts the sensor element at a first point and a second conductive element contacts the sensor element at a second point so that an electric current can run through the sensor element between the first and second conductive elements,
wherein the control circuitry comprises current-mirror circuitry to allow a resistance between the first and second contact points to be measured.
9. A sensor platform, comprising
a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element so that it may be exposed to a fluid, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element; and
control circuitry to electrically sense the electrical characterization of the sensor element so that the presence of a corresponding analyte may be detected,
wherein a first conductive element contacts the sensor element at a first point and a second conductive element contacts the sensor element at a second point so that an electric current can run through the sensor element between the first and second conductive elements, and
wherein the control circuitry comprises a reference resistor to allow measurement relative to the resistance of the reference resistor of the resistance between the first and second contact points.
10. The sensor platform of claim 9 wherein the reference resistor comprises a second collection of nanotubes, and third and fourth conductive elements that contact the sensor element at separate points so that an electric current can run through the second collection of nanotubes between the third and fourth conductive elements.