Lipid nanotube or nanowire sensor
View Patent ↗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.
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.
2. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a pore.
3. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a membrane agent.
4. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a bilayer pore.
5. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a natural bilayer pore.
6. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a synthetic bilayer pore.
7. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing element is a sensing ion channel connected to said lipid bilayer.
8. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is a single-wall carbon nanotube.
9. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is a multi-wall carbon nanotube.
10. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is a nanowire.
11. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is an inorganic nanowire.
12. The sensor apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lipid bilayer is a lipid bilayer shell that surrounds said nanotube or nanowire.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
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.
17. The biosensor apparatus of claim 16 wherein said nanotube or nanowire is a single-wall carbon nanotube.
18. The biosensor apparatus of claim 16 wherein said lipid bilayer is a lipid bilayer shell that surrounds said nanotube or nanowire.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.