Sensor and method for detecting target molecules

1. An apparatus for detecting one or more target molecules comprising:

a hydrophobic substrate; and

a sensor comprising:

two or more electrodes disposed on the hydrophobic substrate and separated from one another by a gap;

a plurality of nanostructures formed on or within an upper surface of each electrode,

a plurality of binding molecules attached to the plurality of nanostructures, wherein the plurality of binding molecules are configured to bind with the one or more target molecules;

a multiplexor coupled to the two or more electrodes configured to selectively switch the two or more electrodes between inducing an alternating current electrothermal (ACET) flow and detecting the one or more target molecules; and

an alternating current power source and impedance analyzer coupled to the multiplexor;

wherein the upper surface of each electrode and the plurality of nanostructures are hydrophilic.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the hydrophobic substrate comprises a glass, SiO 2 , semiconductor or plastic material treated with a silylation reagent;

each electrode is made of or coated with one or more metals or conductive organic polymers or wherein the two or more electrodes comprise three interdigitated electrodes; and

each nanostructure is made of or coated with the one or more metals or conductive organic polymers treated with ultraviolet light, wherein the silylation reagent comprises tridecafluorooctyltriethoxysilane, heptadecafluorodecyl trimethoxysilane, actadecyltrichlorosilane, n-octadecanethiol, self-assemble of alkanoic acid through a solution-immersion process, or hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS).

3. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein a fluidic chamber is formed by one or more walls and a hydrophobic cover enclosing at least a portion of the two or more electrodes or wherein the fluidic chamber comprises a microchannel loop, one or more fluidic ports disposed within the hydrophobic cover and connected to the fluidic chamber, and wherein the two or more electrodes or a set of electrical conductors connected to the two or more electrodes extend outside the fluidic chamber, or wherein the sensor comprises two or more sensors, wherein each sensor is selectively addressable, or wherein the two or more sensors comprise at least a first set of sensors and a second set of sensors;

wherein the plurality of binding molecules of the first set of sensors comprise a plurality of first binding molecules configured to bind with one or more first target molecules, and the plurality of binding molecules of the second set of sensors comprise a plurality of second binding molecules configured to bind with one or more second target molecules;

wherein the first set of sensors detect the one or more target molecules while the second set of sensors simultaneously induce an alternating current electrothermal (ACET) flow, and the second set of sensors detect the one or more target molecules while the first set of sensors simultaneously induce the alternating current electrothermal (ACET) flow;

wherein at least one of: an impedance measurement interface connected to the sensor; a portable electronic device or a desktop device coupled to the impedance measurement interface, wherein the impedance measurement interface is integrated into the portable electronic device or the desktop device; or wherein the apparatus is packaged into a cartridge configured to interface with an electronic device; or

wherein the apparatus is defined as further comprising 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more fluid channels that extend from a central reservoir, wherein each channel comprises one or more sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is defined as further comprising two or more sensors that detect two or more different modalities, wherein the modalities are selected from at least one of: electrical (impedance, capacitance, resistance) at different operating frequencies; optical fluorescence (amplitude) at different wavelengths; optical resonance (amplitude, phase) at different wavelengths; magnetic detection (magnitude and induced impedance); and/or acoustic waves (impedance, magnitude, phase) at different operating frequencies.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two or more modalities can be detected simultaneously without interferences by selecting electromagnetic frequencies/wavelengths at different spectrums, optically detect dyes or chromophores, electrically detecting contact with the sensors, opening or closing of ionic pores, current flow, impedance, resistivity, acoustic waves, resonance, a magnetic field or changes to the magnetic field.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the target molecules are detected within a few seconds with a 1 ng/ml sensitivity.

7. A method for fabricating an apparatus for detecting one or more target molecules comprising:

providing a hydrophobic substrate; and

fabricating a sensor comprising:

forming two or more electrodes on the hydrophobic substrate, wherein the two or more electrodes are separated by a gap;

forming a plurality of nanostructures on or within an upper surface of each electrode;

attaching a plurality of binding molecules to the plurality of nanostructures, wherein the plurality of binding molecules are configured to bind with the one or more target molecules;

making the upper surface of each electrode and the plurality of nanostructures hydrophilic;

coupling a multiplexor to the two or more electrodes that selectively switches the two or more electrodes between inducing an alternating current electrothermal (ACET) flow and detecting the one or more target molecules; and

coupling an alternating current power source and impedance analyzer to the multiplexor.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the hydrophobic substrate comprises a glass, SiO 2 , semiconductor or plastic material treated with a silylation reagent;

each electrode is made of or coated with one or more metals or conductive organic polymers or wherein the two or more electrodes comprise three interdigitated electrodes; and

each nanostructure is made of or coated with the one or more metals or conductive organic polymers treated with ultraviolet light, wherein the silylation reagent comprises tridecafluorooctyltriethoxysilane, heptadecafluorodecyl trimethoxysilane, actadecyltrichlorosilane, n-octadecanethiol, self-assemble of alkanoic acid through a solution-immersion process, or hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS).

9. The method of claim 7 ,

wherein a fluidic chamber is formed by one or more walls and a hydrophobic cover enclosing at least a portion of the two or more electrodes or wherein the fluidic chamber comprises a microchannel loop, one or more fluidic ports disposed within the hydrophobic cover and connected to the fluidic chamber, and wherein the two or more electrodes or a set of electrical conductors connected to the two or more electrodes extend outside the fluidic chamber, or wherein the sensor comprises two or more sensors, wherein each sensor is selectively addressable, or wherein the two or more sensors comprise at least a first set of sensors and a second set of sensors;

wherein the plurality of binding molecules of the first set of sensors comprise a plurality of first binding molecules configured to bind with one or more first target molecules, and the plurality of binding molecules of the second set of sensors comprise a plurality of second binding molecules configured to bind with one or more second target molecules;

wherein the first set of sensors detect the one or more target molecules while the second set of sensors simultaneously induce an alternating current electrothermal (ACET) flow, and the second set of sensors detect the one or more target molecules while the first set of sensors simultaneously induce the alternating current electrothermal (ACET) flow;

wherein at least one of: an impedance measurement interface connected to the sensor; a portable electronic device or a desktop device coupled to the impedance measurement interface, wherein the impedance measurement interface is integrated into the portable electronic device or the desktop device; or wherein the apparatus is packaged into a cartridge configured to interface with an electronic device; or

wherein the apparatus is defined as further comprising 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, or more fluid channels that extend from a central reservoir, wherein each channel comprises one or more sensors.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the target molecules are detected within a few seconds with a 1 ng/ml sensitivity.