Self-contained microelectrochemical bioassay platforms and methods
View Patent ↗Methods and devices for improved chemical and biomass detection assays combined well defined microstructures having independently addressable electrodes with various surface immobilization electrochemical assays. Combining known chemical detection immobilization assays, electrochemically active moieties with microstructures having independently addressable electrodes provides for vastly improved methods of detecting microorganisms, chemical compounds, and measuring membrane transport.
1. A microassay structure comprising:
at least one three-dimensional microstructure having a rigid or flexible substrate and a plurality of alternating conducting layers and insulating layers, wherein said conducting layers comprise a plurality of integrated, independently addressable electrodes sandwiched between said insulating layers;
an analyte binding material attached to at least one of said conducting layers or said insulating layers and wherein said substrate comprises materials selected from the group consisting of a silicon wafer, ceramic or glass.
2. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein said analyte binding material is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, polynucleotides, lipid layers, or a protein binding compound.
3. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein at least two of the three dimensions of said microstructure are less than one (1) millimeter.
4. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein said microstructure is a microcavity.
5. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein said analyte binding material is comprised of antibodies, polynucleotides, lipid layers, ligands, proteins or a protein binding compound covalently bound to a self assembled monolayer or a polymer attached to at least one of said conducting layers or insulating layers.
6. The microassay structure of claim 1 further comprising a lipid bilayer suspended across an opening of said microstructure.
7. A microassay structure of claim 1 comprising a plurality of microstructures.
8. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein said insulating layers are non-conductive and separate the conductive layers, and said insulating layers allow the passage or transport of electricity from one electrode to another.
9. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein at least one of said electrodes is a bottom layer of said microstructure.
10. The microassay structure of claim 9 wherein said analyte binding material is tethered directly to said electrode on said bottom layer of said microstructure.
11. The microassay structure of claim 4 wherein said microcavity has an open end and a closed end, so that access to said analyte binding material is via said open end.
12. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein said alternating conducting layers and insulating layers form at least one wall of said microstructure.
13. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein said conducting layers comprise materials selected from the group consisting of metals, and inorganic materials.
14. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of alternating conducting layers and insulating layers are constructed using photolithography or vapor deposition creating said microstructure without gaps between said alternating layers.
15. The microassay structure of claim 1 wherein said microstructure is a micropore.
16. A microassay structure comprising:
at least one three-dimensional microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of alternating conducting layers and insulating layers, between them, wherein said conducting layers comprise a plurality of integrated, independently addressable electrodes sandwiched between said insulating layers, wherein at least one of said electrodes is a bottom layer of said microstructure; and
an analyte binding material tethered to said electrode on said bottom layer of said microstructure.
17. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein said analyte binding material is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, polynucleotides, lipid layers, or a protein binding compound.
18. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein said analyte binding material is covalently bound to a self assembled monolayer or a polymer attached to at least one of said conducting layers or insulating layers.
19. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein at least two of the three dimensions of said microstructure are less than one (1) millimeter.
20. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein said microstructure is a microcavity.
21. The microassay structure of claim 20 wherein said microcavity has an open end and a closed end, so that access to said analyte binding material is via said open end.
22. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein said microstructure is a micropore.
23. The microassay structure of claim 16 further comprising a lipid bilayer suspended across an opening of said microstructure.
24. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein said insulating layers are non-conductive, wherein said insulating layers separate the conductive layers, wherein said insulating layers allow the passagc or transport of electricity through a separate medium or solution from one electrode to another.
25. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein said alternating conducting layers and insulating layers form at least one wall of said microstructure.
26. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein said substrate is rigid or flexible, wherein said substrate comprises materials selected from the group consisting of a silicon wafer, ceramic, glass and a polymer.
27. The microassay structure of claim 16 wherein said plurality of alternating conducting layers and insulating layers are constructed using photolithography or vapor deposition creating said microstructure without gaps between said alternating Layers.
28. A microassay structure comprising:
at least one three-dimensional microstructure comprising a substrate and a plurality of alternating conducting layers and insulating layers deposited on said substrate;
at least one microcavity in said microstructure, wherein said alternating conducting layers and insulating layers form at least one wall of said microcavity;
an analyte binding material attached to at least one of said conducting layers or said insulating layers at said at least one wall of said microcavity; and
wherein said conducting layers comprise a plurality of integrated, independently addressable electrodcs sandwiched between said insulating layers.
29. The microassay structure of claim 28 wherein said analyte binding material is selected from the group consisting of antibodies, polynucleotides, lipid layers, or a protein binding compound.
30. The microassay structure of claim 28 wherein said analyte binding material is covalently botind to a self assembled monolayer or a polymer attached to at least one of said conducting layers or insulating layers.
31. The microassay structure of claim 28 wherein at least two of the three dimensions of said microstructure are less than one (1) millimeter.
32. The microassay structure of claim 28 further comprising a lipid bilayer suspended across an opening of said microcavity of said microstructure.
33. The microassay structure of claim 28 wherein said insulating layers are non-conductive, separate the conductive layers and allow the passage or transport of electricity through a separate medium or solution from one electrode to another.
34. The microassay structure of claim 28 wherein at least one of said electrodes is a bottom layer said microcavity of said microstructure.
35. The microassay structure of claim 34 wherein said analyte binding material is tethered directly to said electrode on said bottom layer of said microcavity of said microstructure.
36. The microassay structure of claim 28 wherein said substrate is flexible or rigid, wherein said substrate comprises materials selected from the group consisting of a silicon wafer, ceramic, glass and a polymer.
37. The microassay structure of claim 28 wherein said plurality of alternating conducting layers and insulating layers are constructed using photolithography or vapor deposition.