ELECTRO-DIFFUSION ENHANCED BIO-MOLECULE CHARGE DETECTION USING ELECTROSTATIC INTERACTION

摘要

According to one aspect, the disclosure is directed to an example embodiment in which a circuit-based arrangement includes a circuit-based substrate securing a channel, with an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length, along a surface of the substrate. A pair of reservoirs are included in or on the substrate and configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel. A pair of electrodes electrically couple a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein (e.g., to overcome the electrolyte screening), and a sense electrode is located along the channel for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample by using the electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and the sense electrode. Actual detection occurs by using a charge-signal processing circuit to process the sensed charge signal and, therefrom, provide an output indicative of a signature for the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.

主权项

1. An apparatus comprising:
a substrate securing a channel located along a surface of the substrate, the channel having an effective width that is not limited by the Debye screening length; at least one reservoir configured for containing and presenting a sample having bio-molecules for delivery in the channel; a first electrode and a second electrode, each of the electrodes configured for electrically coupling a charge in the sample to enhance ionic current flow therein; at least one sense electrode structure including one buried electrode to detect charges of the bio-molecules that are electrically driven along surfaces of the channel and located along the channel, and configured for sensing a characteristic of the biological sample at least partly based on electrostatic interaction between the enhanced ionic current flow of the sample and said at least one sense electrode structure; and means, including a charge-signal circuit coupled to said at least one sense electrode structure, for processing a signal carried therefrom and providing an output useful for identifying a type of the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.