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,
wherein the at least one sense electrode structure, with the first and the second electrodes, is configured and arranged to facilitate detection of the bio-molecules based on variable voltage bias conditions; and circuitry, including a charge-signal circuit coupled to said at least one sense electrode structure, for processing a signal carried therefrom and providing an output indicative of a type of the bio-molecules delivered in the channel.