Method and Apparatus for a Nanopipette Biosensor

摘要

A nanopipette biosensor capable of detecting a small concentration of target molecules within a sample solution using optical detection methods. The biosensor includes a nanopipette that connects a nanocolloid reservoir containing a nanocolloid solution and a sample reservoir containing a sample solution, where the nanopipette is tapered at the end connected to the sample reservoir. The nanocolloid solution includes nanoparticles functionalized with probes specific to miRNA of the target molecules and reporters. During the detection process, the nanocolloids nanoparticles aggregate such that plasmonic hotspots are formed. These hotspots magnify the reporter signals produced when the probes hybridize with target molecules.

主权项

1. A method for detecting a target molecule in a sample solution, comprising:
providing a biosensor comprising a base reservoir, a sample reservoir and a nanopipette that connects the base reservoir and the sample reservoir, wherein the nanopipette includes a tapered tip end; adding a nanocolloid solution comprising functionalized nanoparticles to the base reservoir, wherein each of the functionalized nanoparticles comprises a nanocolloid nanoparticle, a probe complementary to the target molecule, and a reporter; loading the nanocolloid solution into the nanopipette; adding the sample solution to the sample reservoir; loading the sample solution into the nanopipette where the target molecule in the sample solution hybridizes to the probe of at least one of the functionalized nanoparticles, thereby activating the reporter; assembling an aggregate of the functionalized nanoparticles, wherein the aggregate assembles proximate to the tip end of the nanopipette and the nanocolloid nanoparticles form a plasmonic hotspot; and observing a signal produced by the activated reporter using an optical detection technique based at least in part upon increased intensity of the signal due to proximity of the reporter to the plasmonic hotspot.