Aptamer Coated Measurement and Reference Electrodes and Methods Using Same for Biomarker Detection

摘要

A device for identifying the presence of a specific target molecule or biomarker by the detection of a change in an electrical property includes a measurement sensor 8 comprising a semiconducting sensor structure 12 capable of conjugating with the biomarker, thus giving rise to the said change in electrical property, and an electrode system 3, 4 for conducting a signal from the device. According to the invention there is a further such sensor 9, of substantially identical form but having its sensor structure 14 already conjugated with the biomarker, or otherwise capped, e.g. using a further oligonucleotide strand, so as to act as an internal reference. When a biological sample, e.g. saliva, is applied to the electrodes, the reference enables the discounting of all environmental effects other than the biomarker. The invention provides a simple, cheap and accurate text for one or more biomarkers that can be used in the field without complex equipment.

主权项

1. A device for identifying the presence of a specific target molecule or biomarker by the detection of a change in an electrical property, the device including a measurement sensor comprising:
a conducting or semiconducting sensor structure capable of conjugating with the target molecule or biomarker, thus giving rise to the said change in electrical property, and an electrode system for conducting a signal from the device;in which the device further includes a reference sensor, of substantially identical form but having its sensor structure capped so as not to conjugate with the target molecule or biomarker, in order to act as an internal reference.