Biosensor for detecting the presence of chosen analytes

摘要

The present invention relates to a biosensor for detecting the presence of an analyte in solution. The biosensor is composed of: a) an ion channel receptor immobilized in a suspended lipid film which is in contact with an ion-containing solution on each side thereof; b) a ligand, conjugated to the receptor, which has particular affinity for the analyte in solution, and, which, upon binding to the analyte in solution, causes an inhibition in ion flow through the channel; and c) means to detect the inhibition of ion flow through the channel in response to the binding of conjugated ligand and analyte.