Abstract:
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for electrically active combinatorial-chemical (EACC) chips for biochemical analyte detection. An apparatus includes a substrate that has an array of regions defining multiple cells, wherein each of the cells includes a reaction cavity that contains multiple functional binding groups. A method of detecting an analyte providing the reaction cavity between a source and a drain or a pair of electrodes, applying a voltage and monitoring a parameter indicative of an analyte characteristic. A process of fabricating an EACC include bonding an analyte to the multiple functional binding groups of each reaction cavity, and forming an analyte sensing structure including the substrate.
Abstract:
Composite organic-inorganic nanoclusters (COINs) are provided that produce surface-enhanced Raman signals (SERS) when excited by a laser. The nanoclusters include metal particles and a Raman-active organic compound. The metal required for achieving a suitable SERS signal is inherent in the nanocluster and a wide variety of Raman-active organic compounds and combinations thereof can be incorporated into the nanocluster. In addition, polymeric microspheres containing the nanoclusters and methods of making them are also provided. The nanoclusters and microspheres can be used, for example, in assays for multiplex detection of biological molecules.
Abstract:
The present disclosure concerns methods for producing and/or using molecular barcodes. In certain embodiments of the invention, the barcodes comprise polymer backbones that may contain one or more branch structures. Tags may be attached to the backbone and/or branch structures. The barcode may also comprise a probe that can bind to a target, such as proteins, nucleic acids and other biomolecules or aggregates. Different barcodes may be distinguished by the type and location of the tags. In other embodiments, barcodes may be produced by hybridization of one or more tagged oligonucleotides to a template, comprising a container section and a probe section. The tagged oligonucleotides may be designed as modular code sections, to form different barcodes specific for different targets. In alternative embodiments, barcodes may be prepared by polymerization of monomeric units. Bound barcodes may be detected by various imaging modalities, such as, surface plasmon resonance, fluorescent or Raman spectroscopy.
Abstract:
The present methods, compositions and systems are concerned with biomolecule 130 detection, identification and/or quantification by rolling circle amplification (RCA) and Raman detection. In particular embodiments of the invention, the RCA is exponential RCA or linear RCA. In some embodiments of the invention, the Raman detection is SERS or SERRS. The circular DNA template 150, 210, 310 to be amplified may comprise one or more polythymidine 320 residues, resulting in amplification products 170, 230, 250, 330, 410 containing multiple polyadenylate 340, 420 residues. The polyadenylates 340, 420 may be directly detected by Raman detection. Alternatively, one or more Raman labels may be incorporated into the amplification products 170, 230, 250, 330, 410 to facilitate Raman detection. Because of the amplification produced by LRCA or ERCA and the enhanced Raman signal produced by multiple polyadenylates 340, 420 and/or Raman labels, detection of single copy biomolecules 130 is feasible using the disclosed methods, compositions and/or systems.
Abstract:
The embodiments of the invention are directed to a SERS cluster comprising a capture particle that is at least partially surrounded by analyte molecules, wherein both the capture particle and the analyte molecules surrounding the capture particle are at least partially surrounded by enhancer particles, wherein a majority of the analyte molecules are either sandwiched between capture and enhancer particles or located between junctions of the enhancer particles. The embodiments of the invention also relate to methods of manufacturing and detecting the SERS cluster. The embodiments of the invention also relate to a SERS active particle comprising a tag molecule comprising a Raman active compound and a probe or a linker having a specific biochemical binding capability and to a method for detecting of a target molecule using a SERS active particle having a tag molecule comprising a Raman active compound and a probe or a linker.
Abstract:
The methods, apparatus and systems disclosed herein concern ordered arrays of carbon nanotubes. In particular embodiments of the invention, the nanotube arrays are formed by a method comprising attaching catalyst nanoparticles (140, 230) to polymer (120, 210) molecules, attaching the polymer (120, 210) molecules to a substrate, removing the polymer (120, 210) molecules and producing carbon nanotubes on the catalyst nanoparticles (140, 230). The polymer (120, 210) molecules alignment techniques. The nanotube arrays can be attached to selected areas (110, 310) of the substrate. Within the selected areas (110, 310), the nanotubes are distributed non-randomly. Other embodiments disclosed herein concern apparatus that include ordered arrays of nanotubes attached to a substrate and systems that include ordered arrays of carbon nanotubes attached to a substrate, produced by the claimed methods. In certain embodiments, provided herein are methods for aligning a molecular wire, by ligating the molecular wire to a double stranded DNA molecule.
Abstract:
The intensity of the signals from surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is increased by using lithium chloride (122) as an enhancer to activate a metallic structure (212) used for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (116). The increased signal intensity allows surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy to be utilized to detect individual analytes (120) such as nucleotides, for example in DNA sequencing without requiring a dye or radioactive label.
Abstract:
A device (and methods of using and manufacturing the device) that utilize a plurality of photomultipliers (PMT)s or a photodiodes coupled with a set of filters to collect Raman signal from samples. Also a method of detecting Raman signals includes receiving Raman signals from a sample utilizing a plurality of photomultiplier tubes (PMT)s or photodiodes, wherein at least one PMT or photodiode provides a different Raman signal than at least one other PMT or photodiode.
Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention provide devices and methods for detecting, identifying, distinguishing, and quantifying modification states of proteins and peptides using Surface Enhanced Raman (SERS) and Raman spectroscopy. Applications of embodiments of the present invention include, for example, proteome wide modification profiling and analyses with applications in disease diognosis, prognosis and drug efficacy studies, emzymatic activity profiling and assays.
Abstract:
The methods and apparatus disclosed herein are useful for detecting nucleotides, nucleosides, and bases and for nucleic acid sequence determination. The methods involve detection of a nucleotide, nucleoside, or base using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) or surface enhanced coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (SECARS). The detection can be part of a nucleic acid sequencing reaction to detect uptake of a deoxynucleotide triphosphate during a nucleic acid polymerization reaction, such as a nucleic acid sequencing reaction. The nucleic acid sequence of a synthesized nascent strand, and the complementary sequence of the template strand, can be determined by tracking the order of incorporation of nucleotides during the polymerization reaction. Methods for enhancing the SERS signal of a nucleotide or nucleoside by cleaving the base from a sugar moiety are provided. Furthermore, methods for detecting single base repeats are provided.