Detection and amplification of ligands

Abstract

Devices and systems for the detection of ligands comprising at least one receptor and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline, where an amplified signal is produced as a result of receptor binding to a ligand are provided. Also provided are methods for the automatic detection of ligands.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A device for the detection of ligands comprising: 
 at least one substantially spherical substrate;    at least one receptor attached to said spherical substrate, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal; and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline material,    wherein said amplification mechanism amplifies said signal upon receptor-ligand complex formation.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said substantially spherical substrate is non-porous.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to the surface of said non-porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially spherical substrate is porous.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to at least one of (i) the surface of said porous substantially spherical substrate and (ii) the pores of said porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to the surface of said porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to the pores of said porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein a plurality of receptors are attached to and randomly distributed on the surface and within the pores of said porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is selected from the group consisting of thermotropic liquid crystalline material and lyotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is a lyotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the lyotropic liquid crystalline material is a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is a thermotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially spherical substrate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric and inorganic materials.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the substantially spherical substrate is made from a polymeric material.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of polyions, polyalkenes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyvinyls, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyimides, polysulfones, polysiloxanes, polysilanes, polyethers, and polycarboxylates.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the polymeric material is a polystyrene.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the substantially spherical substrate is made from an inorganic material.  
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of glass, silicon, and colloidal gold.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the inorganic material is glass.  
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said spherical substrate by one means selected from the group consisting of (i) chemical attachment and (ii) physical attachment.  
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said spherical substrate by chemical attachment.  
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said chemical attachment is covalent bonding.  
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said spherical substrate by physical attachment.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said physical attachment is selected from the group consisting hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals interactions.  
     
     
         25 . A method for detecting ligands comprising: 
 providing a device capable of detecting ligands, said device comprising at least one substantially spherical substrate; at least one receptor attached to said spherical substrate, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal; and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline material, wherein said amplification mechanism amplifies said signal upon receptor-ligand complex formation;    exposing a sample containing at least one ligand to said at least one substrate;    allowing said receptor to interact with said at least one ligand to form at least one receptor-ligand complex; and    measuring the signal produced by said receptor-ligand complex formation.    
     
     
         26 . A device for the detection of ligands comprising: 
 at least one substantially spherical substrate coated with a receptor-binding material;    at least one receptor attached to said coated spherical substrate, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal; and    an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline material, wherein said amplification mechanism amplifies said signal upon receptor-ligand complex formation.    
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said substantially spherical substrate is non-porous.  
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to the surface of said non-porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the substantially spherical substrate is porous.  
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to at least one of (i) the surface of said porous substantially spherical substrate and (ii) the pores of said porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to the surface of said porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein said/at least one receptor is attached to the pores of said porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 30 , wherein a plurality of receptors are attached to and randomly distributed on the surface and within the pores of said porous substantially spherical substrate.  
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is selected from the group consisting of thermotropic liquid crystalline material and lyotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is a lyotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , wherein the lyotropic liquid crystalline material is a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is a thermotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the substantially spherical substrate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric and inorganic materials.  
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the substantially spherical substrate is made from a polymeric material.  
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 39 , wherein the polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of polyions, polyalkenes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyvinyls, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyimides, polysulfones, polysiloxanes, polysilanes, polyethers, and polycarboxylates.  
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 40 , wherein the polymeric material is a polystyrene.  
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the substantially spherical substrate is made from an inorganic material.  
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein the inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of glass, silicon, and colloidal gold.  
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 43 , wherein the inorganic material is glass.  
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said spherical substrate by one means selected from the group consisting of (i) chemical attachment and (ii) physical attachment.  
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said spherical substrate by chemical attachment.  
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 46 , wherein said chemical attachment is covalent bonding.  
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said spherical substrate by physical attachment.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said physical attachment is selected from the group consisting hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals interactions.  
     
     
         50 . A method for detecting ligands comprising: 
 providing a device capable of detecting ligands, said device comprising at least one substantially spherical substrate coated with a receptor-binding material; at least one receptor attached to said spherical substrate, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal; and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline material, wherein said amplification mechanism amplifies said signal upon receptor-ligand complex formation;    exposing a sample containing at least one ligand to at least one of said substrate;    allowing said receptor to interact with said at least one ligand to form at least one receptor-ligand complex; and measuring the signal produced by said receptor-ligand complex formation.    
     
     
         51 . A device for the detection of ligands comprising: 
 a substantially planar substrate, wherein said substrate is electrically charged;    at least one receptor attached to said electrically charged substantially planar substrate, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal; and    an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline material, wherein said amplification mechanism amplifies said signal upon receptor-ligand complex formation.    
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is selected from the group consisting of thermotropic liquid crystalline material and lyotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is a lyotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 53 , wherein the lyotropic liquid crystalline material is a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is a thermotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein the substantially planar substrate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric and inorganic materials.  
     
     
         57 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the substantially planar substrate is made from a polymeric material.  
     
     
         58 . The device of  claim 57 , wherein the polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of polyions, polyalkenes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyvinyls, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyimides, polysulfones, polysiloxanes, polysilanes, polyethers, and polycarboxylates.  
     
     
         59 . The device of  claim 58 , wherein the polymeric material is a polystyrene.  
     
     
         60 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein the substantially planar substrate is made from an inorganic material.  
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 60 , wherein the inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of glass, silicon, and colloidal gold.  
     
     
         62 . The device of  claim 61 , wherein the inorganic material is glass.  
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 51 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said substrate by one means selected from the group consisting of (i) chemical attachment and (ii) physical attachment.  
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said spherical substrate by chemical attachment.  
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 64 , wherein said chemical attachment is covalent bonding.  
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said spherical substrate by physical attachment.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein said physical attachment is selected from the group consisting hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals interactions.  
     
     
         68 . A method for detecting ligands comprising: 
 providing a device capable of detecting ligands, said device comprising at least one electrically charge substantially planar substrate; at least one receptor attached to said substrate, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal; and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline material, wherein said amplification mechanism amplifies said signal upon receptor-ligand complex formation;    exposing a sample containing at least one ligand to said substrate;    allowing said receptor to interact with said at least one ligand to form at least one receptor-ligand complex; and    measuring the signal produced by said receptor-ligand complex formation.    
     
     
         69 . A device for the detection of ligands comprising: 
 an substantially planar substrate coated with a receptor-binding material;    at least one receptor attached to said substrate, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal; and    an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline material, wherein said amplification mechanism amplifies said signal upon receptor-ligand complex formation.    
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 69 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is selected from the group consisting of thermotropic liquid crystalline material and lyotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is a lyotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         72 . The device of  claim 71 , wherein the lyotropic liquid crystalline material is a lyotropic chromonic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         73 . The device of  claim 70 , wherein the liquid crystalline material is a thermotropic liquid crystalline material.  
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 69 , wherein the substrate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric and inorganic materials.  
     
     
         75 . The device of  claim 74 , wherein the substrate is made from material a polymeric material.  
     
     
         76 . The device of  claim 75 , wherein the polymeric materials are selected from the group consisting of polyalkenes, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyvinyls, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, polyesters, polyurethanes, polyamides, polyimides, polysulfones, polysiloxanes, polysilanes, polyethers, and polycarboxylates.  
     
     
         77 . The device of  claim 76 , wherein the polymeric material is polystyrene.  
     
     
         78 . The device of  claim 74 , wherein the substantially substrate is made from an inorganic material.  
     
     
         79 . The device of  claim 78 , wherein the inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of glass, silicon, and colloidal gold.  
     
     
         80 . The device of  claim 79 , wherein the inorganic material is glass.  
     
     
         81 . The device of  claim 69 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said substrate by one means selected from the group consisting of (i) chemical attachment and (ii) physical attachment.  
     
     
         82 . The device of  claim 80 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said substrate by chemical attachment.  
     
     
         83 . The device of  claim 81 , wherein said chemical attachment is covalent bonding.  
     
     
         84 . The device of  claim 80 , wherein said at least one receptor is attached to said substrate by physical attachment.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84 , wherein said physical attachment is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobic interactions and van der Waals interactions.  
     
     
         86 . The device of  claim 69 , wherein the coated substantially planar substrate is electrically charged.  
     
     
         87 . A method for detecting ligands comprising: 
 providing a device capable of detecting ligands, said device comprising substantially planar substrate coated with a receptor-binding material; at least one receptor attached to said substrate, wherein said at least one receptor is capable of binding to a ligand to form a receptor-ligand complex and wherein the formation of said receptor-ligand complex produces a signal; and an amplification mechanism comprising a liquid crystalline material, wherein said amplification mechanism amplifies said signal upon receptor-ligand complex formation;    exposing a sample containing at least one ligand to said substrate;    allowing said receptor to interact with said at least one ligand to form at least one receptor-ligand complex; and    measuring the signal produced by said receptor-ligand complex formation.    
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the coated substantially planar substrate is electrically charged.