Method and system for determining analyte activity

Abstract

C-hemical sensors for detecting the activity of a molecule or analyte of interest is provided. The chemical sensors comprise and array or plurality of chemically-sensitive resistors that are capable of interacting with the molecule of interest, wherein the interaction provides a resistance fingerprint. The fingerprint can be associated with a library of similar molecules of interest to determine the molecule's activity.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An analyte screening system, comprising: 
 a sensor array comprising a plurality of different differentially responsive sensors, having a first signal profile produced by the plurality of different differentially responsive sensors, when contacted with a first analyte and a second different signal profile produced when contacted with a second analyte, wherein the difference between the first signal and the second signal being indicative of a difference in the property or properties of the first analyte and second analyte;    a measuring device, connected to the sensor array; and    a computer;    the measuring device detecting a signal in each of the plurality of different differentially responsive sensors and the computer assembling the signal into a sensor array signal profile;    wherein the computer is operative to compare the sensor array signal profile to at least one previously obtained signal profile indicating a standard sample having a specific activity, chemical or physical property, or function, wherein the comparison of the sensor_array signal profile to the at least one previously obtained signal profile is indicative of a specific activity, chemical or physical property, or function of the analyte.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the analyte comprises a chemical.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the analyte comprises a chemical.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the biochemical is selected from the group consisting of a lipid, hormone, fatty acids, nucleic acid, polypeptide, and carbohydrate.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of an antibody, enzyme, and protein.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody, polyclonal antibody, humanized antibody, or fragments thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the enzyme is selected from the group consisting of lipases, esterases, proteases, glycosidases, glycosyl transferases, phosphateses, kinases, mono- and dioxygenases, haloperoxidases, lignin peroxidases, diarylpropane peroxidases, eposide hydrolases, nitrile hydrotases, nitrilases, transaminases, amidases, and acylases.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the specific activity is selected from the group consisting of enzymatic activity, binding activity, inhibitory activity, and modulating activity;  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal profile of the standard sample is derived from a library.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the library is generated by a neural network.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the different differentially responsive sensors change optically, electrically, magnetically, mechanically, physically, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the different differentially responsive sensors are selected from the group consisting of crystalline colloidal array (CCA) containing sensors, metal oxide sensors, dye-impregnated polymers coated onto beads of optically fibers, buld conducting organic polymers, capacitance sensors, chemically-sensitive resistor sensors, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the chemically-sensitive resistor sensors are comprised of regions of a non-conductive material and regions of a conductive material compositionally different than the non-conductive material, each resistor providing an electrical path through the regions of conductive and non-conductive material, wherein interaction of the molecule with the resistor provides a change in resistance in the resistor.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chemical or physical property is selected from the group consisting of side groups, charge, hydrophobicity, polarity, molecular size or shape, and chirality.  
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the different differentially responsive sensors are chemically sensitive resistors.