Colloidal particles used in sensing arrays

Abstract

Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprising a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive material) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material). In preferred embodiments, the conducting region comprises a nanoparticle. Variability in chemical sensitivity from sensor to sensor is provided by qualitatively or quantitatively varying the composition of the conductive and/or nonconductive regions. An electronic nose for detecting an analyte in a fluid may be constructed by using such arrays in conjunction with an electrical measuring device electrically connected to the conductive elements of each sensor.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte, said device comprising: 
 a sensor array connected to a measuring apparatus having at least one sensor comprising 
 regions of nonconductive material and conductive material compositionally different than said nonconductive material, wherein said conductive material comprises a nanoparticle; and  
 a response path through said regions of nonconductive material and said conductive material.  
   
     
     
         2 . A.device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 1 , wherein said conductive material is covalently linked to said nonconductive material.  
     
     
         3 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 2 , wherein said nanoparticle comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an organic material, an inorganic material or a mixed inorganic-organic material.  
     
     
         4 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 3 , wherein said nanoparticle has a core, wherein said core is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.  
     
     
         5 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 4 , wherein said core is a metal.  
     
     
         6 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 5 , wherein said metal is a member selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, Pd, Ni, AuCu and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 6 , wherein said metal is Au.  
     
     
         8 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 1 , wherein said nonconductive material is a ligand.  
     
     
         9 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 8 , wherein said ligand is polyfunctionalized.  
     
     
         10 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 8 , wherein said ligand is ω-functionalized.  
     
     
         11 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 8 , wherein said ligand is a member selected from the group consisting of an alkanethiol, a polymer, a surfactant, a detergent, a biomolecule, a polysaccharide, a protein complex, a polypeptide, a dendrimeric material, an oligonucleotide, a fluorescent moiety, a radioactive group, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 11 , wherein said ligand is a C 1 -C 30  alkanethiol.  
     
     
         13 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 12 , wherein said ligand is a C 3 -C 12  alkanethiol.  
     
     
         14 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 12 , wherein said alkanethiol is polyfunctionalized.  
     
     
         15 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 12 , wherein said ligand is ω-functionalized.  
     
     
         16 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 1 , wherein said nanoparticle comprises a gold cluster and an organic ligand.  
     
     
         17 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 1 , wherein said measuring device is an electrical measuring device.  
     
     
         18 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 1 , wherein said response is a member selected from the group consisting of resistance, impedance, capacitance, inductance, optical or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A device for detecting a chemical analyte according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor of said array of sensors is a member selected from the group consisting of a surface acoustic wave sensor, a quartz microbalance sensor; a conductive composite; a chemiresitor; a metal oxide gas sensor and a conducting polymer sensor, a dye-impregnated polymer film on fiber optic detector, a polymer-coated micromirror, an electrochemical gas detector, a chemically sensitive field-effect transistor, a carbon black-polymer composite, a micro-electro-mechanical system device and a micro-opto-electro-mechanical system device.  
     
     
         20 . An analyte detection device for detecting a chemical analyte, said device comprising: a sensor array having at least one sensor comprising first and second electrical leads electrically connected to a chemically sensitive resistor, said resistor comprising a nanoparticle and providing an electrical path to said first and said second electrical leads; and an electronic measuring device electrically connected to said at least one sensor for detecting said chemical analyte.