Electro-optical devices and methods for hybridization and detection

Abstract

The invention provides an apparatus and method for detection of a target molecule. The apparatus includes a probe labeled with a transition metal-ligand complex that hybridizes with the target to form an initial complex, a metal ion for doping the initial complex and forming a final complex, and a potential means for providing a potential to the final complex to produce a detectable signal indicating the presence of the target after redox reaction. The method of the invention teaches the steps of hybridizing a probe with an attached label to the target to produce an initial complex, adding a metal ion to the initial complex to form a final complex and applying a potential to the final complex to produce a measurable signal.

1 - 21 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         22 . An electro-optical device for detecting the presence of a target, comprising: 
 a substrate having an attached probe that hybridizes to a target to form a first complex, wherein said probe is labeled with a transition metal ligand complex;    a metal ion that binds to the first complex to form a conductive second complex; and    a potential-producing element for providing a potential to said second complex to produce a detectable signal indicating the presence of the target.    
     
     
         23 . The electro-optical device of  claim 22 , wherein the metal ion is present between two bases of said second complex.  
     
     
         24 . The electro-optical device of  claim 22 , wherein said detectable signal is optical signal.  
     
     
         25 . The electro-optical device of  claim 22 , wherein the metal ion is a divalent cation.  
     
     
         26 . The: electro-optical device of  claim 25 , wherein the metal ion is zinc, nickel or cobalt.  
     
     
         27 . The electro-optical device of  claim 22 , wherein the device comprises an array of probes.  
     
     
         28 . The electro-optical device of  claim 22 , wherein the transition metal ligand complex is positioned at a terminus of the nucleic acid.  
     
     
         29 . The electro-optical device of  claim 22 , wherein the transition metal ligand complex comprises ruthenium, osmium or a derivative thereof.  
     
     
         30 . The electro-optical device of  claim 29 , wherein said potential-producing element comprises a gold electrode.  
     
     
         31 . An electro-optical device for detecting the presence of a target nucleic acid, comprising: 
 a substrate having an attached probe that hybridizes to a target to form a complex, wherein one terminus of said probe is attached to said substrate and the other terminus of said probe is attached to a transition metal ligand complex; and    potential-producing element connected to said substrate for providing a potential to said complex.    
     
     
         32 . The electro-optical device of  claim 31 , wherein the electro-optical apparatus comprises an array of probes.  
     
     
         33 . The electro-optical device of  claim 31 , wherein the transition metal ligand complex comprises ruthenium, osmium or a derivative thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The electro-optical device of  claim 31 , wherein said potential-producing element comprises a gold electrode.