Method for controlling electrodeposition of an entity and devices incorporating the immobilized entity

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling electrodeposition of a deposition entity in which a solution or suspension of the deposition entity is provided between a pair of superposed electrodes at a predetermined concentration. A potential is applied to the electrodes sufficient to cause migration of the deposition entity to one of the electrodes and deposition of a controlled thickness of the deposition entity. The distance between the electrodes and voltage applied can be controlled to provide migration of the deposition entity. The method and system provide controlled immobilization of deposition entities such as proteins, enzymes, light harvesting complexes, DNA, RNA, PNA onto a substrate without loss of function. In one embodiment, the system can be used on a nanoscale. Additionally, devices can be formed by the method of the present invention.

1 . A method for controlling electrodeposition of a deposition entity comprising the steps of: 
 preparing a solution or suspension of said deposition entity at a predetermined concentration;    providing said solution to a vicinity between a pair of electrodes, said pair of electrodes being in a superposed relation at a predetermined distance between one another; and    applying a predetermined potential across said two electrodes sufficient to cause migration of said deposition entity to one of said electrodes and deposition of said deposition entity on said one of said electrodes.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined concentration of said deposition is in the range of about 10 μg/ml to about 1 mg/ml and a volume of said solution is in the range of about 1 mm 3  to about 100 mm 3 .  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the distance between said pair of electrodes is in a range of about 10 nm to about 5.0 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the predetermined potential is in the range of about 1 V/cm to about 1,000 V/cm.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a monolayer of said deposition entity is deposited on said one of said electrodes.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a layer of said deposition entity having a thickness in the range of about 5 nm to about 10 nm is deposited on said one of said electrodes.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said deposition entity is selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, enzymes, enzyme substrates, cofactors, drugs, lectins, sugars, oligonucleotides, DNA, RNA, PNA, viruses, bacteria phages, antisense, antigens, haptens, antibodies, amino acids and their derivatives, hormones, lipids, phospholipids, glycolipids, liposomes, nucleotides and light harvesting complexes.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the deposition entity is selected from the group consisting of proteins, Photosystem I, Photosystem II, Light Harvesting Complex 1 and Light Harvesting Complex 2.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein one of said electrodes are transparent and said deposition entity is selected from the group consisting of proteins, Photosystem I, Photosystem II, Light Harvesting Complex 1 and Light Harvesting Complex 2.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said solution is provided within a retainer housing positioned between said pair of electrodes.  
     
     
         11 . A device formed by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said deposition entity is selected from the group consisting of proteins, Photosystem I, Photosystem II, Light Harvesting Complex 1 and Light Harvesting Complex 2 and the device is a solid state photosensitive device.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the device is a photovoltaic device.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the device is a biosensor.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the device is a memory device.  
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for electrodeposition of a deposition entity comprising: 
 two electrodes in superimposed relationship;    retainer means between said two electrodes for receiving a solution or suspension of said deposition entity;    means for applying a potential across said two electrodes sufficient to cause migration of said deposition entity to one of said two electrodes and deposition of said deposition entity on said one of said two electrodes.    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the predetermined concentration of said deposition is in the range of about 10 μg/ml to about 1 mg/ml and a volume of said solution is in the range of about 1 mm 3  to about 100 mm 3    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the distance between said pair of electrodes is in a range of about 10 nm to about 5.0 mm.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of clam  16  wherein the predetermined potential is in the range of about 1 V/cm to about 1,000 V/cm.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein a monolayer of said deposition entity is deposited on said one of said electrodes.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein a layer of said deposition entity having a thickness in the range of about 5 nm to about 10 nm is deposited on said one of said electrodes.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said deposition entity is selected from the group consisting of proteins, peptides, enzymes, enzyme substrates, cofactors, drugs, lectins, sugars, oligonucleotides, DNA, RNA, PNA, viruses, bacteria phages, antisense, antigens, haptens, antibodies, amino acids and their derivatives, hormones, lipids, phospholipids, glycolipids, liposomes, nucleotides and light harvesting complexes.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein the deposition entity is selected from the group consisting of proteins, Photosystem I, Photosystem II, Light Harvesting Complex 1 and Light Harvesting Complex 2.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein one of said electrodes are transparent and said deposition entity is selected from the group consisting of proteins, Photosystem I, Photosystem II, Light Harvesting Complex 1 and Light Harvesting Complex 2.