Polyelectrolyte complex(e.g.zwitterionic polythiophenes) with a receptor (e.g.polynucleotide, antibody etc.) for biosensor applications

Abstract

A complex between a conjugated polyelectrolyte, and one or more receptor molecules specific for a target biomolecule analyte, the polyelectrolyte and the receptor being non-covalently bound to each other, is usable as a probe for biomolecular interactions. It also relates to a method of determining selected properties of biomolecules. Thereby, a complex as above is exposed to a target biomolecule analyte whereby the analyte and the receptor interact, and a change of a property of the polyelectrolyte in response to the interaction between the receptor and the analyte is detected. The detected change is used to determine the selected property of the biomolecule.

1 . A complex between a conjugated polyelectrolyte, and one or more receptor molecules specific for a target biomolecule analyte, said polyelectrolyte and said receptor being non-covalently bound to each other, and wherein said conjugated polyelectrolyte has one or more zwitterionic side chain functionalities, said complex being usable as a probe for biomolecular interactions.  
     
     
         2 . The complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polyelectrolyte comprises copolymers or homopolymers of thiophene, pyrrole, aniline, furan, phenylene, vinylene or their substituted forms.  
     
     
         3 . The complex as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said zwitterionic side chain functionalities comprises amino acids, amino acid derivatives, neurotransmittors, monosaccharides, nucleic acids, or combinations and chemically modified derivatives thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The complex as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the zwitterionic functionalities comprise one or more anionic and cationic side chain functionalities.  
     
     
         5 . The complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said receptor molecules are selected from the group consisting of peptides, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, pharmaceuticals, antigens, antibodies, proteins, any organic polymers or combination of these molecules capable of interacting with said target analyte.  
     
     
         6 . The complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said conjugated polyelectrolyte is confined, adsorbed or covalently attached to a solid support.  
     
     
         7 . The complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said conjugated polyelectrolyte is in solution.  
     
     
         8 . The complex as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein water, organic solvents, buffer systems or combination thereof are used as a solvent.  
     
     
         9 . The complex as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said solid support comprises silicon wafers, glass, glass slides, glass beads, glass wafers, silicon rubber, polystyrene, polyethylene, fluorinated hydrocarbon polymers, silica gel beads, gold, indium tin oxide coated materials, filter paper made from nylon, cellulose or nitrocellulose, standard copy paper or variants and separation media or other chromatographic media.  
     
     
         10 . The complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said conjugated polyelectrolyte is entrapped inside polymer matrices.  
     
     
         11 . The complex as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the said polymer matrices comprises poly [3,4-(ethylenedioxy) thiophene]/poly(styrenesulfonicacid) (PEDOT/PSS), poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC), poly-4-vinylpyridine (PVPy), poly(pyrrole) (PPy), poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA), poly(aniline) (PANI) or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The complex as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said target analytes are selected from the group consisting of cells, viruses, bacteria, spores, microorganisms, peptides, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, pharmaceuticals, antigens, antibodies, proteins, enzymes, toxins, any organic polymers or combination of these molecules that are capable of interacting with said receptors.  
     
     
         13 . A biosensor device for determining selected properties of biomolecules, comprising 
 a complex as claimed in  claim 1 , and    a receptacle for said complex in which said complex is exposable to said target analyte.    
     
     
         14 . A biosensor device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said polyelectrolyte is immobilized on a surface of said receptacle.  
     
     
         15 . A biosensor device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said receptacle is a flow cell.  
     
     
         16 . A method of determining selected properties of biomolecules, comprising: 
 exposing a complex as claimed in  claim 1 , to a target biomolecule analyte whereby the analyte and the receptor interact,    detecting a change of a property of said polyelectrolyte in response to the interaction between the receptor and the analyte; and    using the detected change to determine said selected property of said biomolecule.    
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the change of said property is detected by measuring fluorescence, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), quenching of emitted light, absorption, impedance, refraction index, mass, visco-elastic properties, thickness or other physical properties.  
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a biosensor device, wherein a complex as claimed in  claim 1  is attached to a surface in a suitable receptacle.  
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein a conjugated polyelectrolyte is transferred to said surface by a method selected from dip coating, spin-coating, contact printing, screen printing, ink jet technologies, spraying, dispensing and microfluidic printing by the use of soft lithography, or combinations thereof, and forming a complex between a suitable receptor and said polyeletrolyte.  
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the zwitterionic conjugated polyelectrolytes is immobilized by physical adhesion to the solid support at elevated temperatures or by entrapment in a hydrogel matrix.  
     
     
         21 . A biosensor device, comprising a plurality of spots, array or lines of a complex according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         22 . A biosensor device as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of spots, array or lines are printed by micro contact printing using elastomer stamps; by spotting zwitterionic conjugated polyelectrolyte solutions; or by ink jetting polyelectrolyte solutions onto said solid support.  
     
     
         23 . (canceled)