Sensors employing combinatorial artificial receptors

Abstract

The present invention relates to sensors and sensor systems that utilize combinational artificial receptors. Embodiments of the present invention employ combinational artificial receptors in electromagnetic (e.g. optical) and electrochemical sensors.

1 . An electrochemical sensing system comprising:
 a working electrode;   a reference electrode; and   a working artificial receptor that is coupled to the working electrode, wherein the sensing system is configured to generate a sensing signal.   
   
   
       2 . The electrochemical sensing system of  claim 1  further comprising a membrane between the working electrode and the reference electrode, the working artificial receptor being coupled to the membrane. 
   
   
       3 . The electrochemical sensing system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured to detect a chemical reaction by detecting a flow of electrons between the working electrode and the reference electrode. 
   
   
       4 . The electrochemical sensing system of  claim 1  wherein the system is configured to detect a chemical reaction by detecting a potential difference between the reference electrode and the working electrode. 
   
   
       5 . The electrochemical sensing system of  claim 1  comprising an array of working electrodes. 
   
   
       6 . The electrochemical sensing system of  claim 1  wherein the working receptors are coupled to a carbon paste that is electrically coupled to the working electrode. 
   
   
       7 . The sensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to detect at least one of: pathogenic microorganism, cancerous cell, pollutant in water, airborne pollutant, explosive-related vapor, protein, polynucleotide. 
   
   
       8 . An electrochemical sensing system comprising:
 a field effect transistor;   a working artificial receptor that is coupled to the field effect transistor, wherein a signal can be generated when a test ligand binds to a working artificial receptor.   
   
   
       9 . The electrochemical sensing system of  claim 8  wherein the field effect transistor is one of: a ChemFET, an ISFET, a SAFET, an SGFET. 
   
   
       10 . The electrochemical sensing system of  claim 8  wherein the working artificial receptor is coupled to a gate. 
   
   
       11 . The electrochemical sensing system of  claim 8  wherein the working artificial receptor is coupled to an insulating layer.