Device to detect analytes in a biological sample

Abstract

Device to detect at least an analyte, comprising a transparent substrate ( 2 ), having a first surface ( 3 ) with which a light source ( 7 ) is associated, and a second surface ( 4 ) on which a plurality of biological protein probes ( 12 ) are disposed, a layer ( 6 ) of polymer being interposed between said second surface ( 4 ) and said biological protein probes ( 12 ). A marker (fluorophore) is associated with said analyte, having determinate characteristics of fluorescence and/or phosphorescence correlated to the emission wavelength of the light source ( 7 ). Said light source ( 7 ) is suitable to emit a light radiation in a range of wavelengths equal to 400-550 nm, inside which range the absorption peak of said marker (fluorophore) used is comprised. The value of the distance (“s”) between the wavelength corresponding to the absorption peak of the marker (fluorophore) and the wavelength corresponding to the emission peak of fluorescence (phosphorescence) is comprised between 25 and 150 nm.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A device to detect at least an analyte, comprising:
 a transparent substrate having a first surface, lower during use, with which a light source comprising an OLED source is associated, and a second surface, higher during use, to receive a plurality of biological protein probes; and   a layer of polymer to activate a covalent link with the proteins of the protein probes interposed between said second surface and said biological protein probes, wherein:   at least a marker is associated with said analyte, having determinate characteristics of fluorescence and/or phosphorescence correlated to the emission wavelength of the light source, wherein said light source is suitable, or is associated with suitable filtering means, to emit a light radiation in a range of wavelengths equal to 400-550 nm, inside of which is a range of an absorption peak of said marker, and   a value of a distance between the wavelength corresponding to the absorption peak of the marker and the wavelength corresponding to the fluorescence or phosphorescence emission peak is between 25 and 150 nm, wherein   the OLED source comprises:   a glass substrate with a thickness of between about 0.7 mm and about 1 mm;   a thin film of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) with a thickness of about 150 nm±50 nm;   a thin film of PEDOT-PSS (Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/polystyrene-sulfonate) with a thickness of about 60 nm±10 nm;   a thin film of a-NPB (N,N′-bis(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-1-1′biphenyl-4-4′diamine), with a thickness of about 45 nm±10 nm;   a thin film of BCP (2,9-Dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline), or Bathocupraine, with a thickness of about 25 nm±10 nm;   a thin film of lithium fluoride (LiF), with a thickness of about 0.8 nm±0.3 nm; and   a thin film of aluminum, with a thickness of about 100 nm±20 nm.   
     
     
         3 . The device as in  claim 2 , further comprising: a microfluid system including a transparent plastic material and to contain the protein probes, wherein said microfluid system includes the sample to be analyzed and said markers to detect the analyte in direct contact with the upper surface of the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . The device as in  claim 2 , wherein the OLED source is configured to obtain an internal microcavity effect on the surface of the transparent substrate, and is for the spectral narrowing of the light emitted so as to transmit the light in a desired wavelength range, correlated to the type of marker used. 
     
     
         5 . The device as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an optical filter for the OLED source for the optical wavelengths of a low-pass type with a cut-off wavelength of 500 nm.   
     
     
         6 . The device as in  claim 5 , wherein the optical filter has a transmittance of above 0.6 for wavelengths up to 430 nm, and a transmittance of lower than 2.0*10 −6  for a wavelength equal to 540 nm. 
     
     
         7 . The device as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a continuous tension electric source, in a range of tension between about 2.5 and about 18 V which feeds the OLED source.   
     
     
         8 . The device as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an electric source with pulsed tension synchronous with the acquisition time of an optical detection device which feeds the OLED source.   
     
     
         9 . The device as in  claim 8 , wherein said impulse tension is of the “train of impulses” type, in which a sequence of close-up impulses is repeated at every period (t p ), and in which the single impulses are repeated at a predetermined micro-period (t mp ) variable between about 10 microseconds and about 1 millisecond. 
     
     
         10 . The device as in  claim 9 , wherein the duration of each single impulse of the “train of impulses” is variable between about 1% and about 50% of the micro-period (t mp ), and in that said “train of impulses” is modulated in amplitude according to an envelope having an amplitude variable between about 1% in correspondence with the beginning of the train of impulses, and about 100% in correspondence with the end of the train of impulses, with a linear growth profile. 
     
     
         11 . The device as in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a detection device, disposed on the opposite side of the light source with respect to the analyte to be analyzed, and including:   a CCD or CMOS matrix to detect the signal emitted by the markers;   an optical focusing system to improve the detection of the fluorescent or phosphorescent signal.   
     
     
         12 . The device as in  claim 10 , wherein said detection device comprises a filter, with a pass band in the range of about 20-40 nm centered on a peak emission wavelength of the markers associated with the sample so as to detect the radiation emitted by the sample excited in its turn by the light source below. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said marker is a fluorophore.