Chemical sensor, detection method, reagent and kit

Abstract

A chemical sensor includes a sensor element. The sensor element includes a sensitive film and a treatment material. Physical properties of the sensitive film vary as bonding of a target substance to the sensitive film. The sensor element is configured to detect the variation in the physical properties. The treatment material is configured to carry out a treatment onto the target substance before the target substance bonds to the sensitive film. The treatment enhances the variation in the physical properties as compared to a case without the treatment.

1 . A chemical sensor comprising:
 a sensor element comprising a sensitive film whose physical properties vary as bonding or approaching of a target substance to the sensitive film,   wherein the sensor element configured to detect variation in the physical properties of the sensitive film; and   a treatment material which configured to carry out a treatment onto the target substance before the target substance bonds to or approaches the sensitive film,   the treatment enhancing the variation in the physical properties as compared to a case without the treatment.   
     
     
         2 . The chemical sensor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the treatment is modification of the target substance to form a hydrogen bond or cause π bond interaction between itself and the sensitive film, or charging the target substance with a charge.   
     
     
         3 . The chemical sensor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the treatment material comprises an enzyme having an activity to carry out the treatment onto the target substance.   
     
     
         4 . The chemical sensor of  claim 3 , further comprising a cofactor of the enzyme. 
     
     
         5 . The chemical sensor of  claim 4 , wherein
 the target substance is limonene, the enzyme is limonene hydroxyrase and/or carveol dehydrogenase and the cofactor is NAD+ and/or NADP+.   
     
     
         6 . The chemical sensor of  claim 4 , wherein
 the target substance is nonanal, the enzyme is aldehyde oxidase, and the cofactor includes flavin adenine dinucleotide, hemeprotein, molybdoprotein and/or iron sulfur protein.   
     
     
         7 . The chemical sensor of  claim 3 , wherein
 the enzyme is contained in a liquid.   
     
     
         8 . The chemical sensor of  claim 7 , wherein
 the liquid is provided on the sensitive film.   
     
     
         9 . The chemical sensor of  claim 8 , wherein
 the liquid is provided immediately above a surface of the sensitive film, where the target substance bonds or approaches to the sensitive film.   
     
     
         10 . The chemical sensor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the treatment material comprises a ultraviolet irradiation device which irradiates ultraviolet radiation onto the target substance.   
     
     
         11 . The chemical sensor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the treatment material comprises an ozone generating device which brings ozone into contact with the target substance.   
     
     
         12 . The chemical sensor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the target substance is a material contained in a gaseous sample.   
     
     
         13 . A chemical sensor comprising:
 a sensor element comprising a sensitive film whose physical properties vary as bonding or approaching of a target substance to the sensitive film,   wherein the sensor element configured to detect the variation in the physical properties; and   an enzyme having an activity to carry out an treatment enhances variation in the physical properties onto the target substance before the target substance bonds to or approaches the sensitive film.   
     
     
         14 . A chemical sensor comprising:
 a sensor element comprising a sensitive film whose physical properties vary as bonding or approaching of a target substance to the sensitive film,   wherein the sensor element configured to detect the variation in the physical properties; and   an ultraviolet irradiation device which irradiates ultraviolet radiation onto the target substance.   
     
     
         15 . A chemical sensor comprising:
 a sensor element comprising a sensitive film whose physical properties vary as bonding or approaching of a target substance to the sensitive film,   wherein the sensor element configured to detect the variation in the physical properties; and   an ozone generating device which brings ozone into contact with the target substance.   
     
     
         16 . A method of detecting a target substance in a gaseous sample using a chemical sensor which comprises a chemical sensor element comprising a sensitive film whose physical properties vary as bonding or approaching of the target substance to the sensitive film,
 wherein the sensor element configured to detect the variation in the physical properties,   the method comprising:   carrying out a treatment to the target substance;   making a treated target substance obtained in the treatment to bond to or approach the sensitive film;   detecting an amount of variation in the physical properties of the sensitive film; and   determining presence/absence or quantity of the target substance in the gaseous sample from a result of the detecting,   the treatment enhancing the variation in the physical properties of the sensitive film as compared to a case without carrying out the treatment.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the treatment is modification of the target substance to form a hydrogen bond or cause π bond interaction between itself and the sensitive film, or charging the target substance with a charge.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the treatment includes a treatment of the target substance with an enzyme having an activity to carry out the treatment onto the target substance.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the treatment includes irradiation of ultraviolet radiation onto the target substance.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein
 the treatment includes bringing ozone into contact with the target substance.   
     
     
         21 . A reagent to be used for the method of  claim 16 , comprising an enzyme having an activity to carry out the treatment to the target substance. 
     
     
         22 . The reagent of  claim 21 , further comprising a cofactor of the enzyme. 
     
     
         23 . The reagent of  claim 22 , wherein
 the target substance is limonene, the enzyme is limonene hydroxyrase or carveol dehydrogenase and the cofactor is NAD+ or NADP+.   
     
     
         24 . The reagent of  claim 22 , wherein
 the target substance is nonanal, the enzyme is aldehyde oxidase, and the cofactor includes flavin adenine dinucleotide, hemeprotein, molybdoprotein and/or iron sulfur protein.   
     
     
         25 . A kit comprising the chemical sensor of  claim 1  and a reagent comprising an enzyme having activity to carry out treatment to the target substrate.