Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC

University of California

Bradley R Hart

Anthony W Van Buuren

Louis J Terminello

Chad E Talley

Joe H Satcher, Jr

Stephen M Lane

Kenneth J Shea

Scott McCall

Donald J Sirbuly

Timothy V Ratto

Sonia Edith Letant

Selim Elhadj

Ted Alfred Laurence

Sonia Edith Létant

Thomas R Huser

Michael P Thelen

Christopher W Hollars

Albert Loui

Louisa J Hope-Weeks

According to one embodiment, a system for detecting and identifying gases includes a piezoresistive microcantilever transducer, wherein dissipation of heat from the piezoresistive microcantilever into one or more gases is measured by changes in an electrical resistance of the piezoresistor, a vibrating microcantilever transducer, wherein shifts are measured in resonant frequency of the vibrating microcantilever due to viscous damping thereof by the one or more gases, and a subsystem for correlating the measured resistance changes and the resonant frequency shifts to the one or more gases. In another embodiment, a method for detecting and identifying one or more gases includes determining dissipation of heat from a microcantilever into one or more gases, and determining shifts in resonant frequency of the microcantilever due to viscous damping thereof by the one or more gases. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are also described according to more embodiments.

Microcantilever-based gas sensor employing two simultaneous physical sensing modes

Disclosed are nanometer to micron scale functionalized apertures constructed on a substrate made of glass, carbon, semiconductors or polymeric materials that allow for the real time detection of biological materials or chemical moieties. Many apertures can exist on one substrate allowing for the simultaneous detection of numerous chemical and biological molecules. One embodiment features a macrocyclic ring attached to cross-linkers, wherein the macrocyclic ring has a biological or chemical probe extending through the aperture. Another embodiment achieves functionalization by attaching chemical or biological anchors directly to the walls of the apertures via cross-linkers.

Functionalized apertures for the detection of chemical and biological materials

Nanoscale molecularly imprinted polymers (MIP) having polymer features wherein the size, shape and position are predetermined can be fabricated using an xy piezo stage mounted on an inverted microscope and a laser. Using an AMF controller, a solution containing polymer precursors and a photo initiator are positioned on the xy piezo and hit with a laser beam. The thickness of the polymeric features can be varied from a few nanometers to over a micron.

Nanoscale molecularly imprinted polymers and method thereof

Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) is a vibrational spectroscopic technique that utilizes metal surfaces to provide enhanced signals of several orders of magnitude. When molecules of interest are attached to designed metal nanoparticles, a SERS signal is attainable with single molecule detection limits. This provides an ultrasensitive means of detecting the presence of molecules. By using selective chemistries, metal nanoparticles can be functionalized to provide a unique signal upon analyte binding. Moreover, by using measurement techniques, such as, ratiometric received SERS spectra, such metal nanoparticles can be used to monitor dynamic processes in addition to static binding events. Accordingly, such nanoparticles can be used as nanosensors for a wide range of chemicals in fluid, gaseous and solid form, environmental sensors for pH, ion concentration, temperature, etc., and biological sensors for proteins, DNA, RNA, etc.

Nanosensors based on functionalized nanoparticles and surface enhanced raman scattering

Disclosed herein is a porous silicon filter capable of binding and detecting biological and chemical target molecules in liquid or gas samples. A photonic waveguiding silicon filter with chemical and/or biological anchors covalently attached to the pore walls bind target molecules. The system uses transmission curve engineering principles to allow measurements to be made in situ and in real time to detect the presence of various target molecules and calculate the concentration of bound target.

Target molecules detection by waveguiding in a photonic silicon membrane

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) wherein the template comprises either a) a peptide or amino acid sequence that has an N-terminal histidine residue or b) histamine. The MIP's may be prepared in aqueous systems using reagents that are water soluble at the relevant concentrations. Also, the invention includes methods for using the MIP's as receptors or adsorbents for, or to determine the present or non-presence of, target molecules containing i) particular peptides or amino acid sequences having N-terminal histidine residue or ii) histamine.

Molecular imprinting for the recognition of peptides in aqueous solution

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Brentwood, CA, United States of America

Bradley R Hart