Tufts College

Tuft College

Brian G Healey

David R Walt

The present invention provides biosensors, apparatus and methods for selectively detecting at least one complementary oligonucleotide target specie in a fluid sample containing a mixture of different oligonucleotide fragments. One preferred embodiment of the biosensor is as a unitary fiber optic array having species of single stranded nucleic acid disposed as individual deposits in aligned organization upon multiple strand end faces at differing spatial positions on the distal array end surface.

Fiber optic biosensor for selectively detecting oligonucleotide species in a mixed fluid sample

The present invention provides biosensors, apparatus and methods for selectively detecting at least one complementary oligonucleotide target specie in a fluid sample containing a mixture of different oligonucleotide fragments. One preferred embodiment of the biosensor is as a unitary fiber optic array having an in-situ hybridization zone comprising not less than one specie of single stranded oligonucleotide disposed as individual deposits in aligned organization upon multiple strand end faces at differing spatial positions on the distal array end surface. In this manner, a collective of deployed, single specie, multiple fixed probes are presented for selective in-situ hybridization on-demand with at least one mobile complementary target specie ultimately bearing a joined identifying label. The biosensor provides for optical detection of in-situ hybridization on the distal end surface via the presence of the concomitantly disposed joined identifying label at the differing spatial positions.

The present invention is a photodeposition methodology for fabricating a three-dimensional patterned polymer microstructure. A variety of polymeric structures can be fabricated on solid substrates using unitary fiber optic arrays for light delivery. The methodology allows micrometer-scale photopatterning for the fabricated structures using masks substantially larger than the desired dimensions of the microstructure.

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Guilford, CT, United States of America

Brian G Healey