Ut-battelle, Inc.

Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.

Lockheed Martin Energy Research Corporation

Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.

Other

The United States of America As Represented by the United States

University of Tennessee Research Foundation

Philip Morris Inc.

Tuan Vo-Dinh

Alan L Wintenberg

Milton Nance Ericson

Mohammad R Hajaligol

Michael J Sepaniak

Masoud Panjehpour

Stephen J Norton

Bergein F Overholt

Pierre Viallet

Ajit Sadana

An oligonucleotide-based SERS molecular probe (SMP) includes a nanoparticle having at least a metal component, and at least one pin loop, the pin loop including a loop sequence complementary to at least one target sequence, a first stem attached to one end of the loop sequence, a second stem attached to the other end of the loop sequence, and at least one SERS active label attached to the first stem. The nanoparticle is attached to the second stem. The probe generates a stronger SERS signal upon irradiation with excitation radiation when not bound to the target sequence as compared to the SERS signal generated following hybridization of the probe with the target sequence.

SERS molecular probe for diagnostics and therapy and methods of use thereof

A Raman integrated sensor system for the detection of targets including biotargets includes at least one sampling platform, at least one receptor probe disposed on the sampling platform, and an integrated circuit detector system communicably connected to the receptor. The sampling platform is preferably a Raman active surface-enhanced scattering (SERS) platform, wherein the Raman sensor is a SERS sensor. The receptors can include at least one protein receptor and at least one nucleic acid receptor.

SERS diagnostic platforms, methods and systems microarrays, biosensors and biochips

A diagnostic method and associated system includes the steps of exposing at least one sample location with excitation radiation through a single optical waveguide or a single optical waveguide bundle, wherein the sample emits emission radiation in response to the excitation radiation. The same single optical waveguide or the single optical waveguide bundle receives at least a portion of the emission radiation from the sample, thus providing co-registration of the excitation radiation and the emission radiation. The wavelength of the excitation radiation and emission radiation is synchronously scanned to produce a spectrum upon which an image can be formed. An increased emission signal is generated by the enhanced overlap of the excitation and emission focal volumes provided by co-registration of the excitation and emission signals thus increasing the sensitivity as well as decreasing the exposure time necessary to obtain an image.

Advanced synchronous luminescence imaging for chemical and medical diagnostics

A scanning tunable detection system and related method for analyzing samples includes a source of time varying excitation signals and a tunable optical filter for selectively transmitting time-varying optical signals emanated from a sample following irradiation with the time varying excitation signals. A detector is provided for converting the time-varying optical signals to electrical detection signals. The system can identify components in a sample using phase sensitive or time sensitive detection. A slew scan mode can be used to permit slow scanning through spectral regions rich in information but quickly in regions without such information.

Integrated tunable optical sensor (ITOS) system

An apparatus for monitoring vapor phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a high-temperature environment has an excitation source producing electromagnetic radiation, an optical path having an optical probe optically communicating the electromagnetic radiation received at a proximal end to a distal end, a spectrometer or polychromator, a detector, and a positioner coupled to the first optical path. The positioner can slidably move the distal end of the optical probe to maintain the distal end position with respect to an area of a material undergoing combustion. The emitted wavelength can be directed to a detector in a single optical probe 180&deg; backscattered configuration, in a dual optical probe 180&deg; backscattered configuration or in a dual optical probe 90&deg; side scattered configuration. The apparatus can be used to monitor an emitted wavelength of energy from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon as it fluoresces in a high temperature environment.

Monitoring of vapor phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

An integrated biosensor system for the simultaneously detection of a plurality of different types of targets includes at least one sampling platform, the sampling platform including a plurality of receptors for binding to the targets. The plurality of receptors include at least one protein receptor and at least one nucleic acid receptor. At least one excitation source of electromagnetic radiation at a first frequency is provided for irradiating the receptors, wherein electromagnetic radiation at a second frequency different from the first frequency is emitted in response to irradiating when at least one of the different types of targets are bound to the receptor probes. An integrated circuit detector system having a plurality of detection channels is also provided for detecting electromagnetic radiation at said second frequency, the detection channels each including at least one detector.

Multifunctional and multispectral biosensor devices and methods of use

Surface-enhanced Raman optical data storage (SERODS) systems having increased reading and writing speeds, that is, increased data transfer rates, are disclosed. In the various SERODS read and write systems, the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) data is written and read using a two-dimensional process called parallel signal transfer (PST). The various embodiments utilize laser light beam excitation of the SERODS medium, optical filtering, beam imaging, and two-dimensional light detection. Two- and three-dimensional SERODS media are utilized. The SERODS write systems employ either a different laser or a different level of laser power.

SERODS optical data storage with parallel signal transfer

The present invention discloses a self-contained miniature DNA biosensor designed to detect specific molecular targets, particularly suitable for detection of nucleic acids. For example, hybridized DNA may be detected without external monitoring or signal transmission. The miniaturized biosensor is a biochip comprising multiple biological sensing elements such as DNA probes, excitation microlasers, a sampling waveguide equipped with optical detectors (fluorescence and Raman), integrated electro-optics, and a biotelemetric radio frequency signal generator. The novel integrated circuit biochip microsystem (ICBM) is suitable for gene analysis and will allow rapid, large-scale, and cost-effective production of gene biochips.

Integrated circuit biochip microsystem

Characteristics of time varying data, such as an electrical signal, are analyzed by converting the data from a temporal domain into a spatial domain pattern. Fractal analysis is performed on the spatial domain pattern, thereby producing a fractal dimension D . The fractal dimension indicates the regularity of the time varying data.

Fractal analysis of time varying data

A probe for a surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectrometer is provided for injection into a cell in order to detect trace amounts of a compound within that cell. The probe has a spherical shape with a diameter less than one micrometer and preferably in the 10-500 nanometer range. The nanoprobes can have a receptor coating related to the specific compound to be detected by the probe. A process for producing, injecting and utilizing the nanoprobes are described.

Nanoprobe for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in medical diagnostic and drug screening

An apparatus for detecting a discontinuity in a material includes a source of electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength and an intensity sufficient to induce an enhancement in contrast between a manifestation of an acoustic property in the material and of the acoustic property in the discontinuity, as compared to when the material is not irradiated by the electromagnetic radiation. An acoustic emitter directs acoustic waves to the discontinuity in the material. The acoustic waves have a sensitivity to the acoustic property. An acoustic receiver receives the acoustic waves generated by the acoustic emitter after the acoustic waves have interacted with the material and the discontinuity. The acoustic receiver also generates a signal representative of the acoustic waves received by the acoustic receiver. A processor, in communication with the acoustic receiver and responsive to the signal generated by the acoustic receiver, is programmed to generate informational output about the discontinuity based on the signal generated by the acoustic receiver.

Method and apparatus of spectro-acoustically enhanced ultrasonic detection for diagnostics

The present invention discloses a self-contained miniature DNA biosensor designed to detect specific molecular targets, particularly suitable for detection of nucleic acids. For example, hybridized DNA may be detected without external monitoring or signal transmission. The miniaturized biosensor is a biochip comprising multiple biological sensing elements such as DNA probes, excitation microlasers, a sampling waveguide equipped with optical detectors (fluorescence and Raman), integrated electrooptics, and a biotelemetric radio frequency signal generator. The novel integrated circuit biochip microsystem (ICBM) is suitable for gene analysis and will allow rapid, large-scale, and cost-effective production of gene biochips.

Integrated circuit biochip microsystem containing lens

The subject invention is a series of methods and systems for using the Surface-Enhanced Raman (SER)-labeled Gene Probe for hybridization, detection and identification of SER-labeled hybridized target oligonucleotide material comprising the steps of immobilizing SER-labeled hybridized target oligonucleotide material on a support means, wherein the SER-labeled hybridized target oligonucleotide material comprise a SER label attached either to a target oligonucleotide of unknown sequence or to a gene probe of known sequence complementary to the target oligonucleotide sequence, the SER label is unique for the target oligonucleotide strands of a particular sequence wherein the SER-labeled oligonucleotide is hybridized to its complementary oligonucleotide strand, then the support means having the SER-labeled hybridized target oligonucleotide material adsorbed thereon is SERS activated with a SERS activating means, then the support means is analyzed.

Advanced surface-enhanced Raman gene probe systems and methods thereof

A method and apparatus for detecting and identifying biological pathogens in a sample includes exposing the sample to an excitation radiation and thereby generating an emission radiation, synchronously scanning the wavelength of the excitation radiation and the wavelength of the emission radiation to produce a spectrum, and correlating the spectrum to a biological pathogen in the sample. In another aspect, a method and apparatus for imaging chemical and biological agents in a sample includes exposing the sample to an excitation radiation and thereby generating an emission radiation and synchronously imaging the wavelength of the excitation radiation and the wavelength of the emission radiation to produce an imaged spectrum.

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Tuan Vo-Dinh