The present invention relates to apparatus and method for sensing a target molecule. It further relates to semiconductor chips having a sensing capability and being suitable for use in such apparatus.
Sensors which are specific to one or more target molecules and can sense for the target molecule or molecules in an analyte, are well known. For larger molecules, and in particular for bio-molecules, that is to say organic molecules or macromolecules which are associated with living organisms, such as protein or nucleic acid, sensing is typically carried out by means of either optical or electronic sensing modes. In optical sensing, an optical property of the target molecule itself is used, or an optical marker is used in which a marker molecule is attached to the target molecule and the optical property of the marker is sensed. Typically the marker molecule may fluoresce, and the presence of the marker molecule—and thus of the attached target molecule—is determined by sensing the fluorescence. In electronic sensing, an electronic property of the target molecule is sensed, or, as is typically the case for biomolecules, a receptor molecule is provided which binds specifically to the target biomolecule, and the combination is sensed; since the combination of biomolecule and bioreceptor has different electronic properties to the bioreceptor alone, the presence or absence of the bio-molecule can thereby be determined.
Such sensors, and in particular biosensors, whether using optical or electronic sensing means, require that the analyte be brought into contact with the sensor. Conventionally this has been done by means of a fluidic and more particularly a microfluidic component to transport the analyte to the sensing region. In particular in the case of electronic sensing, it is generally required that electrical contacts be kept remote from the analyte material. Furthermore, with recent developments which have resulted in significant reduction in the physical dimensions of such sensors, the microfluidic arrangement becomes increasingly important, and complex and generally expensive, as well as becoming more susceptible to leakage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for sensing a target molecule, and a method for sensing a target molecule, which is inexpensive and convenient.
According to a first aspect, there is provided apparatus for sensing a target molecule and comprising: a dipstick having a tip configured to be dipped into a well; and a semiconductor chip configured as a sensor, the semiconductor chip having a first major surface having at least one electrode thereon, which electrode is sensitive to the target molecule, the semiconductor chip being removably attachable to the tip. By attaching the sensor to a dipstick, the sensor may be transported to the analyte by the dipstick. Thereby, the requirement for fluidic transport normally associated with conventional sensors may be avoided. Moreover, by providing an apparatus wherein the semiconductor chip is removably attachable to the tip, the dipstick may be reusable. In the case of a reusable dipstick, it may be reused with the same semiconductor chip; alternatively or in addition it may be reused with a different semiconductor chip. Such re-use may provide for a cost saving in cases where the semiconductor chip may only be used for a single or for a limited number of sensing operations. The well may be a fluidic container for containing a fluid, in particular the analyte. Such an electrode which is sensitive to a target molecule is commonly referred to as a functionalized electrode.
In embodiments the semiconductor chip further comprises at least one electrical contact on a second major surface opposed to the first major surface and in electrical communication with the tip. Providing the semiconductor chip with one or more electrical contacts on its second major surface, which may be the backside of the chip, allows for convenient electrical communication with the dipstick and may provide for the electrical communication to be isolated from the sensing environment. In other embodiments, one or more electrical contacts may be provided on the chip on its first major surface.
In embodiments, the electrical communication is by means of a resilient element. The resilient element may be a spring which may provide for simple and efficient attachment of the semiconductor chip to the tip.
In embodiments the apparatus further comprises a sealing element for providing a seal between the second major surface and the tip. The sealing element may ensure that electrical contacts are isolated from the analyte and thereby avoid electrical shorts which might otherwise arise from immersion of the chip and at least part of the tip into the analyte, even if the dipstick is agitated with respect to the analyte. Alternatively, the apparatus may be arranged such that only the chip is immersed or partly immersed in the analyte.
In embodiments, the semiconductor chip is removably attachable to the tip by at least one of a resilient component and a magnetic field. Although not limited thereto, it is particularly convenient if the assembly of the dipstick and semiconductor chip is compatible with so-called pick-and-place apparatus. This may provide for automated or semi-automated operation. Attachment of the semiconductor chip to the tip, by resilient means such as a spring, or by a magnetic field, is thus convenient. Other means of attachment, such as, without limitation, use of Van der Waals force, a vacuum, or friction are also envisaged and within the scope of embodiments.
The apparatus may further comprise at least one further dipstick having a respective tip and configured to be dipped into a respective further well, the well and further well being comprised in a microtitre plate. By providing an apparatus with multiple semiconductor chips, typically one attached to the respective tip of each dipstick which forms part of an array of dipsticks, typically with regular spacing therebetween, the speed or throughput of the sensing process may be increased. Moreover, by suitable choice of the spacing or pitch between dipsticks in a linear array, the apparatus may be made compatible with conventional microtitre plates which are readily available at relatively low cost. The apparatus may be dimensioned so as to be physically similar to well-known micropipette arrays, for enhanced compatibility with standardised products and equipment in current biotechnology facilities.
In embodiments in which the apparatus includes a plurality of dipsticks, the apparatus may further comprise a further semiconductor chip being removably attachable to the respective tip and having a major surface having at least one electrode thereon, which electrode is sensitive to a second target molecule which is different from the target molecule. Such apparatus is thereby suitable for sensing, at the same time, for more than one different target molecules. The speed of sensing for a multiplicity of difference target molecules may thereby be enhanced.
According to another aspect, there is provided a semiconductor module comprising a semiconductor chip configured for use in an apparatus as described above. Without limitation the semiconductor module may be an assembly comprising other components in addition to the semiconductor chip, or may be the semiconductor chip itself.
In embodiments, the, each or some of the semiconductor chip or chips may further comprise at least one further electrode on the first major surface of the semiconductor chip, the at least one further electrode being sensitive to a further target molecule which is different from the target molecule. Thereby an individual semiconductor chip may be provided which is capable of sensing for more than one different type of target molecule. The speed or throughput of sensing for a multiplicity of difference target molecules may thereby be enhanced or further enhanced.
According to a yet further aspect, there is provided a method of sensing a target molecule, the method comprising: removably attaching a semiconductor chip or module to a tip of a dipstick, the semiconductor chip or module having a first major surface having at least one electrode thereon, which electrode is sensitive to the target molecule, and a second, opposed, major surface adjoining the tip; dipping the chip into a well having an analyte therein; electrically sensing for the molecule by means of the semiconductor chip; removing the chip from the well; and detaching the semiconductor chip from the tip. The chip may be dipped into the well such that the tip is also dipped into the well and comes into contact with the analyte; in other embodiments, the chip may be dipped into the well such that the tip does not come into contact with the analyte. The chip may form part of a module which is completely or partially dipped into the analyte. Thus in some embodiments the module including the chip is partially dipped into the analyte and the tip does not come into contact with the analyte, thereby avoiding contamination of the dipstick by the analyte and simplifying cleaning the dipstick prior to re-use.
In embodiments, removably attaching a semiconductor chip or module to a tip of a dipstick comprises magnetically attaching the chip to the tip. Alternatively, removably attaching the chip or module may comprise other methods of attachment such as, without limitation, forcing the components together by resilient means or through Van der Waals force or by means of a vacuum.
In embodiments, removably attaching a semiconductor chip or module to a tip of a dipstick further comprises forming a seal, by means of a sealing element, between the second major surface and the tip.
In embodiments, detaching the semiconductor chip or module from the tip comprises urging the chip away from the tip by a pin. In other embodiments, and without limitation, detaching the semiconductor chip or module may be affected by alteration or reversal of a magnetic field or by modification or cessation of a vacuum.
In embodiments, electrically sensing for the target molecule comprises measuring a change in a capacitance associated with the electrode, in the presence of the target molecule. In other embodiments electrically sensing for the target molecule comprises measuring a change in an impedance associated with the electrode, in the presence of the target molecule.
The target molecule may be a bio-molecule.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from, and elucidated with reference to, the embodiments described hereinafter.
Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which
It should be noted that the Figures are diagrammatic and not drawn to scale. Relative dimensions and proportions of parts of these Figures have been shown exaggerated or reduced in size, for the sake of clarity and convenience in the drawings. The same reference signs are generally used to refer to corresponding or similar feature in modified and different embodiments
a) shows a schematic of an apparatus 100 according to an embodiment. The apparatus comprises a dipstick 10 having a tip 20, and a semiconductor chip 30. The dipstick 10 may be fabricated as a unitary component comprising the tip 20, or as a composite component wherein the tip 20 is separate to a stem 25. The semiconductor chip 30 has a first major surface 40. The first major surface 40 has thereon at least one electrode 50; the electrode 50 is sensitive to a target molecule. The semiconductor chip 30 includes therein electronic circuitry, not shown, which is operable to sense the presence of the target molecule bound to the electrode 50. Such semiconductor chips with one or more electrodes thereon will be familiar to the skilled person and are known from, for example, applicant's co-pending and pre-published patent application publication number WO2008/1326565. It will be appreciated, that although in
As shown in
The semiconductor chip 30 may be attachable to the tip 20 by one or more of several mechanisms.
Other mechanisms for attachment, such as using the Van der Waals force between components 220 and 230, which in this case would be formed from suitably selected materials, may be used instead of a magnetic attachment mechanism. As a further example of such an other mechanism, a spring or clip or other resilient means may be used to secure the semiconductor chip in place. Yet another attachment mechanism may be by means of a vacuum, in which case tip 20 may be hollow or include a conduit (not shown), which is evacuated in order to provide a negative pressure between the tip and semiconductor chip to secure the semiconductor chip in place.
Although in some embodiments, the attachment may be reversible simply by removing the attaching force such as magnetic field or vacuum, in other embodiments, one or more mechanisms to effect detachment may be required. An example of such a mechanism is shown in
Particularly, but without limitation, in the case that the dipstick is a unitary component, the semiconductor chip may form or comprise a semiconductor module, which may be configured to operate in a similar fashion to the removable tip of a pipette. As an example, the semiconductor chip may be integrated into a module which has a recess at its upper end, the recess having a generally inverted conical form. The upper end of the module, or its upper end in particular, may thus take the form of a sleeve. The dipstick (typically with integral tip), has a lower end have a generally conical or pyramidal protrusion. The dipstick may then be attached to the module, by means of friction, or a “push-fit” into the sleeve. Again similar to the operation of a conventional pipette, the module may be released from the dipstick by a mechanical action such as firing one or more ejector pins as discussed above.
Although as shown in
A second arrangement for providing electrical communication between the semiconductor chip and the tip is shown in
A third, non-limiting, arrangement for providing electrical communication between the semiconductor chip and the tip is shown in
It will thus be appreciated that the semiconductor chip may be comprised in a semiconductor module. In the embodiments shown in
In order to prevent the analyte coming into contact with electrical contacts 70 or the respective contacts 60 or 380, a sealing element may be provided for providing a seal between the second major surface and the tip. Conveniently such a sealing element may be an O-ring. The sealing element may provide a fluidic seal and may be effective to prevent that the electrical contacts are shorted when the sensor is dipped into the analyte.
The wells 520 of microtitre plate 530 may have analyte therein. The analyte in individual wells may be the same, or may be different. By using a plurality of different analytes in the different wells 520 of microtitre plate 530, apparatus according to this embodiment may conveniently sense for a particular target molecule in a plurality of analytes, which may be different. In other embodiments the analyte in the different wells 520 of microtitre plate 530 is the same, but the dipsticks 10 of the apparatus are attached to respective chips 30 which are sensitive to different target molecules. Thus in different embodiments, either a plurality of different samples may be analysed for a particular target molecule, or a sample analyte may be analysed for a plurality of different target molecules. A combination of different analytes and different target molecules is also possible.
In summary and without limitation, there is disclosed herein a semiconductor chip, apparatus, and associated method wherein the semiconductor chip, having at least one electrode and configured as a sensor such as a biosensor, is removably attachable to a tip of a dipstick. The dipstick tip, with the attached semiconductor chip, is arranged to be dipped into a well containing an analyte. The well may be part of a micro-titre plate. The chip electrically senses the presence of a target molecule, such as a bio-molecule, in the analyte. The sensing may typically be by means of a change in a capacitance associated with the electrode which occurs in the presence of the target molecule. The apparatus may include a plurality of dipsticks and associated semiconductor chips which are sensitive for different target molecules. Alternatively or in addition, a single semiconductor chip may have a plurality, many or even many thousands of electrodes, which may be sensitive to different target molecules.
From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modifications will be apparent to the skilled person. Such variations and modifications may involve equivalent and other features which are already known in the art of sensing for target molecules, and which may be used instead of, or in addition to, features already described herein.
It will be appreciated that although the in description reference has generally been made to biomolecules, as an example subset of large molecules, the invention is not limited to molecules which have biological activity, are organic, or are associated with a living organism.
Although the appended claims are directed to particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature or any novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly or implicitly or any generalisation thereof, whether or not it relates to the same invention as presently claimed in any claim and whether or not it mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does the present invention.
Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.
The applicant hereby gives notice that new claims may be formulated to such features and/or combinations of such features during the prosecution of the present application or of any further application derived therefrom.
For the sake of completeness it is also stated that the term “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, the term “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality, and reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
11185741.3 | Oct 2011 | EP | regional |