NUCLEIC ACID DETECTION DEVICE AND NUCLEIC ACID DETECTION APPARATUS

Abstract

A nucleic acid detection device includes a flow channel which allows a solution containing a nucleic acid recognition body to flow therethrough, at least two first electrode portions including a probe electrode to which at least one nucleic acid probe is immobilized, and at least two second electrode portions including a reference electrode to be used for measuring a reference value. The first and second electrode portions are arranged in the flow channel to form a row along the flow channel. One of the second electrode portions is adjacent to one of the first electrode portions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a nucleic acid detection device to be used for electrochemical nucleic acid detection;

FIG. 2 shows in enlargement the flow channel shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 shows an electrode layout in a conventional nucleic acid detection device;

FIG. 4 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows an electrode layout in a nucleic acid detection device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an electrode layout in a nucleic acid detection device according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 8 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows an electrode layout in a nucleic acid detection device according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows an electrode layout in a nucleic acid detection device according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 12 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows an electrode layout in a nucleic acid detection device according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 14 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows an electrode layout in a nucleic acid detection device according to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 16 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows an electrode layout in a nucleic acid detection device according to the seventh embodiment;

FIG. 18 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 shows an electrode layout in a nucleic acid detection device according to the eighth embodiment; and

FIG. 20 shows the electrochemical response of a nucleic acid recognition body obtained for the nucleic acid detection device of FIG. 19.

Claims

1. A nucleic acid detection device to be used for electrochemical nucleic acid detection, comprising: a flow channel which allows a solution containing a nucleic acid recognition body to flow therethrough;at least two first electrode portions including a probe electrode to which at least one nucleic acid probe is immobilized; andat least two second electrode portions including a reference electrode to be used for measuring a reference value, the first and second electrode portions being arranged in the flow channel to form a row along the flow channel, and one of the second electrode portions being adjacent to one of the first electrode portions.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first electrode portions is located between the second electrode portions.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode portions are located on both sides of the second electrode portions.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one probe electrode of the first electrode portions includes a probe with a nucleic acid sequence which is different from that of a probe of at least another one of the probe electrodes of the first electrode portions.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the flow channel includes straight flow channel regions and at least one connection flow channel region which connects two adjacent straight flow channel regions, the at least two second electrode portions are respectively arranged in different straight flow channel regions, the at least two first electrode portions are respectively arranged in different straight flow channel regions, and at least two straight flow channel regions include at least one of the second electrode portions and at least one of the first electrode portions.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrode portions are repeatedly arranged along the flow channel in accordance with a predetermined sequence pattern based on a difference in electrodes included in each of the first and second electrode portions.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the reference electrode comprises an electrode to which a nucleic acid probe for measuring the reference value is immobilized.

8. A nucleic acid detection device to be used for electrochemical nucleic acid detection, comprising: a flow channel which allows a solution containing a nucleic acid recognition body to flow therethrough; andelectrode portions which are arranged in the flow channel to form a row along the flow channel, the electrode portions including a probe electrode to which at least one nucleic acid probe is immobilized and a reference electrode to be used for measuring a reference value.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein at least one probe electrode of the electrode portions includes a probe with a nucleic acid sequence which is different from that of a probe of at least another one probe electrode of the electrode portions.

10. A device according to claim 8, wherein the electrode portions are repeatedly arranged along the flow channel in accordance with a predetermined sequence pattern based on a difference in electrodes included in each of the electrode portions.

11. A device according to claim 8, wherein the flow channel includes straight flow channel regions and at least one connection flow channel region which connects two adjacent straight flow channel regions, and some of the electrode portions are arranged in each of the straight flow channel regions.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein one of the electrode portions is arranged near either one of an inlet and an outlet of the flow channel.

13. A device according to claim 8, wherein the reference electrode comprises an electrode to which a nucleic acid probe for measuring the reference value is immobilized.

14. A nucleic acid detection device to be used for electrochemical nucleic acid detection, comprising: a flow channel which allows a solution containing a nucleic acid recognition body to flow therethrough;at least two first electrode portions including a probe electrode to which at least one nucleic acid probe is immobilized;at least one second electrode portion including a reference electrode to be used for measuring a reference value, the first and second electrode portions being arranged in the flow channel to form a row along the flow channel; andat least two concentration measurement electrodes arranged in the flow channel to be used for measuring a relative value of a concentration distribution of the nucleic acid recognition body in the flow channel.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the first and second electrode portions are located between the concentration measurement electrodes.

16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the first and second electrode portions and the concentration measurement electrodes are repeatedly arranged along the flow channel in accordance with a predetermined sequence pattern.

17. A device according to claim 14, wherein the flow channel includes straight flow channel regions and at least one connection flow channel region which connects two adjacent straight flow channel regions, the first and second electrode portions are located in the straight flow channel regions, and the device includes at least one concentration measurement electrode for each of the straight flow channel regions.

18. A device according to claim 14, wherein the number of concentration measurement electrodes is equal to that of the first and second electrode portions, and the concentration measurement electrodes are located adjacent to the first and second electrode portions, respectively.

19. A device according to claim 14, wherein the concentration measurement electrodes comprise electrodes each having a layer of a blocking molecule comprising a normal chain organic molecule on a surface thereof.

20. A device according to claim 14, wherein the concentration measurement electrodes comprise electrodes each having a layer made of a nucleic acid molecule that interacts with the nucleic acid recognition body on a surface thereof.

21. A nucleic acid detection apparatus which performs electrochemical nucleic acid detection using a device according to claim 1, wherein nucleic acid detection is performed with reference to a numerical value which is calculated using a value measured through the reference electrode.

22. A nucleic acid detection apparatus which performs electrochemical nucleic acid detection using a device according to claim 5, wherein nucleic acid detection is performed with reference to a numerical value which is calculated using a value measured through the reference electrode.

23. A nucleic acid detection apparatus which performs electrochemical nucleic acid detection using a device according to claim 13, wherein nucleic acid detection is performed using a value which is obtained by correcting a value measured through either one of the probe electrode and the reference electrode by a value measured through either one of the concentration measurement electrodes.

24. A nucleic acid detection apparatus which performs electrochemical nucleic acid detection using a device according to claim 13, wherein nucleic acid detection is performed using a value which is obtained by correcting a value measured through the probe electrode and the reference electrode by a value measured through the concentration measurement electrodes.