Systems and Methods Related to Optical Nanosensors Comprising Photoluminescent Nanostructures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016178597-A1
Application number	US-201313914236-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2013
Priority date	Dec 14, 2009
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods related to optical nanosensors comprising photoluminescent nanostructures are generally described.

First claim

1 . A nanosensor for determining an analyte, comprising:
a photoluminescent nanostructure; and a polymer comprising a polypeptide associated with the photoluminescent nanostructure, wherein
the nanosensor emits a first emission of electromagnetic radiation in the absence of the analyte;
the nanosensor emits a second emission of electromagnetic radiation, distinguishable from the first emission, upon the polypeptide interacting with the analyte; and
wherein the polymer comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, collagen, phenylated dextran or an oligonucleotide.

2 .- 6 . (canceled)

7 . The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, collagen, or phenylated dextran.

8 . The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises an oligonucleotide.

9 . The nanosensor of claim 8 , wherein the polymer comprises a single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide.

10 . The nanosensor of claim 9 , wherein the single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide comprises at least 5 repeating units, in succession, of at least one of (GT), (AT), (AAAAT), or (GGGGT).

11 . The nanosensor of claim 9 , wherein the single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide comprises at least 10 repeating units, in succession, of at least one of (GT) or (AT).

12 . The nanosensor of claim 9 , wherein the single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide comprises at least 15 repeating units, in succession, of at least one of (GT) or (AT).

13 . The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the nanosensor emits a third emission of electromagnetic radiation, distinguishable from the first emission and the second emission, upon interacting with a second analyte.

14 . The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a carbon nanotube.

15 . The nanosensor of claim 14 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a single-walled carbon nanotube.

16 . The nanosensor of claim 15 , wherein the photoluminescent nanostructure comprises a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube.

17 . The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the analyte comprises a nitroaryl group.

18 . The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the analyte comprises at least one of a pesticide or an explosive.

19 . The nanosensor of claim 1 , wherein the analyte comprises at least one of 2,4-dinitrophenol, 4-nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenol, picric acid, trinitrotoluene, or cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine.

20 . A method of determining an analyte, comprising:
exposing a first nanosensor comprising a first photoluminescent carbon-based nanostructure and a first polymer interacting with the first photoluminescent carbon-based nanostructure to a first analyte, wherein:
the first analyte interacts with the first nanosensor to produce a first emission of electromagnetic radiation and the first polymer comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, collagen, phenylated dextran or an oligonucleotide, and
determining the first analyte based at least in part upon the first emission of electromagnetic radiation.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising exposing the first nanosensor to a second analyte, wherein the second analyte interacts with the first nanosensor to produce a second emission of electromagnetic radiation, distinguishable from the first emission.

22 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first emission of electromagnetic radiation has a first average intensity, and the second emission of electromagnetic radiation has a second average intensity, wherein the first and second average intensities are different.

23 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first emission of electromagnetic radiation has at least one peak wavelength, and the second emission of electromagnetic radiation has a second peak wavelength, wherein the first and second peak wavelengths are different.

24 . The method of claim 21 , wherein the first emission of electromagnetic radiation occurs at a first wavelength with a first intensity, and the second emission of electromagnetic radiation occurs at the first wavelength at a second intensity that is different from the first intensity.

25 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
exposing a second nanosensor comprising a second photoluminescent carbon-based nanostructure and a second polymer interacting with the second photoluminescent carbon-based nanostructure to the first analyte; wherein the first analyte interacts with the second nanosensor to produce a second emission of electromagnetic radiation, distinguishable from the first emission.

26 .- 29 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Massachusetts Inst Technology

Inventors

• Strano Michael S
• Heller Daniel A
• Pratt George W
• Zhang Jingqing

Classifications

• G01N21/6489

  Photoluminescence of semiconductors · CPC title

• G01N21/6428

  Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" (in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53) · CPC title

• B82Y30/00

  Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites · CPC title

• G01N2201/061

  Sources · CPC title

• G01N2201/068

  Optics, miscellaneous · CPC title