Use of chemical sensor

Abstract

A chemical sensor ( 1 ) for selectively detecting an analyte in a solution as described. The sensor comprises a flow-through chamber ( 2 ), a selective membrane ( 3 ), a transducer means ( 4 ), an inlet ( 5 ) for a liquid flow containing a recognition element, and an outlet ( 6 ). There is also described a method of selectively detecting an analyte in a solution, wherein a recognition element is contacted with the solution containing the analyte via a selective membrane, said contact resulting in a response detectable by transducer means. The recognition element is injected into a flow, the flow is passed into a flow-through chamber comprising a transducer means and the selective membrane, where it is contacted with the analyte passing from the solution outside the selective membrane, whereby the recognition element and the analyte interact to provide a signal which is detected by the transducer means. The use of the chemical sensor for detecting of analyte(s) in a reactor system, a flow system or in an in vivo system is also described.

1 . A chemical sensor ( 1 ) for selectively detecting an analyte in a solution, said sensor comprising a selective membrane ( 3 ), transducer means ( 4 ), an inlet ( 5 ) for a liquid flow, and an outlet ( 6 ), characterised in means ( 8 ) for injecting a recognition element into said flow, and a space provided between the transducer means ( 4 ) and the selective membrane ( 3 ), the transducer means ( 4 ) and the membrane ( 3 ) forming a flow-through chamber ( 2 ), one side of said membrane ( 3 ) being in contact with said solution containing said analyte, the analyte passing through the membrane ( 3 ) and interacting with the recognition element, said transducer means ( 4 ) converting the interaction into a signal (F) proportional to the concentration of the analyte in said solution.  
     
     
         2 . A chemical sensor according to  claim 1 , wherein the transducer means ( 4 ) is an electrochemical, optical, magnetic, acoustic/piezoelectric or thermometric transducer, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A chemical sensor according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the transducer means ( 4 ) is an amperometric transducer.  
     
     
         4 . A chemical sensor according to any one of claims  1 - 2 , wherein the transducer element is a pH transducer.  
     
     
         5 . A chemical sensor according to any one of claims  1 - 4 , wherein the selective membrane is chosen from the group consisting of dialysing membrane, ion exchange membrane, gas permeable membrane, analyte selective membrane and group or single analyte selective hindering membrane.  
     
     
         6 . A chemical sensor according to any one of claims  1 - 5 , characterised in that it further comprises means ( 7 ) for pumping the flow into the flow-through chamber.  
     
     
         7 . A chemical sensor according to any one of claims  1 - 6 , characterised in that it is arranged for detecting analyte(s) using a recognition element (catalytic or non-catalytic) of biological origin, that is as a biosensor.  
     
     
         8 . A method of selectively detecting an analyte in a solution, wherein a recognition element is contacted with the solution containing the analyte via a selective membrane, said contact resulting in a response detectable by transducer means, characterised in that the recognition element is injected into a flow, the flow is passed into a flow-through chamber comprising the transducer means and the selective membrane, where it is contacted with the analyte passing from the solution out-side the selective membrane, whereby the recognition element and the analyte interacts to provide a signal which is detected by the transducer means.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the flow containing the recognition element is passed continuously through the flow-through chamber during detection.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the flow containing the recognition element is kept stationary in the flow-through chamber during detection.  
     
     
         11 . A method,according to any one of claims  8 - 10 , wherein a sequence of different recognition elements are passed through the chamber.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to any one of claims  8 - 10 , wherein a mixture of enzymes is passed through the chamber.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to any one of claims  8 - 12 , wherein a buffer or washing solution is passed through the chamber to regenerate the transducer means and/or the selective membrane.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to any one of claims  8 - 12 , wherein the transducer means is regenerated by electro-cleaning.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to any one of claims  8 - 14 , wherein further substances, chosen from the group consisting of reagents, mediators, indicators and stabilisers, are introduced into the chamber.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to any one of claims  8 - 15 , wherein the detection by the transducer means is of electrochemical, optical, magnetic, acoustic/piezoelectric, thermometric nature or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to any one of claims  8 - 16 , wherein a leakage of the recognition component(s) to the solution containing the analyte is prevented or reduced by using as a selective membrane a dialysing membrane, ion exchange membrane, gas permeable membrane, analyte selective membrane or group or single analyte selective hindering membrane.  
     
     
         18 . A method according to any one of claims  8 - 17 , wherein the recognition element is of biological origin.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to any one of claims  8 - 18 , wherein the recognition element is chosen among catalytic or non-catalytic elements.  
     
     
         20 . Use of the chemical sensor as defined in any one of claims  1 - 7  for detecting of analyte(s) in a reactor system, a flow system or in an in vivo system.  
     
     
         21 . Use of the chemical sensor as defined in any one of claims  1 - 7  for on line and/or in situ measurements.  
     
     
         22 . Use of the chemical sensor as defined in any one of claims  1 - 7  for measurements at high temperatures.  
     
     
         23 . Use of the chemical sensor as defined in any one of claims  1 - 7  for measurements in harsh chemical environments.  
     
     
         24 . Use according to  claim 23  for measurements at high or low pH values, high salt concentration and/or in the presence of denaturating substances.  
     
     
         25 . Use of the chemical sensor as defined in any one of claims  1 - 7  for differential measurements with and without a recognition element.