Molecular detector

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of a method and device comprising an electronic charge detector capable of detecting the presence of small quantities of electric charge generated through a universal signal generation process that is configured to detect any biological agents and biomolecular targets of interest. Electric charge results from signal molecules binding to affinity molecules that are attached to a detection surface. Electronic circuits are configured to detect the induced electric charges on the detection surface. Additional electronic devices then process useful quantitative data regarding specific biomolecular interaction events.

1 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A device for detecting biomolecules, comprising:
 a detection surface electronically coupled to an electronic circuit;   a molecular layer directly or indirectly immobilized on the detection surface, the molecular layer comprising a mixture of an affinity binding molecule and a spacer molecule; and   a signal molecule in a containment area, the signal molecule comprising a recognition head and an electrically charged tail, wherein the recognition head of the signal molecule specifically binds, either directly or indirectly, to the affinity binding molecule, and the electronic circuit is configured to determine the presence of the signal molecule specifically bound by the affinity binding molecule immobilized on the detection surface.   
     
     
         63 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein a biomolecule binds directly or indirectly to the target and the signal molecule is produced through in vitro transcription of the DNA template linked to the biomolecule. 
     
     
         64 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein the biomolecule binds to the target and the signal molecule comprises a peptide produced through in vitro transcription and translation of the DNA template. 
     
     
         65 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the detection surface comprises a conductor. 
     
     
         66 . The device of  claim 65 , wherein the conductor comprises a metal. 
     
     
         67 . The device of  claim 66 , wherein the metal comprises gold, copper, aluminum, tin, platinum, or silver. 
     
     
         68 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the detection surface comprises a semiconductor material. 
     
     
         69 . The device of  claim 68 , wherein the semiconductor comprises, silicon, silicon dioxide, or polysilicon. 
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the affinity binding molecule is directly or indirectly immobilized on the detection surface. 
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the affinity binding molecule is an organic molecule or a biomolecule. 
     
     
         72 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the affinity binding molecule comprises a protein. 
     
     
         73 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the affinity binding molecule comprises a nucleic acid. 
     
     
         74 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the spacer molecule is directly immobilized on the detection surface. 
     
     
         75 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the spacer molecules comprises a small organic molecule or an organic polymer. 
     
     
         76 . The device of  claim 75 , wherein the small organic molecule comprises a mercaptoalcohol. 
     
     
         77 . The device of  claim 76 , wherein the mercaptoalcohol comprises mercaptohexanol. 
     
     
         78 . The device according to  claim 77 , wherein the organic polymer comprises polyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         79 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the signal molecule comprises an RNA aptamer head that specifically binds to the affinity binding molecule. 
     
     
         80 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the electrically charged tail of the signal molecule comprises a polynucleic acid or a polypeptide. 
     
     
         81 . The device of  claim 80 , wherein the electrically charged tail comprises a poly-A tail. 
     
     
         82 . The device of  claim 64 , wherein the DNA template codes for a signal molecule, wherein the signal molecule comprises an RNA aptamer recognition head and an electrically charged poly-A tail. 
     
     
         83 . The device of  claim 63 , wherein the DNA molecule template can be directly or indirectly linked to a biomolecule. 
     
     
         84 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the detection surface is electronically coupled directly or indirectly to a gate of a transistor, the transistor driving electronics to produce qualitative or quantitative data. 
     
     
         85 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the electronic circuit comprises a plurality of n-MOS and p-MOS devices. 
     
     
         86 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the electronic circuit further comprises:
 a conductor path with a first end electronically coupled to the detector surface;   a polysilicon gate of a field effects transistor (FET) electronically coupled to a second end of the conductor path;   amplifier electronics electrically coupled to the FET; and   digital analysis circuitry electrically coupled to the amplifier electronics.   
     
     
         87 . The device according to  claim 86 , wherein the digital analysis circuitry is configured to perform at least accounting, ratio, summation, and threshold operations, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         88 . The device of  claim 86 , wherein an initial bias charge of the polysilicon gate is above a threshold charge for a MOSFET transistor such as an n-MOS FET or a p-MOS FET. 
     
     
         89 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the detector surface is electrically connected to an n-MOS FET. 
     
     
         90 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the detector surface is electrically connected to a p-MOS FET. 
     
     
         91 . The device of  claim 86 , wherein the transistor comprises an ultra low power transistor with low threshold voltage near or even zero volts. 
     
     
         92 . The device of  claim 86 , wherein a reference voltage is provided to the circuit. 
     
     
         93 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the containment area is coupled to a reaction vessel. 
     
     
         94 . The device of  claim 62 , wherein the containment area also serves as a reaction vessel. 
     
     
         95 . The device of  claim 93 , wherein the containment area and the reaction vessel are coupled through a microchannel. 
     
     
         96 . A method for detecting a target in a sample, comprising:
 immobilizing the target in a reaction vessel;   contacting the target with a signal probe, wherein the signal probe comprises a recognition component and a signal template component, wherein the recognition component specifically binds directly or indirectly to the target and the signal template component codes for a signal molecule, wherein the signal molecule comprises a recognition head and an electrically charged tail;   producing the signal molecule using the signal template component coding for the signal molecule; and   detecting the signal molecule at a detection surface, wherein the detection surface comprises an affinity binding molecule and a spacer molecule, wherein the recognition head of the signal molecule specifically binds to the affinity binding molecule and the electrically charged tail of the signal molecule brings a charge to the detection surface that is detected and indicates the presence of the target in the sample.   
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , further comprising removing any signal probe that is not specifically bound to the target immobilized in the reaction vessel. 
     
     
         98 . A method of detecting biological substances, comprising:
 interacting a biological sample with a plurality of transistors in a circuit, each transistor having a gate, the circuit including an electrical signal; and   modifying electrical properties of the circuit in response to a biological substance in contact with at least one gate.