Use and making of biosensors utilizing antimicrobial peptides for highly sensitive biological monitoring

Abstract

A biosensor and method of making are disclosed. The biosensor is configured to detect a target and may include a peptide immobilized on a sensing component, the sensing component having an anode and a cathode. The immobilized peptide may comprise an antimicrobial peptide binding motif for the target. The sensing component has an electrical conductivity that changes in response to binding of the immobilized peptide to the target. The immobilized peptide may bind one or more targets selected from the list consisting of: bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, pathogens, protozoa, fungi, viruses, and cancerous cells. The biosensor may have a display with a readout that is responsive to changes in electrical conductivity of the sensing component. The display unit may be wirelessly coupled to the sensing component. A resonant circuit with an inductive coil may be electrically coupled to the sensing component. A planar coil antenna may be disposed in proximity to the resonant circuit, the planar coil antenna being configured to provide power to the sensing component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biosensor configured for detection of a target and for application to a test surface, the biosensor comprising:
 a microelectrode array having an electrical conductivity that varies depending on a target concentration, the microelectrode array being disposed on a dissolvable substrate, the microelectrode array being configured to generate a signal corresponding to the electrical conductivity of the microelectrode array; and   the dissolvable substrate being configured to be dissolved off by the application of water, leaving the microelectrode array intimately attached to the test surface.   
     
     
         2 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter electrically coupled to the microelectrode array and forming an electric circuit, the transmitter being configured to transmit the signal corresponding to the electrical conductivity of the microelectrode array, the dissolvable substrate being configured to be dissolved off by the application of water, leaving the microelectrode array and the transmitter intimately attached to the test surface. 
     
     
         3 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , further comprising a binding molecule disposed on the microelectrode array. 
     
     
         4 . The biosensor of  claim 3  wherein the binding molecule is configured to interact with and attract a subsequent binding molecule, the microelectrode array having an electrical conductivity that is dependent on a binding state of the binding molecule. 
     
     
         5 . The biosensor of  claim 3 , wherein binding molecule is selected from the list consisting of: antimicrobial peptides, antibodies, modified antimicrobial peptides, modified antibodies, chimeric peptides containing antimicrobial peptide binding motifs, chimeric peptides containing antibody binding motifs, DNA fragments, RNA fragments, peptide binding motifs, proteins, small molecules and polymers combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable substrate is selected from a list consisting of: cellulose, paper, silk, silk fibroin and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the dissolvable substrate is placed in contact with a biologic test surface. 
     
     
         8 . The biosensor of  claim 7 , wherein the biologic test surface is capable of bioresorption. 
     
     
         9 . The biosensor of  claim 7 , wherein the biologic test surface is selected from the list consisting of: teeth, bone, skin, tissue, hair, nail, cornea, gum, tongue, palate, brain, heart, lung, membrane, leaf, root, bark, fur, feather, chiton and scale. 
     
     
         10 . The biosensor of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter. 
     
     
         11 . The biosensor of  claim 10 , further comprising a receiver unit having a planar coil antenna electrically coupled to the microelectrode array, the planar coil antenna being configured to power the wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter being configured to send a wireless signal corresponding to the electrical conductivity of the microelectrode array. 
     
     
         12 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the binding molecule is contains a glucose-binding motif. 
     
     
         13 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the microelectrode array is interdigitated. 
     
     
         14 . The biosensor of  claim 1 , wherein the microelectrode array comprises graphene.