초록 ▼

A biosensor, sensor array, sensing method and sensing apparatus are provided in which individual cells or randomly mixed populations of cells, having unique response characteristics to chemical and biological materials, are deployed in a plurality of microwells formed at the distal end of individual

A biosensor, sensor array, sensing method and sensing apparatus are provided in which individual cells or randomly mixed populations of cells, having unique response characteristics to chemical and biological materials, are deployed in a plurality of microwells formed at the distal end of individual fibers within a fiber optic array. The biosensor array utilizes an optically interrogatable encoding scheme for determining the identity and location of each cell type in the array and provides for simultaneous measurements of large numbers of individual cell responses to target analytes. The sensing method utilizes the unique ability of cell populations to respond to biologically significant compounds in a characteristic and detectable manner. The biosensor array and measurement method may be employed in the study of biologically active materials, in situ environmental monitoring, monitoring of a variety of bioprocesses, and for high throughput screening of large combinatorial chemical libraries.

대표청구항 ▼

[What is calimed is:] [1.]providing a biosensor array comprising,a fiber optic array comprising a plurality of individual fiber strands, each strand having a distal end and a proximal end and a core, said core diameter sized to accommodate a predetermined cell type, said core capable of being anisot

[What is calimed is:] [1.]providing a biosensor array comprising,a fiber optic array comprising a plurality of individual fiber strands, each strand having a distal end and a proximal end and a core, said core diameter sized to accommodate a predetermined cell type, said core capable of being anisotropically etched, and a microwell formed on an end surface of the distal end of each of said strands, said microwell formed by anisotropic etching said core of each of said strands, said microwell sized to accommodate insertion of a single cell of said cell type;inserting a plurality of cells in said microwells wherein each of said inserted cells in said microwells is optically coupled and in optical communication with one of said fiber strands;optically coupling a detector means to said strands of said array, said detector means optically communicating with said microwells, said detector means capable of optically interrogating and detecting an optical response of said cells inserted in said microwells to at least one analyte of interest;contacting the distal end of the array comprising said cells disposed in said microwells with a sample comprising said analyte of interest; andmeasuring said optical response of said cells, said optical response measurement indicative of the presence or absence of at least one analyte.