AVS 45th International Symposium
    Biomaterial Interfaces Group Tuesday Sessions
       Session BI-TuM

Invited Paper BI-TuM1
Gated Ion Channel Devices within Synthetic Tethered Membranes

Tuesday, November 3, 1998, 8:20 am, Room 326

Session: Biosensor-Biology Interface
Presenter: B.A. Cornell, Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Engineering, Australia
Authors: B.A. Cornell, Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Engineering, Australia
L. Braach Maksvytis, Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Engineering, Australia
L. King, Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Engineering, Australia
P. Osman, Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Engineering, Australia
B. Raguse, Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Engineering, Australia
L. Wieczorek, Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Engineering, Australia
R. Pace, Australian National University
Correspondent: Click to Email
A novel biosensor based on switching the conductance of a population of molecular ion channels is described. . The active elements of the ion channel switch comprise a gold electrode to which is tethered a lipid membrane containing ion channels linked to an appropriate receptor. The approach can be used with most types of receptor including antibodies and nucleotide probes. In its simplest form the technique is sensitive to below 1 picoMolar concentrations of proteins in 5 minutes. The sensor can readily be incorporated as an integral component of a microelectronic circuit and can used in multi-element arrays. It has a wide range of applications and operates in complex media including whole blood. Examples include: cell typing, the detection of proteins, bacteria, viruses, antibodies, DNA targets, electrolytes, drugs, pesticides, heavy metals and other high and low molecular weight compounds. The device has been used to detect the equilibrium and kinetics of the binding of analytes from solution, the kinetics and number association of molecules at the surface of the tethered membrane and the kinetics and conduction of ion channels within the membrane. A description will be given of the assembly and characterisation of the device over a range of applications.