Personal Glucose Meter Universal Sensor via Enzyme Conjugates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensor technologies for detecting various analytes beyond glucose are either expensive, require laboratory-developed portable devices, or provide only qualitative or semiquantitative results, lacking the portability, wide availability, and low cost of personal glucose meters.
Innovation Solution
Development of sensors that include a solid support with a recognition molecule immobilized on it, which specifically binds to target agents, and an enzyme that converts a substance into glucose, allowing for detection using a personal glucose meter, either through enzyme release or formation of a 'sandwich' complex, enabling quantitative detection of a broad range of analytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sensor technologies are used for detecting analytes beyond glucose, then detection capability is achieved, but cost increases and portability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes personal glucose meters universal by enabling them to detect multiple analyte types (glucose, proteins, nucleic acids, toxins, pathogens, cells, metals) through enzyme conjugates that convert various analytes into glucose, which the meter then detects. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by maintaining portability while expanding detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces enzyme conjugates as intermediary substances that convert diverse analytes (proteins, nucleic acids, toxins, etc.) into glucose. This mediator approach allows the glucose meter to detect various analyte types without requiring different specialized devices, thus maintaining portability while achieving broad detection capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sensor technologies are used for detecting various analytes, then detection is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables a single inexpensive glucose meter to perform multiple analyte detections by using different enzyme conjugates, eliminating the need for multiple specialized expensive sensors. This universal approach significantly reduces cost while maintaining broad analyte detection range.
Solution Approach 2:
By using enzyme conjugates as intermediaries that convert various analytes into glucose, the patent allows one meter to detect many analyte types. This intermediary approach avoids the need for multiple specialized detection systems, thereby reducing overall cost while expanding detection capabilities.
3Weight of moving object
If laboratory-developed portable devices are used, then portability is achieved, but availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes widely available personal glucose meters universal by enabling them to detect multiple analyte types through enzyme conjugates. This approach leverages the existing availability of glucose meters while expanding their functionality, resolving the contradiction between portability and availability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The sensors enable portable, cost-effective, and quantitative detection of target agents such as metals, pathogens, and nucleic acids, using a personal glucose meter, facilitating on-site and point-of-care applications.
Implementation Method 1
an enzyme that can catalyze the conversion of a substance (such as sucrose, cellulose, trehalose or maltose) into glucose
Implementation Method 2
A recognition molecule that permits detection of the target agent is bound or immobilized to the solid support. The recognition molecule specifically binds to the target agent
Implementation Method 3
an absorption pad (which draws the sample across the conjugation pad and membrane by capillary action and collects it and the resulting glucose produced)
Data Source
AI summary
A general methodology for the development of highly sensitive and selective sensors that can achieve portable, low-cost and quantitative detection of a broad range of targets using only a personal glucose meter (PGM) is disclosed. The method uses recognition molecules that are specific for a target agent, enzymes that can convert an enzyme substrate into glucose, and PGM. Also provided are sensors, which can include a solid support to which is attached a recognition molecule that permits detection of a target agent, wherein the recognition molecule specifically binds to the target agent in the presence of the target agent but not significantly to other agents as well as an enzyme that can catalyze the conversion of a substance into glucose, wherein the enzyme is attached directly or indirectly to the recognition molecule, and wherein in the presence of the target agent the enzyme can convert the substance into glucose. The disclosed sensors can be part of a lateral flow device. Methods of using such sensors for detecting target agents are also provided.