Single-Chain Polymer Receptors for Electrochemical Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrochemical sensors face challenges in chemical selectivity due to interference from species with similar redox potentials, particularly when a well-performing aptamer has not been identified for a specific analyte, leading to compromised sensing accuracy.

Innovation Solution

Development of a single-chain template polymer with a stimuli-responsive polymer backbone, such as poly-N-isopropylacrylamide, incorporating functional monomers and a redox-active label like vinylferrocene, which undergoes conformational changes upon target binding, enhancing binding affinity and selectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If molecular templating method (molecular imprinting) is used to enhance chemical selectivity, then binding affinity and selectivity are improved, but response time increases due to slow analyte penetration through highly crosslinked polymer matrix

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical selectivityVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the rigid highly crosslinked polymer matrix with a flexible single-chain polymer structure. This flexible chain can undergo conformational changes to bind analytes while maintaining accessibility, thus improving response time without sacrificing selectivity. The single-chain structure acts as a flexible shell that can dynamically adjust to capture target molecules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental structural parameter of the polymer from a highly crosslinked three-dimensional network to a single-chain linear structure. This parameter change transforms the polymer from a rigid bulk material with slow diffusion characteristics to a flexible chain with rapid conformational dynamics, thereby reducing response time while maintaining the imprinted binding sites.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If aptamer-based electrochemical sensing is used for continuous real-time monitoring, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases due to iterative SELEX screening process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time monitoring capabilityVSAvoidscreening process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a simplified copy of the aptamer functionality using a single-chain polymer with imprinted binding sites. Instead of requiring complex iterative SELEX screening to develop aptamers, the polymer can be synthesized directly with predetermined binding specificity through molecular templating, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining real-time monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the biological aptamer system (which requires complex SELEX screening) with a synthetic polymer system. This substitution eliminates the need for iterative biological screening processes while achieving similar real-time monitoring functionality through electrochemical detection of conformational changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If highly crosslinked polymer matrix is used for molecular imprinting, then binding affinity is improved, but analyte accessibility to imprinted cavities deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebinding affinityVSAvoidanalyte accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The single-chain polymer structure provides a flexible environment where imprinted binding sites remain accessible to analytes. The flexible chain can open up to allow analyte entry and close up upon binding, maintaining both high affinity and easy accessibility without the restrictions of a rigid crosslinked matrix.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 single-chain polymer achieves high binding affinity and short response time, allowing for sensitive and selective detection of target analytes like 4-nitrophenol, with improved chemical selectivity and reduced interference from non-specific molecules.

Implementation Method 1

the polymer undergoes a conformation change from an extended conformation to a collapsed conformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConformational change:

Implementation Method 2

voltammetric sensors utilize the target analyte's ability to be electrochemically oxidized or reduced and thereby generate an electron transfer between the analyte and the surface of the electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRedox reaction: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentUS11899012B2Single-chain polymer-based target receptors for use in electrochemical detection of target analytes

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

AI summary

The present disclosure provides new approaches in developing templated polymer-based chemical receptors. At least some embodiments of the invention use a stimuli-responsive polymer [e.g., poly-Nisopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM)] as a polymer backbone with the incorporation of functional monomers (for analyte recognition). In at least some embodiments of the invention, vinylferrocene may be used as a redox-active label for electrochemical transduction.