A detection system for immediate qualitative and quantitative, virtually - time distortion free, highly specific detection of antibodies - antigen - reactions by electrical measurement of specific changes in the parameters which are relevant to the surface conductivity in the case of ultra narrow pores in synthetic nuclear - membranes

摘要

The following is claimed: "An assay system for the direct, qualitative and quantitative, quasi-delay-free, highly specific determination of antibody-antigen reactions by electrical measurement of specific changes in relevant parameters of surface conductivity in ultra-narrow pores in synthetic nuclear membranes, characterised in that pores (e.g. with a diameter of about 10 nm to about 20 nm) are generated in a thin (e.g. between 5 mu m to about 10 mu m thick) membrane of suitable material (e.g. polyethylene terephthalate) by a suitable process (e.g. by bombardment with a beam of heavy ions and subsequent etching of the bombarded membrane with the aid of hot alkali) at a predetermined pore density (e.g. at least 1 pore/cm2, but preferably between about 106 sic pores/cm2 to about about sic 109 pores/cm2 for the present purpose), whereby it is essential that the volume formed by the pores, their peripheral shape along the pore depth and their wall area are such that the surface conductivity determined by the pore shape and pore contents differs from the volume conductivity determined by the pore shape and pore contents, and that the signal contribution from the surface conductivity can be significantly separated from the total conductivity signal by suitable detection methods; For reasons of linguistic simplicity, the term "membrane" is used here. This term is to be understood, however, unless otherwise stated, in such a way that the terms foil, film, sheet of any shape or thickness are included, whereby the thickness of the membrane need not be uniformly delineated over the surface, and any combination of one or more layers of whatever nature of the same or different materials, whatever the materials and whatever their pretreatment, come into consideration therefor and this membrane-specific construction contains at least one pore. For reasons of liguistic simplicity, "pore" is to be understood in this connection as being a hole passing through the said membrane wherein the influences by the sidewall effects stand out significantly in relation to the volume effects, with any, but preferably circular, cross section, whereby the cross-sectional shape is retained along the depth of the hole or may change both with respect to shape and dimension, where preferably a constant retention of shape/dimension or optionally a conical delineation are preferred."