DETECHIP: Developing a Molecular Sensing Device

摘要

Detechip is a detection system made of various sensors that has been shown to detect and discriminate between small molecules of interest, including various illicit drugs for and over-the-counter medications, explosives, pesticides and food spoilage metabolites. Detechip employs an array of sensors from which an analyte is tested and based on changes in color; a code specific to the analyte is developed. Detechip offers possibilities for a simple, sensitive, selective, and affordable alternative to costly immunoassays. Results from NMR, UV-VIS and fluorimetry studies suggest that the color and fluorescence changes are a result of intermolecular interaction between the analytes and sensors ranging from non-covalent covalent bonding of supramolecular structure to proton exchange between the analyte and sensor molecules. Current efforts are focused on miniaturization of Detechip to the micro and nanoscale.