Device and Method for Measuring Biological and Electronic Properties of a Sample

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This patent describes an apparatus and method for analyzing biological and electronic properties of a sample by interfacing it with the gate of a field-effect transistor (FET). By applying an AC voltage to the sample and monitoring the resulting changes in the FET's electrical properties (such as source-drain current), the system allows for highly sensitive detection and measurement of biological phenomena (e.g., activity of single cells or even cell components), without the need for significant current passing through the sample itself. This increases sensitivity and reduces interference compared to traditional impedance measurement systems.

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• Single cell analysis and monitoring.
• Detection of biomolecular interactions, such as antigen-antibody binding.
• Assessment of cell membrane properties and ion channel activities.
• Drug testing and toxicology screenings at the cellular or subcellular level.
• Studying cell adhesion, motion, and detachment dynamics.
• Diagnosing cell health, metabolism, or apoptosis in biomedical research.
• Development of bioelectronic sensors for real-time analysis in lab-on-chip systems.
• Screening effects of physiological or chemical agents on cellular activity.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Allows measurement at the single-cell and even subcellular level, greatly increasing analytical resolution.
• Highly sensitive to small biological changes due to a superior signal-to-noise ratio.
• No need for current to flow through the biological sample, preserving sample integrity and enabling measurements of very small samples.
• Reduces susceptibility to electrical interference and parasitic effects compared to traditional impedance methods.
• Enables time-resolved and spatially-resolved (array) measurements for dynamic biological processes.
• Supports multiplexed measurements for high-throughput applications.
• Flexible and compatible with various types of biological samples, from cells to membranes to proteins and biomolecules.
• Facilitates simultaneous biological stimulation and measurement within the same device.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring biological characteristics of a sample, the sample being in contact with the gate of a field-effect transistor. According to the invention, an AC voltage is applied to the sample. The nature of the sample then governs the extent to which charges are transferred to the gate. The presence of such charges can be tested using the field-effect transistor, for example using a source-drain current. The invention can be used to measure the response of a biological sample to an AC voltage at zero current and therefore very much more sensitively than by using impedance measurements based on the prior art, in which small currents are to be measured. It is possible to examine single cells or else portions of cells, the prior art having been able to attain a sufficiently large signal only on cell complexes containing a large number of cells.