US4637861A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Stabilized, lipid membrane-based device and method of analysis
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1985-12-16
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Granted: 1987-01-20
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Expires: 2005-12-16
Abstract
Abstract A stabilized, lipid membrane-based device is provided. This device includes a plurality of membrane-forming lipids, and a support for stabilizing the lipid membrane. Each membrane-forming lipid includes a long chain through which the lipid is anchored to a binding site on the support, and another long chain unattached to the support. The support binding sites are spaced apart from one another to provide the lipid membrane with an appropriate molecular packing density. Also provided is a process for determining the concentration of a selected chemical species in an aqueous electrolytic solution, using an electrochemical cell formed from a lipid membrane-based device in accordance with the present invention. This process includes the step of applying across the lipid membrane of the device an electrical potential difference to produce an analytical signal based upon an increase in membrane ion permeability.
Inventors
- 👤 Ulrich J. Krull
- 👤 Michael Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/26; G01N27/28; G01N27/40; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/817; Y10S436/00; Y10S436/806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A stabilized, lipid membrane-based device comprising a perturbable lipid membrane and a membrane-stabilizing support, said lipid membrane including a complexing agent for selectively interacting with a specified chemical species to perturb said lipid membrane; wherein each membrane-forming lipid includes a polar head group, a first long chain through which the lipid is anchored to a binding site on said support, and a fluidity-providing, second long chain, which is unattached to said support; and wherein the binding sites on said support are spaced appropriately apart from one another to provide a lipid molecular packing density that permits axial rotation of each membrane-forming lipid about its anchored, long chain, and are yet sufficiently close to one another so that said lipid molecular packing density provides a relatively high ion impermeability to said lipid membrane when unperturbed; said lipid membrane having an increased ion permeability when perturbed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A stabilized, lipid membrane-based device comprising a perturbable lipid membrane and a membrane-stabilizing support, said lipid membrane including a complexing agent for selectively interacting with a specified chemical species to perturb said lipid membrane; wherein each membrane-forming lipid includes a polar head group, a first long chain through which the lipid is anchored to a binding site on said support, and a fluidity-providing, second long chain, which is unattached to said support; and wherein the binding sites on said support are spaced appropriately apart from one another to provide a lipid molecular packing density that permits axial rotation of each membrane-forming lipid about its anchored, long chain, and are yet sufficiently close to one another so that said lipid molecular packing density provides a relatively high ion impermeability to said lipid membrane when unperturbed; said lipid membrane having an increased ion permeability when perturbed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said support is an electrically conductive, solid substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive, solid substrate is electrolytic glassy carbon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said electrically conductive, solid substrate is an electroconductive metal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 4, wherein said electroconductive metal is silver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said first long chain is anchored by covalent bonding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said membrane-forming lipid is a phospholipid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 7, wherein said phospholipid is phosphatidyl choline.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 7, wherein said phospholipid is phosphatidyl serine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second long chains are acyl chains.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said complexing agent is a natural product.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
A process for determining the concentration of a selected chemical species in an aqueous electrolytic solution, said process comprising (a) form electrochemical cell from the device of claim 1 and said aqueous electrolytic solution; (b) applying across said lipid membrane an electrical potential difference that serves to drive ions through, or into and out of, said membrane, whereby said chemical species interacts with said complexing agent incorporated in said lipid membrane, to produce an analytical signal based upon an increase in membrane ion permeability; (c) measuring said analytical signal; and (d) determining said chemical species concentration from the measured analytical signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
9 words
The process of claim 12, wherein capacitance is measured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 12, wherein said chemical species is an organic compound.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 12, wherein said chemical species is an inorganic ion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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