Stabilized, lipid membrane-based device and method of analysis
US4637861A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 16, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 16, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S436/806
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.