Optical Amplification of molecular interactions using liquid crystals

US6858423B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Nicholas Abbott · Madison, US
• Justin J. Skaife · Nonatum Mills, US
• Vinay Gupta · Sunnyvale, US
• Timothy Dubrovsky · Flemington, US
• Rahul Shah · Woodbury, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 10, 2000
• Grant date: Feb 22, 2005
• Expiry date: Oct 15, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02F1/133719
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Interactions between molecules which are components of self-assembled monolayers and other molecules can be amplified and transduced into an optical signal through the use of a mesogenic layer. The invention provides a device and methods for detecting analytes. The device comprises a substrate onto which a self-assembled monolayer is attached and a mesogenic layer which is anchored by the self-assembled monolayer. The mesogenic layer undergoes a change in conformation in response to the molecular interaction.