Patent ID: 9080973
Filing Date: 2015-07-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A liquid crystal-based sensor system for detecting an analyte in a test sample having an analyte concentration of less than 1 μg/ml, comprising: (a) one or more liquid crystal microdomains that are confined by an interface that generates one or more point defects in the liquid crystal microdomains, wherein the liquid crystal microdomains are dispersed and have a minor axis of between about 0.5 μm and about 200 μm; (b) a detector capable of characterizing the orientational order of the liquid crystal microdomains, and (c) a test sample comprising an analyte having a concentration of less than 1 μg/ml in contact with the microdomains; wherein at least one of the liquid crystal microdomains has one point defect.