Patent ID: 8758688

Claim:
A sensing device for sensing a specific binding between an analyte and a recognition molecule, the sensing device comprising: a patterned, localized, and individually addressable microelectronic sensor, the sensor comprising: a solid substrate, a bottom auxiliary layer atop the solid substrate, an individually addressable thermal activation element atop a first portion of the bottom auxiliary layer, wherein the individually addressable activation element is configured to activate a sensor surface of the sensing device, a top auxiliary layer atop the individually addressable thermal activation element and a second portion of the bottom auxiliary layer not covered by the individually addressable thermal activation element, an anchoring layer comprising electroactive moieties, wherein the anchoring layer is situated atop the top auxiliary layer, and wherein there is electrical access between the electroactive moieties and the individually addressable thermal activation element, a plurality of self-aligned recognition molecules covalently bound atop the anchoring layer, wherein the self-aligned recognition molecules are configured to bind to an analyte in a binding event, wherein the anchoring layer with the plurality of self-aligned recognition molecules covalently bound thereto is the sensor surface, wherein the individually addressable thermal activation element is configured to adjust a temperature of a part of the anchoring layer and the anchoring layer's immediate surroundings by heating or cooling, wherein the part of the anchoring layer has an area of less than 1 mm 2 , wherein a volume of the part of the anchoring layer's immediate surroundings, measured as extending into a space accessible by the recognition molecules, is less than 1 mm 3 , and wherein the sensor is configured to electrochemically detect a specific binding between the recognition molecules and the analyte, and wells atop the top auxiliary layer, wherein the anchoring layer is situated between the wells, and wherein the wells are configured to confine a heat flow that occurs between the self-aligned recognition molecules and the anchoring layer for a duration of a binding event.