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ISRAEL I

Weizmann Institute
Develops Biosensor

A novel strategy that lays
the foundation for highly sen-
sitive biosensors — microelec-
tronic devices that take ad-
vantage of biological detec-
tion and amplification
mechanisms — has been
developed by Proffesor Carlos
Gitler and Dr. Itzhak Yuli of
the Weizmann Institute's
Department of Membrane
Research and Biophysics.
Such biosensors may some
day be used instead of
animals to detect drugs and
explosives, or to test phar-
maceutical and cosmetic pro-
ducts. They may also be in-
tegrated into portable on-line
monitors that would greatly
improve the sensitivity of
standard chemical analysis
currently performed in
medical diagnostics.
Scientists have long been
searching for ways to mimic
biological sensory systems,
which are known to be
nature's most efficient and
highly selective detection
devices. The environmental
signals that living organisms
detect through vision, smell
or taste, as well as internal
signals such as nerve-to-nerve
or hormone stimuli, trigger
changes in chemical states.
Some of these chemical
modulations activate a varie-
ty of ion channels — proteins
that by opening up create
pathways for the flow of elec-
trically charged elements
through otherwise highly im-
permeable cell membranes.
The biosensor devised at
the Weizmann Institute is
based on an artificial
biological membrane contain-
ing synthetic complexes of
such
ion
channels,
sophisticatedly attached to a
gold electrode. When these
channels open up in response
to predetermined chemical
signals, the electrical conduc-
tivity of the membrane is
modulated and recorded.
The new bionic device will
use a liquid-crystalline
phospholipid membrane that
is indirectly attached to the
gold electrode by "spacer
arms" of detergent-like
molecules. One end of these
arms merges naturally with
the membrane, while the op-
posite end is modified so as to
acquire a high affinity for
gold. This design endows the
membrane with both
mechanical stability and
structural flexibility and
minimizes the need to utilize
an ultra-smooth electrode
surface.
The signal amplification of
the planned biosensor is bas-

Carlos Gitler

ed on sensing elements of two
different types. In the first,
ion channels are formed from
synthetic polypeptides whose
structure resembles that of
melittin, the major pain-
inflicting toxin in bee venom.
Melittin and analogous
polypeptides are unique in
their ability to spontaneous- -
ly penetrate into the cell
membrane and to self-
assemble in the form of active
ion channels. In the second
type, the sensing element con-
sists of genetically
engineered proteins based on
biological ion channels that

Scientists have
long been
searching for ways
to mimic biological
sensory systems.

open upon recognition of a
given substance.
Biosensors are expected to
be integrated into printed cir-
cuits of future monitors of
chemicals in solution.
Moreover, since aromas are
essentially organic chemicals,
biosensors will also be used as
"bionic noses" capable of
"sniffing out" the presence of
a wide variety of materials,
ranging from drugs and ex-
plosives to airborne allergens
such as pollen. Further
research will probably enable
insertion of such devices into
the human body, where they
will be able to detect and con-
tinuously monitor minute
concentrations of chemicals
relevant to various diseases.
Title to the patent on this
biosensor design is held by
Yeda Research and Develop-