What is claimed is:
1. A sensor device for detecting cortisol molecules, said device comprising a molecularly imprinted polymer comprising a cortisol-binding chromophore that fluoresces upon excitation operatively associated with:
a source of excitation energy for said chromophore; and
a detector for detecting fluorescent energy emitted upon chromophore excitation; wherein the unbound excited chromophore fluoresces differently that the bound excited chromophore.
2. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein said chromophore comprises a porphyrin.
3. The sensor device of claim 2 wherein said chromophore is 5-(4-boronopthaloyl-amidophenyl)-10,15,20-(ethenylphenyl)3-porphyrinato copper (II).
4. The sensor device of claim 1 wherein said source of excitation energy is selected from the group consisting of an argon laser, blue laser, tunable laser, light emitting diode, and combinations of two or more thereof.
5. The sensor device of claim 4 wherein the detector is selected from the group consisting of a spectrophotometer, spectrometer, photomultiplier tube, CCD camera equipped with a monochromator, filters, the naked eye, and combinations of two or more thereof
6. The sensor device of claim 1 further comprising at least one optical fiber, having a proximal end and a distal end, for transmitting light energy, wherein said molecularly imprinted polymer is disposed on the distal end of the optical fiber, said source of excitation energy is operatively associated with said optical fiber such that said fiber is capable of transmitting excitation energy generated by the source of excitation energy to said molecularly imprinted polymer, and said detector is operatively associated with said optical fiber such that said detector is capable of detecting fluorescence from said chromophore.
7. The sensor device of claim 1 further comprising a fluid receptacle in fluid communication with said molecularly imprinted polymer.
8. The sensor device of claim 7 wherein said fluid receptacle is selected from the group consisting of mouthpieces, cups, bulbs, tubes, bowls, bladders, and combinations of two or more thereof.
9. The sensor device of claim 8 wherein said fluid receptacle comprises a mouthpiece.
10. The sensor device of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said mouthpiece is formed from said molecularly imprinted polymer.
11. The sensor device of claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said mouthpiece is coated with said molecularly imprinted polymer.
12. The sensor device of claim 1 further comprising a fluid reservoir in fluid communication with said molecularly imprinted polymer.
13. The sensor device of claim 10 wherein said fluid reservoir comprises a device selected from the group consisting of bladders, bulbs, cups, tanks, tubes, and combinations of two or more thereof.
14. The sensor device of claim 10 wherein said fluid reservoir comprises an input port.
15. A portable hydration device comprising:
a fluid reservoir capable of holding a hydrating fluid;
a tube assembly comprising a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being coupled to said reservoir and said distal end being adapted to receive hydrating fluid from the reservoir; and
a sensor device according to claim 1 wherein said molecularly imprinted polymer is in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir and said distal end of said tube assembly.
16. The portable hydration device of claim 15 further comprising a mouthpiece coupled with said distal end of said tube assembly.
17. The portable hydration device of claim 16 comprising a portable pack capable of receiving at least a portion of one or more of the devices selected from the group consisting of said reservoir, tube assembly, mouthpiece, molecularly imprinted polymer, light source, detector, and combinations of two or more thereof.
18. The portable hydration device of claim 17 further comprising at least one strap for mounting said pack onto a user.
19. A method of detecting a cortisol molecule comprising:
providing a fluid sample comprising at least one cortisol molecule; and
contacting the fluid sample with the molecularly imprinted polymer of a sensor device of claim 1 to chemically bind the cortisol molecule to the molecularly imprinted polymer; and
detecting the cortisol molecule.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein said providing step comprises providing a saliva-based sample via expectoration or salivation.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein said providing step comprises providing a urine-based sample via urination.
22. The method of claim 19 wherein said cortisol molecule is detected in real-time.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. Method for qualitative andor quantitative determination of at least one molecule of interest present on a solid surface, comprising enriching said molecules of interest by dissolving or diffusing said molecule of interest into a weakly adhesive polysiloxane-based sorbent material, so as to retain said molecules of interest in said sorbent material.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the molecule of interest is desorbed from said material without degrading said material.
3. Method according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said polysiloxane-based sorbent material is substituted by one or more substituants including (C1-C18)alkyl, phenyl, halophenyl, cyano(C1-C4)alkyl, amino(C1-C4)alkyl, trifluoro(C1-C4)alkyl, vinyl or hydroxy(C1-C4)alkyl groups.
4. Method according to claim 3, wherein said polysiloxane-based sorbent material is substituted by one or more substituants including methyl, phenyl, chlorophenyl, trifluoropropyl or cyanopropyl.
5. Method of claim 1, wherein said polysiloxane-based sorbent material has a molecular weight before crosslinking from about 2\xd7103 to about 10\xd7106.
6. Method of claims 1, wherein said polysiloxane-based sorbent material has a glass transition temperature (Tg) greater than \u2212150\xb0 C.
7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said polysiloxane-based sorbent material is used at a temperature above its glass transition temperature.
8. Method of claim 1, wherein said polysiloxane-based sorbent material is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).
9. Method of claim 1, wherein said polysiloxane-based sorbent material is a flexible strip.
10. Method according to claim 9, wherein said strip has a thickness from about 10 \u03bcm to about 5 mm.
11. Method of claim 1, wherein the solid surface is a biological surface.
12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the solid surface is skin or phanera.
13. Method according to claim 12, wherein said molecule is a constituent of the skin or an endogenous constituent of an organism that is excreted onto the skin.
14. Method according to claim 12, wherein said molecule is one or more components of sebum, one or more epidermis markers, one or more components of perspiration, one or more markers of skin hydration, one or more markers of skin stress, one or more markers of skin inflammation, or one or more markers of skin aging.
15. Method according to claim 12, wherein said molecule was previously applied to the surface of the skin or was administered orally or parenterally and was excreted onto the skin.
16. Method according to claim 12, wherein said molecule is an extrinsic molecule present on the surface of the skin following interaction of the skin and at least one environmental factor.
17. Method of claim 1, comprising the steps of:
bringing a weakly adhesive sorbent material into contact with a solid surface, removing said sorbent material from said surface, and
after said removing, subjecting said material enriched with the molecule of interest to at least one direct analysis step.
18. Method of claim 1, comprises comprising the steps of:
bringing a weakly adhesive sorbent material into contact with a solid surface, removing said sorbent material from said surface, and
after said removing, subjecting said material enriched with the molecule of interest to at least one desorption step followed by at least one analysis step.
19. Method according to either claim 17 or claim 18, wherein said solid surface is a biological surface.
20. Method according to claim 19, wherein said solid surface is skin or phanera.
21. Method of claim 18, wherein said desorption step is effected with the aid of a solvent or thermally.
22. Method of claim 17, wherein said analysis step is effected by at least one analysis technique including gravimetric techniques, solution titration techniques, chromatographic techniques, electrochemical techniques, spectrometry techniques or imaging techniques.
23. The method of claim 1, wherein the method measures the activity of a cosmetically or pharmacologically active agent on a biological surface.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein said biological surface is skin or phanera.
25. The method of claim 1, wherein the method determines a molecule of interest on a nonbiological surface.
26. The method of claim 1, wherein the method determines a molecule of interest on a biological surface other than skin.
27. The method of claim 25 or 26 wherein said molecule to be determined is: the presence or quantity of contaminants on the surface of plants or elements of the soil, the presence or quantity of contaminants on the surface of electronic components or devices, the presence or quantity of contaminants diffusing from synthetic materials, or the presence or quantity of contaminants on domestic surfaces.
28. The method of claim 6, wherein the polysiloxane-based sorbent material has a glass transition temperature (Tg) from about \u2212150\xb0 C. to about +20\xb0 C.