Patents & Intellectual Property Rights

  • J.J. Dubowski, E. Nazemi, S. Aithal, X. Huang, “Photo-electrochemical biosensor and semiconductor heterostructure-based sensing method”, US Patent 10 001 480 B2, June 19, 2018.
    A photo-electrochemical bio-sensor uses a semiconductor heterostructure located in an etching solution. An outer layer of the heterostructure is functionalized, such as with a self-assembled monolayer, to provide adherence of a charged molecule of interest. When contacted by a test solution, the functionalization immobilizes a quantity of the molecule that corresponds to its concentration in the test solution. The heterostructure undergoes photocorrosion when illuminated by a laser at a rate corresponding to the quantity of immobilized charged molecules. The rate of photocorrosion is monitored to determine the concentration of the molecule in the test solution. The monitoring may make use of a photo luminescent material in the heterostructure that emits photoluminescence in response to the laser illumination. The photoluminescence changes with the advancement of the photocorrosion, and the change is therefore indicative of the concentration of the molecule in the test solution.

  • J.J. Dubowski and D. Lepage, “Self-referencing biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance mediated photoluminescence”, application numbers: UdeS-08240-226, USPTO, January 18, 2007.
    A sensing device has been proposed for characterizing a substance by modifying modes of resonance of surface plasmons. The device comprises a photo-emitting substrate layer for generating a photoluminescence signal, a dielectric adaptive layer (applied onto the photo emitting substrate) for increasing a propagation length of the surface plasmons, and a sensing layer applied onto the dielectric adaptive layer. The sensing layer is functionalized for coupling with the substance; whereby: the luminescence signal generates the surface plasmons, having modes of resonance, at the interface of the dielectric adaptive layer and the sensing layer; and the substance, when coupled to the sensing layer, characteristically modifies the modes of resonance of the surface plasmons.

  • J.J. Dubowski, X. Ding, E. Frost and E. Escher, “Quantum dot template for fast and simultaneous detection of different infectious agents”, US patent # 8,709,708, April 29, 2014.
    A method and a device for detecting the presence of a predetermined (biological) substance, in which a quantum dot is produced on a substrate. The quantum dot emits a radiation at a predetermined wavelength, and is covered with a surface layer to which the predetermined substance attaches. A deviation of the value of a parameter related to the radiation is produced when the predetermined substance attaches to the surface layer. This deviation can be detected to thereby sense the presence of the predetermined substance. We have already tested this method and demonstrated a successful detection of the Influenza A virus.

  • J.J. Dubowski, Y. Tao and C. Py, “Multilayer microstructures and laser based method for precision and reduced damage patterning of such structures”, US patent # 6,719,916, April 13, 2004 (pending in Canada).
    A novel method is disclosed that makes possible laser patterning of conductive metal electrode deposited on top of an organic and/or polymeric material without significant ablation of the organic and/or polymeric material. The method can achieve higher patterning resolution, resulting in higher quality integrated circuits. The method is based on the application of a thin coating of an inexpensive anti-reflector deposited on top of the desired metal electrode which in turn lies on the organic and/or polymeric material. This method has the potential to play an important role in the development of a variety of quantum dot (QD) template-based biophotonics devices. As well, it could offer practical solutions to developing a QD-based biofactory-on-chip technology.

  • J.J. Dubowski, “Laser-induced bandgap shifting for photonic device integration”, US patent # 6,514,784, February 4, 2003 (pending in Canada).
    To shift the bandgap of a quantum well microstructure, the surface of the microstructure is selectively irradiated in a pattern with ultra-violet (UV) laser radiation to induce alteration of a near-surface region of such microstructure. Subsequently the microstructure is annealed to induce quantum well intermixing and thereby cause a bandgap shift dependent of said UV radiation. This method could be used for developing multi-color arrays of QD templates, which have been the subject of an extensive investigation in our laboratory.
  • T. Akane, K. Sugioka, K. Midorikawa and J.J. Dubowski, “Process for formation of cap layer for semiconductor”, US patent # 6,432,848, August 13, 2002 (pending in Japan, EU and Canada).
    A process for the formation of a cap layer for semiconductors with a low degree of contamination wherein the cap layer is easily formed on the surface of a semiconductor, and binding force thereof with the surface of the semiconductor is strong and stabilized. This approach has the potential application to develop various processing schemes for surface bio-functionalization of different organic-inorganic biological hybrid systems.

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