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Subject: United States Patent: 4216065
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    <TD align=3Dleft width=3D"50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD vAlign=3Dbottom align=3Dright width=3D"50%"><FONT size=3D-1>(=20
      <STRONG>1</STRONG></FONT> <FONT size=3D-2>of</FONT> <STRONG><FONT=20
      size=3D-1>1</STRONG> )</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<HR>

<TABLE width=3D"100%">
  <TBODY>
  <TR>
    <TD align=3Dleft width=3D"50%"><B>United States Patent </B></TD>
    <TD align=3Dright width=3D"50%"><B><A=20
      =
href=3D"http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=3DPTO1&amp;Sect2=3D=
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RS=3DPN/4216065#h0"=20
      name=3Dh1></A><A=20
      =
href=3D"http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=3DPTO1&amp;Sect2=3D=
HITOFF&amp;d=3DPALL&amp;p=3D1&amp;u=3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&amp=
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RS=3DPN/4216065#h2"></A><B><I></I></B>4,216,065</B></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD align=3Dleft width=3D"50%"><B>Rechnitz , &nbsp; et al.</B> </TD>
    <TD align=3Dright width=3D"50%"><B>August 5, 1980 =
</B></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<HR>
<FONT size=3D+1>Bio-selective electrode probes using tissue slices =
</FONT><BR><BR>
<CENTER><B>Abstract</B></CENTER>
<P>A bio-selective potentiometric electrode probe for the determination =
of amino=20
acid concentrations in aqueous liquids comprising an ammonia gas =
analytical=20
electrode provided at its tip with a closely adjacent thin layer of a =
fresh=20
animal tissue containing, as a natural constituent thereof, an enzyme =
effective=20
to catalyze degradation of the specific amino acid in analysis to either =
ammonia=20
or to an intermediate compound subject to further degradation to ammonia =
by an=20
additional enzyme, which ammonia is a function of the amino acid =
concentration=20
in the liquid. </P>
<HR>

<TABLE width=3D"100%">
  <TBODY>
  <TR>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft width=3D"10%">Inventors: </TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft width=3D"90%"><B>Rechnitz; Garry A.</B> (Newark, =
DE)<B>,=20
      Arnold; Mark A.</B> (Newark, DE)<B>, Meyerhoff; Mark E.</B> =
(Newark, DE)=20
    </TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft width=3D"10%">Assignee:</TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft width=3D"90%"><B>University of Delaware</B> =
(Newark, DE)=20
    <BR></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop noWrap align=3Dleft width=3D"10%">Appl. No.: </TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft width=3D"90%"><B>06/049,092</B></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft width=3D"10%">Filed: </TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft width=3D"90%"><B>June 18, =
1979</B></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<HR>

<P>
<TABLE width=3D"100%">
  <TBODY>
  <TR>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft width=3D"40%"><B>Current U.S. =
Class:</B></TD>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dright width=3D"80%"><B>205/778</B> ; =
204/403.1;=20
    204/415</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft width=3D"40%"><B>Current International =
Class:=20
    </B></TD>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dright width=3D"80%">C12Q =
1/00&nbsp;(20060101); G01N=20
      33/68&nbsp;(20060101); G01N 27/30&nbsp;(20060101); G01N=20
  027/46&nbsp;()</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dleft width=3D"40%"><B>Field of Search: =
</B></TD>
    <TD vAlign=3Dtop align=3Dright =
width=3D"80%">204/1T,195B,195M,195P,296 23/23B=20
      424/12 195/13.5R,13.5C 428/213 156/230 210/490,5M =
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<HR>

<CENTER><B>References Cited <A=20
href=3D"http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=3DPTO2&amp;Sect2=3D=
HITOFF&amp;p=3D1&amp;u=3D%2Fnetahtml%2Fsearch-adv.htm&amp;r=3D0&amp;f=3DS=
&amp;l=3D50&amp;d=3DPALL&amp;Query=3Dref/4216065">[Referenced=20
By]</A></B></CENTER>
<HR>

<CENTER><B>U.S. Patent Documents</B></CENTER>
<TABLE width=3D"100%">
  <TBODY>
  <TR>
    <TD width=3D"33%"></TD>
    <TD width=3D"33%"></TD>
    <TD width=3D"34%"></TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD align=3Dleft><A=20
      =
href=3D"http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=3DPTO1&amp;Sect2=3D=
HITOFF&amp;p=3D1&amp;u=3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&amp;r=3D1&a=
mp;f=3DG&amp;l=3D50&amp;d=3DPALL&amp;RefSrch=3Dyes&amp;Query=3DPN%2F30988=
13">3098813</A></TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>July 1963</TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>Beebe et al.</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD align=3Dleft><A=20
      =
href=3D"http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=3DPTO1&amp;Sect2=3D=
HITOFF&amp;p=3D1&amp;u=3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&amp;r=3D1&a=
mp;f=3DG&amp;l=3D50&amp;d=3DPALL&amp;RefSrch=3Dyes&amp;Query=3DPN%2F35758=
36">3575836</A></TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>April 1971</TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>Sternberg</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD align=3Dleft><A=20
      =
href=3D"http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=3DPTO1&amp;Sect2=3D=
HITOFF&amp;p=3D1&amp;u=3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&amp;r=3D1&a=
mp;f=3DG&amp;l=3D50&amp;d=3DPALL&amp;RefSrch=3Dyes&amp;Query=3DPN%2F37768=
19">3776819</A></TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>December 1973</TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>Williams</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD align=3Dleft><A=20
      =
href=3D"http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=3DPTO1&amp;Sect2=3D=
HITOFF&amp;p=3D1&amp;u=3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&amp;r=3D1&a=
mp;f=3DG&amp;l=3D50&amp;d=3DPALL&amp;RefSrch=3Dyes&amp;Query=3DPN%2F39665=
80">3966580</A></TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>June 1976</TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>Janata et al.</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD align=3Dleft><A=20
      =
href=3D"http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=3DPTO1&amp;Sect2=3D=
HITOFF&amp;p=3D1&amp;u=3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&amp;r=3D1&a=
mp;f=3DG&amp;l=3D50&amp;d=3DPALL&amp;RefSrch=3Dyes&amp;Query=3DPN%2F39792=
74">3979274</A></TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>September 1976</TD>
    <TD align=3Dleft>Newman</TD></TR>
  <TR>
    <TD align=3Dleft></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><I>Primary Examiner:</I> =
Prescott;=20
Arthur C. <BR>
<HR>

<CENTER><B><I>Government Interests</B></I></CENTER>
<HR>
<BR><BR>GENERAL <BR><BR>The research culminating in this invention was =
conducted=20
under National Science Foundation Grant No. CHE-7728158 and National =
Institutes=20
of Health Grant No. GM-25312, pursuant to which the Government possesses =
certain=20
property rights.=20
<HR>

<CENTER><B><I>Claims</B></I></CENTER>
<HR>
<BR><BR>What is claimed is:<BR><BR>1. A bio-selective potentiometric =
electrode=20
probe equipped with a gas-permeable membrane for the determination of =
the=20
concentration of a preselected amino acid in an aqueous liquid =
comprising an=20
ammonia gas analytical electrode provided at its tips with a closely =
adjacent=20
thin layer of a fresh animal tissue containing, as a natural constituent =

thereof, a preselected enzyme effective to catalyze degradation of said =
amino=20
acid in analysis to either ammonia or to an intermediate compound =
subject to=20
further degradation to ammonia in the presence of an additional =
preselected=20
enzyme, which ammonia is a function of said preselected amino acid =
concentration=20
in said aqueous liquid, and a dialytic membrane interposed between said=20
gas-permeable membrane and said animal tissue layer. <BR><BR>2. A =
bio-selective=20
potentiometric electrode probe for the determination of the =
concentration of a=20
preselected amino acid in an aqueous liquid according to claim 1 wherein =
said=20
thin layer of said fresh animal tissue and said additional preselected =
enzyme=20
are both retained closely adjacent said ammonia gas electrode tip by a =
second=20
dialysis membrane interfacing with said amino acid-containing aqueous =
liquid.=20
<BR><BR>3. A bio-slective potentiometric electrode probe for the =
determination=20
of the concentration of glutamine in an aqueous liquid according to =
claim 1=20
wherein said fresh animal tissue is a thin slice of pork kidney excised =
from the=20
cortex region. <BR><BR>4. A bio-selective potentiometric electrode probe =
for the=20
determination of the concentration of arginine in an aqueous liquid =
medium=20
according to claim 2 wherein said fresh animal tissue is a thin slice of =
beef=20
liver and said additional preselected enzyme is urease. <BR><BR>5. In =
the=20
potentiometric determination of the concentration of a preselected amino =
acid in=20
an aqueous liquid utilizing an ammonia gas analytical electrode fitted =
with a=20
gas-permeable membrane having its tip immersed in said aqueous liquid, =
the=20
improvement comprising maintaining closely adjacent said electrode tip =
but=20
separated therefrom and from said gas-permeable membrane by a dialytic =
membrane,=20
a thin layer of a fresh animal tissue containing, as a natural =
constituent=20
thereof, a preselected enzyme effective to catalyze degradation of said =
amino=20
acid in analysis to either ammonia or to an intermediate compound =
subject to=20
further degradation to ammonia in the presence of an additional =
preselected=20
enzyme, which ammonia is a function of said preselected amino acid =
concentration=20
in said aqueous liquid. <BR><BR>6. The method of potentiometric =
determination of=20
the concentration of a preselected amino acid in an aqueous liquid =
according to=20
claim 5 wherein said thin layer of said fresh animal tissue and said =
additional=20
preselected enzyme are both retained adjacent said electrode tip by a =
second=20
dialysis membrane interfacing with said amino acid-containing aqueous =
liquid.
<HR>
=20
<CENTER><B><I>Description</B></I></CENTER>
<HR>
<BR><BR>BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION <BR><BR>It is frequently necessary =
to=20
measure the concentrations of individual amino acids in either clear or =
turbid=20
solutions in aqueous liquids, including physiological fluids such as =
blood=20
serums and spinal fluids. This has proved difficult or even impossible =
to=20
achieve with existing technology. However, two of the present inventors =
have=20
achieved success in this regard by the use of membrane electrodes =
utilizing=20
living bacterial cells, as described in their publication Science, vol. =
199, pp.=20
440-41 (1978), authors Rechnitz, Riechel, Kobos and Meyerhoff. =
<BR><BR>SUMMARY=20
OF THE INVENTION <BR><BR>This invention comprises a bio-selective =
potentiometric=20
electrode probe for determination of the concentrations of preselected=20
individual amino acids in aqueous liquids comprising an ammonia gas =
analytical=20
electrode equipped with a gas-permeable membrane provided at its tip =
with a=20
closely adjacent thin layer of a fresh animal tissue containing, as a =
natural=20
constituent thereof, a preselected enzyme effective to catalyze =
degradation of=20
the amino acid in analysis to either ammonia or to an intermediate =
compound=20
subject to further degradation to ammonia in the presence of an =
additional=20
preselected enzyme, which ammonia is a function of the amino acid =
concentration=20
in the aqueous liquid. <BR><BR>DRAWINGS <BR><BR>The following drawings=20
constitute part of this disclosure, in which: <BR><BR>FIG. 1A is a =
schematic=20
longitudinal cross-sectional view of the electrode tip region of a =
preferred=20
embodiment of this invention; <BR><BR>FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the =
several=20
components of the embodiment of FIG. 1A which illustrates the analytical =

operation thereof; and <BR><BR>FIG. 2 is a typical calibration curve for =
an=20
electrode constructed according to this invention for the analysis of=20
L-glutamine utilizing pork kidney tissue as the bio-catalytic medium, in =
terms=20
of mV electrode response on the ordinate vs.-log concentration, M, of =
the=20
substrate (sample) in test as abscissa. <BR><BR>DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF =
THE=20
INVENTION <BR><BR>Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, there is shown in =
longitudinal=20
cross-section the tip region of a conventional ammonia gas sensing =
electrode,=20
e.g., an Orion Model 95-10. This electrode comprises a polymeric body =
tube 19=20
threaded at the outboard end to accept an annular screw cap 19a. =
<BR><BR>As=20
marketed, the electrode is provided with gas-permeable membrane 16, =
maintained=20
in place against base ring 19b by the compression of screw cap 19a, =
internal=20
electrolyte solution 17, and pH sensing glass membrane 18. <BR><BR>In =
the=20
practice of this invention, catalytic degradation of amino acid in clear =
or=20
turbid aqueous medium samples is achieved by attaching, in the tip =
region of the=20
electrode, a thin layer 10 of the fresh animal tissue containing, as a =
natural=20
constituent thereof, a preselected enzyme effective to catalyze =
degradation of=20
the amino acid in analysis to either ammonia or to an intermediate =
compound=20
subject to further degradation to ammonia in the presence of an =
additional=20
preselected enzyme. Conveniently, tissue layer 10 is maintained snugly =
against=20
the electrode tip of FIG. 1A by a piece of monofilament nylon mesh 11, =
(mesh=20
size typically 105 microns) which is secured in place by assembly under =
screw=20
cap 19a. It is not essential that tissue layer 10 overlie the entire =
open area=20
of base ring 19b, good results being achieved where the tissue layer=20
approximates the pH sensing glass membrane 18 tip area and is generally =
aligned=20
therewith. Protective dialysis membrane 15 is interposed between tissue =
slice 10=20
and gas-permeable membrane 16, as it has been found that tissue slice 10 =

otherwise causes deterioration of membrane 16 over a prolonged period.=20
<BR><BR>In the analysis of the amino acid glutamine, we have found that =
pork=20
kidney possesses high glutaminase activity which rapidly degrades =
glutamine to=20
products including ammonia, thereby permitting direct amino acid =
concentration=20
determination without the necessity for additional enzyme =
supplementation.=20
<BR><BR>The kidney tissue is obtained in the fresh state from hogs =
immediately=20
after their slaughter from the cortex region of the kidney, the =
thickness=20
typically being approximately 0.05 mm and a typical size of 12 mm =
diameter. Pork=20
kidneys are preferably stored at 4.degree. C. before use. Dialysis =
membrane 15=20
typically has a molecular weight cutoff of about 12,000. If desired, a =
dialysis=20
membrane of the same characteristics as membrane 15 can be substituted =
for nylon=20
mesh 11 as the retainer for tissue slice 10. <BR><BR>The potentiometric =
response=20
of the kidney slice electrode was evaluated at 26.degree. C. in 0.1 M =
phosphate=20
buffer, pH 7.8, containing 0.02% sodium azide as preservative. The =
response to=20
buffer solely is that indicated by the horizontal line to the right of =
point O,=20
upper right hand portion of FIG. 2, and this constitutes the background=20
potential. Between experiments, the electrodes were stored in the buffer =
at room=20
temperatures. <BR><BR>FIG. 2, full line plot, is a typical calibration =
curve of=20
the electrode for L-glutamine. The slope, linear range and detection =
limit=20
remain unchanged over at least 28 days of electrode use. Typically, 5-7 =
minutes=20
are required for the electrode to attain a steady potential value after =
each=20
addition of glutamine to the test solution. <BR><BR>The kidney tissue =
electrode=20
yielded negligible response to such possible interferents as urea, =
L-alanine,=20
L-arginine, L-histidine, L-valine, L-serine, L-glutamic acid, =
L-aspargine,=20
L-aspartic acid, D-alanine, D-aspartic acid, glycine and creatinine. The =
dotted=20
plot at the upper right-hand section of FIG. 2 represents the maximum =
response=20
(curve a) to the thirteen possible interferents tested. It will be seen =
from=20
curve a that, in terms of equivalent glutamine, the maximum interference =
which=20
can possibly exist is approximately two and one half orders of magnitude =
less=20
than a given glutamine concentration, so that, practically, there is no=20
interference problem. <BR><BR>In service, potentiometric measurements =
are=20
conducted in the conventional manner using a commercially available pH =
meter or=20
similar device. Thermostating of samples is desirable. An acceptable =
procedure=20
involves placing 10-25 ml of the glutamine-containing sample into the=20
thermostated cell, stirring and thereafter immersing the electrode =
probe. A=20
steady potential is normally reached in 5-10 minutes. Calibration curves =
are=20
prepared using known standards, and the pH should be held constant =
throughout. A=20
pH of about 7.8 is optimal. Between measurements, the electrode is =
returned to=20
the buffer solution to stabilize the background potential. <BR><BR>The=20
quantitative relationship of sensed potential to NH.sub.3 concentration =
is=20
expressed by the following equation: <BR><BR>where <BR><BR>E=3Dthe =
sensed=20
potential in mV, and <BR><BR>E.sub.o =3Dthe background (buffer =
potential)=20
<BR><BR>As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode probe hereinbefore described =
can=20
measure glutamine over the concentration range of at least 10.sup.-2 to=20
5.times.10.sup.-5 molar with response slopes of approximately 53 mV per =
10-fold=20
concentration change. When prepared from fresh pork kidney, the =
electrode=20
displays good selectivity for glutamine over other amino acids and over=20
substances such as urea. <BR><BR>As another example, an arginine sensing =

electrode was prepared using a beef liver slice as the tissue layer 10. =
This=20
electrode is more complex than the glutamine electrode because the beef =
liver=20
enzyme arginase carries the degradation of arginine only to urea, which =
must=20
then be finally degraded to ammonia by supplementation with the enzyme =
urease.=20
<BR><BR>The arginine electrode is constructed exactly as described for =
the=20
glutamine electrode of FIGS. 1A and 1B, except that assembly is =
completed with a=20
second dialytic membrane (replacing nylon mesh 11) mounted outboard of =
the=20
elements shown in FIG. 1A and interfacing with the test solution. A few =
drops of=20
the supplemental enzyme urease are applied to the outward face of the =
beef liver=20
tissue and the second dialytic membrane maintains it in place and =
against loss=20
to the solution. <BR><BR>We have found that a suitable buffer solution =
for the=20
arginine electrode is 0.2 molar tris HCl having a pH of 8.5. <BR><BR>By =
way of=20
comparison, parallel electrode experiments were conducted using the =
isolated=20
porcine kidney glutaminase enzyme (Sigma, grade VI) known to be =
thermally=20
unstable. Small volumes (approx. 15 .mu.l) of enzyme suspension were =
immobilized=20
at the surface of the ammonia gas sensing electrode by means of a =
dialysis=20
membrane and electrode response toward L-glutamine was evaluated in the =
buffer=20
medium. <BR><BR>Freshly prepared enzyme electrodes yielded moderate=20
potentiometric response (e.g., 44 millivolts per tenfold change in =
substrate=20
concentration) but lost more than 50% of their activity within two days, =
and=20
showed negligible response after four days at room temperature. Thus, it =
is=20
clear that the kidney tissue electrode affords a very substantial =
improvement in=20
terms of both lifetime and response, over the conventional enzyme =
electrode.=20
<BR><BR>It is clear that other tissue-based electrodes can be readily =
prepared=20
for the concentration determination of yet other specific amino acids =
using the=20
teachings of this invention, and no limitations are intended beyond =
those of the=20
appended claims. <BR><BR>
<CENTER><B>* * * * *</B></CENTER>
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