Releasable Triazabutadienes

This invention is a chemical means of protecting triazylbutadienes from degradation in acidic conditions. When exposed to a predetermined specific enzyme, the system can release triazylbutadiene. Triazylbutadienes can then go on to release aryl diazonium. This aryl species can be apart of various coupling reactions. This invention has the potential to increase the durability of nanotechnology-based biosensors through its ability to aid in the production of aryl diazonium even under acidic conditions.

Background:
A biosensor is any device that transforms chemical information into a coherent signal. Biosensors tend to use a combination of some transducer element and a biological component to target analytes. Existing biosensors utilize either electrodes or a nanowire array as their transducer. However, an emerging material in the transducer element space is carbon nanotubes. Nanotubes and other nanoparticles are significantly more durable than their contemporary counterparts. In a space where the sensor will be exposed to a variety of physiological conditions, durability is a highly valued trait.

Applications:

• Self-assembling monolayers for the production of biosensors 
• Protection of triazylbutadiene until it is in the presence of any given enzyme
• Coupling agent between nanoparticles, polymers, and biomacromolecules
• With a base structure such as carbon nanotubes it may be possible to couple target compounds to the sensor
• More stable offering in the biosensor market due to its resistance to highly acidic conditions

Advantages:

• Increased half-life in the body due to the potential increase in durability
• Confers acid resistance onto a given system based on the protecting groups assigned to triazylbutadiene, a precursor to aryl diazonium
• Systems with this invention as a component could perform in a superior way while inside the body
• Fine molecular control over biosensing interfaces
• Increased affinities for peptides, DNA, and antibodies 

Status: issued U.S. patent #10,472,330