US Patent 7998415 - Functionalized particles for composite sensors

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7998415.html

This patent is from the Michigan Molecular Institute and includes some basic claims with priority going back to 2003 which may be very relevant to nanocomposite sensors. Claim 1 reads:

1. A chemical sensor comprising:

a transducer element; and

a layer of a composite material disposed on a surface of the transducer element, the composite material comprising a polymer matrix and a solid particulate filler dispersed in the polymer matrix, in which the particulate filler is comprised of functionalized particles having at least one sensory moiety capable of interactions with an analyte.