Methods and Systems for Monitoring Molecular Interactions
First Claim
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1. A method for determining an interaction between a first plurality of molecules and a second plurality of molecules, comprising:
- (a) using pressure to flow a mixture of a first plurality of molecules and a second plurality of molecules in a fluidic conduit, the first plurality of molecules comprising a ligand, and the second plurality of molecules comprising a receptor, wherein the first and second pluralities of molecules are not labeled for detection, and wherein the mixture contains no labels;
(b) measuring the dispersion of at least one of the first plurality of molecules and the second plurality of molecules in the mixture; and
(c) determining an interaction between the first plurality of molecules and the second plurality of molecules based on the dispersion measurement.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to novel methods and systems for determining the interaction of molecules using the phenomenon of Taylor-Aris dispersion present in fluid flow in conduits. The method involves relating a change in dispersion of molecules to their level of interaction. The present invention also relates to an assay method using Taylor-Aris dispersion in a microfluidic system in order to examine molecular interactions in a variety of chemical and biochemical systems.
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21 Claims
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1. A method for determining an interaction between a first plurality of molecules and a second plurality of molecules, comprising:
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(a) using pressure to flow a mixture of a first plurality of molecules and a second plurality of molecules in a fluidic conduit, the first plurality of molecules comprising a ligand, and the second plurality of molecules comprising a receptor, wherein the first and second pluralities of molecules are not labeled for detection, and wherein the mixture contains no labels;
(b) measuring the dispersion of at least one of the first plurality of molecules and the second plurality of molecules in the mixture; and
(c) determining an interaction between the first plurality of molecules and the second plurality of molecules based on the dispersion measurement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for determining an interaction between a first plurality of molecules and a second plurality of molecules, comprising:
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(a) introducing a first plurality of unlabeled molecules into a microfluidic conduit, the first plurality of molecules comprising a ligand;
(b) introducing a second plurality of unlabeled molecules into the microfluidic conduit such that the second plurality of molecules contacts the first plurality of molecules to form a mixture, the second plurality of molecules comprising a receptor, wherein the first and second pluralities of molecules are not labeled for detection, and wherein the mixture contains no labels;
(c) measuring the dispersion of at least one of the first plurality of molecules and the second plurality of molecules flowing in the microfluidic conduit under pressure-driven flow conditions; and
(d) determining an interaction between the first plurality of molecules and the second plurality of molecules based on the dispersion measurement. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification