Systems and methods for detection and quantitation of analytes using an oscillating stimulus

摘要

Described systems and methods allow the detection of and determination of a concentration of a target analyte such as a biological cell, a virus, a polypeptide, a toxin, a pesticide, a drug, a drug residue, or a DNA strand, in a fluid sample. A variable stimulus, such as an oscillating magnetic field or a light beam of oscillating intensity, is applied to the sample, inducing variations in a position or shape of a constituent of the sample, or variations in a fluorescence of the sample. Such variations produce measurable variations in electric and/or optical properties of a sensor, variations which allow the determination of the concentration of the target analyte.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
employing a magnet to apply an oscillating actuating magnetic field to a sample contained in a measurement chamber so as to induce a motion and/or a deformation of a target analyte contained within the sample, the measurement chamber including an electrode pair, the applied actuating magnetic field oscillating with an actuation frequency; measuring an oscillation of an electrical impedance of the electrode pair, the oscillation of the electrical impedance produced in response to applying the actuating magnetic field, wherein measuring the oscillation of the electrical impedance comprises applying an electrical signal to the electrode pair, the electrical signal oscillating with a measuring frequency distinct from the actuating frequency; and determining a concentration of the target analyte in the sample according to the oscillation of the electrical impedance.