Methods and systems for detecting biomolecular binding using terahertz radiation

摘要

Provided herein are methods and systems for detecting biomolecular binding events using gigahertz or terahertz radiation. The methods and systems use low-energy spectroscopy to detect biomolecular binding events between molecules in an aqueous solution. The detected biomolecular binding events include, for example, nucleic acid hybridizations, antibody/antigen binding, and receptor/ligand binding.

主权项

1. A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) for detecting a biomolecular binding event in a sample containing a first molecule and a second molecule, wherein the first molecule is suspected of binding the second molecule, comprising:
one or more fluid compartments for the sample, at least one of the one or more fluid compartments comprising a reaction chamber configured to contact the first molecule with the second molecule, and a substrate comprising a waveguide adjacent to the first molecule; a radiation source positioned to aim an input radiation toward the first molecule by reflecting the input radiation off a portion of an inner wall of the waveguide, wherein the first molecule is directly immobilized to the portion; a detector positioned to receive an exit radiation reflecting from the sample; and a processor configured to determine if the second molecules bound to the first molecule, wherein the one or more fluid compartments, the radiation source, the detector and the processor are formed as a single integrated unit on a chip.