Patent ID: 6764860
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: C12M,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for characterizing the binding forces of a plurality of different surface-bound binding members and a particle-bound binding member, the method comprising the steps of(a) providing (i) a surface having spatially distinguishable subregions, each subregion having a different surface-bound binding member attached thereto, and (ii) a plurality of particles that have a particle-bound binding member attached thereto, (b) contacting the particles with the surface under conditions such that if a surface-bound binding member and a particle-bound binding member have a binding affinity for each other, a complex is formed between the surface-bound binding member and the particle-bound binding member whereby the particles become immobilized with respect to the surface, (c) directing an ultrasonic force onto the surface wherein the intensity of the ultrasonic force is first initiated at low level that is insufficient to separate the complex and is gradually increased to a higher level that is sufficient to separate the complex (d) monitoring the position of the particles with respect to the surface before and after step (c) to characterize the binding forces of the plurality of different surface-bound binding members and the particle-bound binding member.