Patent ID: 8169600
Filing Date: 2012-05-01
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for analyzing surface properties of one or more particles each having a surface, the method comprising: introducing a suspension having a plurality of particles into a sample holder having at least one capture zone with a given affinity for a specified chemical species; contacting at least a subset of the plurality of the particles with the at least one capture zone so as to allow for binding interactions to occur between the at least one capture zone and the at least a subset of particles, the binding interactions being related to the surface composition of the particles; applying optical forces to at least two of the at least a subset of particles concurrently, the forces tending to cause a response of the particles, wherein the responses depend on the presence, absence or degree of binding interactions between the particles and the at least one capture zone; sensing the responses of the at least two particles to the optical forces; and using the sensed responses to determine the presence, absence, or quantity of the specified chemical species disposed between the particle surface and the capture zone.