Patent ID: 8429953
Filing Date: 2013-04-30
Classification: C12Q,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of determining information concerning the conformation of biomolecules in a liquid sample of biomolecules comprising the steps of: (i) providing a liquid-phase acoustic wave sensor for generating an acoustic wave, which acoustic wave sensor has a sensing surface; (ii) making a first measurement of first and second signals, wherein the first signal is related to energy losses of an acoustic wave generated by the acoustic wave sensor and the second signal is related to the frequency or phase of the acoustic wave generated by the acoustic wave sensor; (iii) adhering biomolecules in the liquid sample discretely to the sensing surface; (iv) making a second measurement of the first and second signals; (v) calculating a conformation parameter from the change in the first and second signals between the first and second measurements, wherein the conformation parameter is related to the conformation of the said biomolecules which are adhered discretely to the sensing surface between the first and second measurements, but substantially independent of the change in mass loading of the sensing surface between the first and second measurements.