Patent ID: 8679402
Filing Date: 2014-03-25
Classification: B01J,B82Y,G01N

Abstract:
1. A system for shortening the time required to detect or measure the presence of a target molecule in a sample, the system comprising: a metallic material, wherein the metallic material is shaped as particles, nanostructures, islands or colloids; a probe attached to the metallic material for binding with the target molecule in the sample; the sample suspected of containing the target molecule; a source of low power microwave energy that emits energy in the gigahertz frequency range in an amount sufficient to increase the kinetics of a chemical reaction involving at least the binding of the target molecule to the probe; a detecting molecule that binds to the target molecule and emits detectably energy when radiated with excitation energy; a source of excitation energy that emits in the UV to IR range for irradiating the detecting molecule; and a detection or measuring device to measure the emitted signal from the system.