Patent ID: 7521253
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: B82Y,G01N,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of drug discovery utilizing a nanocalorimeter, the method comprising: depositing at least one drop containing a plurality of drug targets and at least one drop containing a plurality of drug candidates upon a nanocalorimeter test substrate, each drop having a volume in a range between approximately 20 nL and approximately 250 μL; merging said at least one drop containing a plurality of drug targets and said at least one drop containing a plurality of drug candidates by applying a voltage to drop merging electrodes and producing a mixture containing the plurality of drug targets and the plurality of drug candidates; calorimetrically measuring heat from the mixture while maintaining the mixture under appropriate conditions for a sufficient time to allow binding; from the calorimetrically measured heat, detecting whether a reaction has occurred in the mixture resulting in thermal change; and if a reaction has occurred, performing additional screening to identify at least one of the drug candidates in the mixture that reacted with one of the drug targets; the additional screening including: