Patent ID: 8802057

Claim:
A method of detecting target molecules species comprising; conjugating a first magnetic particle to a first ligand to form a first magnetic particle ligand conjugate; adding said conjugate to a sample containing target molecules to form a mixture comprising, non-specifically bound-conjugate and specifically bound conjugate-target molecule binding pairs; magnetizing the mixture with a magnetic field; measuring a first magnetization of said mixture; subjecting said mixture to a first mechanical force; measuring a second magnetization value of said mixture; subtracting said second magnetization value from said first magnetization value to calculate a first force-induced magnetization contrast; subjecting said mixture to a second mechanical force; measuring a third magnetization of said mixture; subtracting said third magnetization value from said second magnetization value to calculate a second force-induced magnetization contrast, and thereby performing a force scan, while measuring magnetization decrease as a function of the force and thereby detecting different target molecular species.