Patent ID: 8431414

Claim:
A method for accelerating a biospecific binding reaction involving one or more reactant(s) and a carrier fluid, wherein the one or more reactant(s) comprises one or more nucleic acid(s), said method comprising: (a) contacting a composite material with said reactant(s) and carrier fluid, said composite material comprising a solid material susceptible to microwave heating and capture molecules, wherein the capture molecules comprise one or more nucleic acid(s), said contacting being under conditions sufficient to allow said reactant(s) to bind to said capture molecule(s) of said composite via a biospecific interaction; (b) applying an electromagnetic field to said composite material, wherein the wavelength of the electromagnetic field is between 1 cm and 100 m and is sufficient to result in microwave heating of said solid material; and (c) allowing said composite material to transfer heat to said reactant(s); (d) whereby a product is formed from said reactant(s) and said capture molecule(s) at a greater rate than without heating from the heated composite material, thereby accelerating said biospecific binding reaction.