Patent ID: 8450118

Claim:
A method for detecting a binding interaction between a membrane protein component and an analyte in a homogenous assay comprising: (I) providing a back scattering interferometer comprising: (a) a coherent light source; (b) a fluidic device comprising a fluidic channel comprising a wall surface, wherein the channel is configured to produce back-scattered light when interrogated by coherent light from the coherent light source, and wherein the wall surface has a passivating lipid membrane bound thereto through a membrane binding moiety that modifies the wall surface; and (c) a detector to detect the back-scattered light; (II) introducing into the fluidic channel a test lipid membrane having a membrane protein component disposed therein; (III) introducing into the fluidic channel an analyte; wherein the test lipid membrane and the analyte are introduced into the fluidic channel in free solution in a laminar flow environment, the passivating lipid membrane does not comprise the membrane protein component, and the test lipid membrane is introduced under conditions not to bind the passivating lipid membrane, and (IV) detecting a binding interaction between the membrane protein component and the analyte by back scattering interferometry.