Patent ID: 7300757

Claim:
A method for the modulation of a reaction, the method comprising: providing a device comprising: a first buffer reservoir containing a first buffer and a first charged entity, wherein the first buffer has an initial conductance less than 1000 μS/cm and wherein the first charged entity has a negative charge; a second buffer reservoir separated from the first buffer reservoir containing a second buffer comprising a second charged entity, wherein the second charged entity has a positive charge; a conductive semi-permeable matrix contained in a non-conductive support material, the conductive semi-permeable matrix disposed between and fluidically connecting the first buffer reservoir and the second buffer reservoir; a first electrode linked to a power source and located in the first buffer reservoir and contacting the first buffer; a second electrode linked to the power source and located in the second buffer reservoir and contacting the second buffer; and a specific binding entity which reacts specifically with the first charged entity and which is physically fixed on, in, or adjacent to the semipermeable matrix, wherein the specific binding entity has a negative charge; applying an electronic potential between the first electrode and the second electrode across the conductive semipermeable matrix, wherein the first charged entity migrates toward and is concentrated in and around the semipermeable matrix in the first buffer reservoir and the second charged entity migrates toward and through the semipermeable matrix, and is transiently concentrated in and around the semipermeable matrix in the first buffer reservoir; and reacting the first charged entity and the specific binding entity, wherein a reaction between the first charged entity and the specific binding entity is modulated by a factor of 10 or greater as compared to the reaction of the first charged entity with the specific binding entity in the device in the absence of the applied electric potential, and wherein the second charged entity modulates the reaction by stabilizing an electrostatic interaction between the first charged entity and the specific binding entity.