Electromagnetic energy driven separation methods

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to the field of electromagnetic energy driven separation methods and electromagnetic field modifications of biomolecules or pharmaceuticals. More specifically, the present invention relates to molecular separations and creation and movement of small volumes of materials, and to altering the physical and chemical properties of biomolecules with a material in proximity to the biomolecule or pharmaceutical that absorbs energy from an ambient electromagnetic field.

#2. Description of the Related Art

#So that the matter in which the above-recited features, advantages and objects of the invention, as well as others which will become clear, are attained and can be understood in detail, more particular descriptions of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to certain embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings form a part of the specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention and therefore are not to be considered limiting in their scope.

#FIG. 1 shows a source of electromagnetic energy (laser pulse) impinging on an absorber, which translates the energy into a pressure wave that exerts force in the indicated directions.

#FIG. 2 shows the delivery of photons that are absorbed or reflected off molecules, thereby exchanging momentum with a net force in the direction of the light.

#In one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for separating molecules in a mixture comprising the steps of applying the mixture to a support where the mixture further comprises an enhancing agent linked to or in close proximity to the molecules in the mixture and irradiating the mixture with radiofrequency energy, microwave energy, or infrared ight. The method further comprises the independent steps of optionally cooling the support and of inductively heating the enhancing agent to affix the applied molecules to the support.

#In all aspects of this invention the support may be a liquid or semi-solid support. The enhancing agent may be a particle or other molecule that is different from the molecules to be separated in the mixture. Representative examples of the other molecule are water, a carbohydrate, a protein, a nucleic acid, a lipid, an amino acid, carbon dioxide, or indocyanine-green. Representative examples of particles are a ferromagnetic material, a semiconductor, silicon, tantalum, niobium, zirconium, titanium, Phynox, palladium/cobalt alloy, magnetite, nitinol, nitinol-titanium alloy, titanium alloyed with aluminum and vanadium, zirconium, aluminum oxide, cobalt, cobalt alloyed with chromium and molybdenum, cobalt alloyed with chromium, molybdenum and nickel, iron, nickel, gold, palladium, stainless steel, conductive microspheres, calcium-phosphate microspheres, magnetic microspheres, metallic coated microspheres, ruthenium, cadmium selenide, gold maleimide, hydroxysuccinimidyl gold.

#Further in this embodiment, the enhancing agent increases the absorption of or the scattering of the radiofrequency energy, the microwave energy or the infrared light. Also, the radiofrequency energy, the microwave energy or the infrared light applied to the mixture creates a pressure wave, a dipole force or an incoherent force. These forces are determined by the increase of the absorption or of the scattering of the irradiative energy.