Methods and Systems For the Rapid Characterization of Functional Biological Molecules

A method for detecting a high quality biological molecule in a sample, the method comprising:

• (a) introducing a fluid comprising a plurality of magnetic particles, a decoy comprising a tag and an anchor, and a sample suspected of containing a high quality biological molecule comprising a tag, wherein the tag of the high quality biological molecule is accessible, into a fluid chamber, said magnetic particles being coated with a first binding agent that specifically binds to the tag, wherein at least one surface of the fluid chamber comprises a flexural plate wave device capable of emitting an output signal, wherein the flexural plate wave device has a membrane that is capable of vibrating, and wherein a second binding agent that specifically binds to the anchor of the decoy is attached to the membrane;
• (b) applying a retractable source of magnetic flux positioned external to the fluid chamber close to the membrane to create a significant magnetic field gradient to attract at least one of the plurality of magnetic particles in the fluid toward the membrane;
• (c) flowing a solution through the fluid chamber to remove magnetic particles not specifically bound to the membrane by the second binding agent;
• (d) obtaining an output signal by said flexural plate wave device that corresponds to a number of the magnetic particles specifically bound to the membrane;
• and
• (e) comparing the output signal to a control output signal obtained by performing steps (a)-(d) in the absence of the sample suspected of containing the high quality biological molecule;
• wherein a change in the output signal as compared to the control output signal indicates that a high quality biological molecule is present in the sample.

A method for detecting a high quality biological molecule in a sample, the method comprising:

• (a) introducing a fluid comprising a plurality of magnetic particles, and a sample suspected of containing a high quality biological molecule comprising a tag, wherein the tag of the high quality biological molecule is accessible, and a bridger molecule comprising a target attached to a first binding agent that specifically binds to the tag into a fluid chamber, each of said magnetic particles being attached to an anchor on a decoy, the decoy comprising the anchor and the tag, wherein at least one surface of the fluid chamber comprises a flexural plate wave device capable of emitting an output signal, wherein the flexural plate wave device has a membrane that is capable of vibrating, and wherein a second binding agent that specifically binds to the target of the bridger molecule is attached to the membrane;
• (b) applying a retractable source of magnetic flux positioned external to the fluid chamber close to the membrane to create a significant magnetic field gradient to attract at least one of the plurality of magnetic particles in the fluid toward the membrane;
• (c) flowing a solution through the fluid chamber to remove magnetic particles not specifically bound to the membrane by the second binding agent;
• (d) obtaining an output signal by said flexural plate wave device that corresponds to a number of the magnetic particles specifically bound to the membrane;
• and
• (e) comparing the output signal to a control output signal obtained by performing steps (a)-(d) in the absence of the sample suspected of containing the high quality biological molecule;
• wherein a change in the output signal as compared to the control output signal indicates that a high quality biological molecule is present in the sample.