System and method for an improved calorimeter for determining thermodynamic properties of chemical and biological reactions

A method for determining a binding constant associated with the combination of a first and second sample, comprising the steps of:

• equilibrating an environmental chamber such that the vapor pressure of the internal atmosphere is within a predefined threshold from the vapor pressure of the first and second samples;
• introducing the first and second samples to the internal atmosphere of the chamber;
• heating the first and second samples to determine a heat capacity of the first and second samples;
• mixing the first and second samples to form a mixture;
• determining an enthalpy of binding associated with the mixture;
• heating the mixture to determine a heat capacity of the mixture;
• and
• calculating the binding constant associated with the combination of the first and second samples based on the heat capacity of the first and second samples, the enthalpy of binding of the mixture, and the heat capacity of the mixture.

A system for determining thermodynamic properties of a first and a second sample comprising:

• an environmental chamber for maintaining a vapor pressure equivalent to the vapor pressure of the samples;
• a first cell comprising:
• a thermally isolated structure inside a frame;
• a thermometer mounted to said structure;
• and a sample surface for receiving the samples;
• a second cell comprising:
• a thermally isolated structure inside a frame;
• a thermometer mounted to said structure;
• and a sample surface for receiving said samples;
• and
• means for moving said first and second cells towards each other such that said sample surfaces are sufficiently proximate to combine said first and second samples.

A system for determining thermodynamic properties of a first set of samples comprising:

• a environmental chamber for maintaining a vapor pressure similar to the vapor pressure of the first set of samples;
• a first array comprising a wafer comprising a plurality of calorimeters for holding the first set of samples;
• wherein each calorimeter comprises:
• a thermally isolated structure inside a frame;
• a thermometer mounted to said structure;
• and
• a sample surface for receiving said samples.

A system for determining thermodynamic properties of a first chemical/biological sample comprising:

• an environmental chamber adapted such that a vapor pressure of a pressure-controlled vapor contained inside the chamber is within a predetermined threshold of a vapor pressure of the first sample, wherein said first sample and said pressure-controlled vapor are in direct fluid communication;
• and
• a first microelectronic calorimeter comprising:
• a thin amorphous membrane anchored to a surrounding frame;
• a thin thermally isolated thermal conduction layer coupled to a central portion of said membrane for holding samples;
• and
• a thermometer coupled to said thermal conduction layer.