Systems and methods for detection and quantitation of analytes using an oscillating stimulus

A system comprising:

• an electrode pair in contact to a sample comprising a target analyte;
• a magnet configured to apply an oscillating actuating magnetic field to the sample, the actuating magnetic field oscillating with an actuation frequency;
• an electrical impedance analyzer configured to measure an oscillation of an electrical impedance of the electrode pair, the oscillation of the electrical impedance indicative of a motion and/or deformation of the target analyte, the motion and/or deformation induced in response to applying the actuating magnetic field, wherein measuring the oscillation of the electrical impedance comprises applying an electrical signal to the electrode pair the electrical Signal oscillating with a measuring frequency distinct from the actuating frequency;
• and
• a measurement system configured to
• determine a concentration of the target analyte in the sample according to the oscillation of the electrical impedance.

A method comprising:

• bringing into contact an electrode pair with a first sample comprising a target analyte, wherein a selected electrode of the electrode pair comprises a set of active sites configured to bind to the target analyte;
• in response to bringing into contact the electrode pair with the first sample, bringing into contact the electrode pair with a second sample comprising a set of magnetic beads configured to bind to the active sites;
• employing a magnet to apply an oscillating actuating magnetic field to the electrode pair so as to induce a motion and/or a deformation of a subset of the set of magnetic beads, wherein each bead of the subset is bound to an active site of the set of active sites, and wherein the actuating magnetic field oscillates with an actuation frequency;
• measuring an oscillation of an electrical impedance of the electrode pair, the oscillation of the electrical impedance indicative of the motion and/or deformation of the subset of the set of magnetic beads in response to applying the actuating magnetic field, and wherein measuring the oscillation of the electrical impedance comprises applying an electrical signal to the electrode pair, the electrical signal oscillating with a measuring frequency distinct from the actuating frequency;
• and
• determining a concentration of the target analyte in the sample according to the oscillation of the electrical impedance.

A method comprising:

• employing a magnet to apply an oscillating actuating magnetic field to a sample comprising a target analyte so as to induce a motion and/or a deformation of the target analyte, the applied actuating magnetic field oscillating with an actuation frequency;
• illuminating the sample with a light beam;
• employing a photodetector to determine an oscillation of an intensity of light received from the sample in response to illuminating the sample, the oscillation of the intensity of light occurring in response to applying the actuating magnetic field;
• and
• determining a concentration of the target analyte in the sample according to the oscillation of the intensity of light.