Rapid detection of small organic molecules
Rapid and sensitive detection of small organic molecules is very importantfor early discovery of water and food contamination, for monitorin gleakages of hazardous substances from tanks and for many other applications. We propose to develop a method which is based on the observation that biological macromolecules (proteins) are involved in so called hinge-bending motions with a frequency within 50-100GHz. Critically important for this proposal is the observation that lysozyme binds non-specifically a variety of small biological molecules; including the organic molecules which presence has to be detected. Using known ability of lysozyme molecules to crystallize in P1 crystal space group where all the molecules are oriented in the same direction we plan to detect the changes in the resonance frequency caused by small molecule binding using our high frequency radio-wave device. The system will be calibrated toward the type of the small molecules detected.
