Energy enhanced reaction catalysis and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides methods, devices and systems for increasing the energy of biologically active molecules in vitro or in vivo by utilizing electromagnetic energy, inductively-applied electromagnetic energy or magnetic energy. Such methods, devices and systems also can be used for inducing or accelerating the rate of a reaction by increasing energy of the reactants.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for accelerating a reaction of at least one biologically active molecule, comprising: 
 applying electromagnetic energy to inductively generate an ambient electromagnetic field around said biologically active molecule(s); and    transferring energy from said ambient electromagnetic field to said biologically active molecule(s) to increase energy thereof thereby accelerating the reaction of said biologically active molecule(s).    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 associating an electromagnetic field transducer with said biologically active molecules prior to the application of electromagnetic energy.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said electromagnetic field transducer comprises matter with non-zero electrical conductivity.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said matter is diamagnetic, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said matter is an ionomer, a conducting polymer, an alkali metal, a transition metal, a lanthamide, or a metalloid or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said matter is colloidal or non-colloidal gold, silicon, cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, ruthenium, indium phosphide, indium arsenide, gallium arsenide, gold maleimide, gallium phosphide, hydroxysuccinimidyl gold, nickel-copper, nickel-palladium, palladium-cobalt, nickel-silicon, stainless steel, iron oxide, ferrite, titanium, Phynox, palladium/cobalt alloys, nitinol, titanium, titanium alloys, zirconium, gadolinium, aluminum oxide, dysprosium, cobalt alloys, nickel, gold, palladium, or tungsten or alloys thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , where said matter is a metal nanoor micro-particle, a semiconducting nano- or micro-particle, a magnetic nanoor micro-particle, a polystyrene encapsulated metal particle, a buckminsterfullerene, or a liposome-encapsulated metal particle.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said electromagnetic field transducer functions as an antenna.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electromagnetic energy is radiofrequency energy.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said radiofrequency energy has a frequency from about 100 kHz to about 40 GHz.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electromagnetic energy is applied magnetically.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said electromagnetic field is inductively generated via an antenna or a series of antennae.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said antenna(e) comprises at least one coil of electrical conductor.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said electrical conductor is a solid wire or hollow tubing.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said antenna(e) is a single coil antenna, a double coil antenna or a solenoid antenna.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction is a biochemical reaction.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the biochemical reaction further comprises a pharmaceutical, a biologic, other biologically active molecules, diagnostics, or biological markers or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said biochemical reaction is enzyme catalyzed.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said biologically active molecule has a conformational change during said biochemical reaction.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said conformational change is denaturation, protein unfolding or protein refolding or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said biochemical reaction is a polymerase chain reaction.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said biochemical reaction is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biologically active molecule is a protein, a lipid, nucleic acids, or a carbohydrate or combination thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biologically active molecule is in a tissue or a tissue system.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biologically active molecule is in vitro.  
     
     
         26 . A method of accelerating a biochemical reaction comprising: 
 associating at least one electromagnetic field transducer with at least one biochemical reactant comprising said biochemical reaction;    applying radiofrequency energy to inductively generate an electromagnetic field; and    transferring energy from said electromagnetic field to said reactant(s) via said electromagnetic field transducer to increase the energy of said biochemical reactant(s) thereby accelerating the biochemical reaction.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said biochemical reactants are biologically active molecules comprising proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, or carbohydrates or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the biochemical reaction further comprises a pharmaceutical, a biologic, other biologically active molecules, diagnostics, or biological markers or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said biochemical reactants are located in tissue or in a tissue system.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said electromagnetic field transducer comprises matter with non-zero electrical conductivity.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said matter is diamagnetic, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said matter is an ionomer, a conducting polymer, an alkali metal, a transition metal, a lanthanide, or a metalloid or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said matter is colloidal or non-colloidal gold, silicon, cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, ruthenium, indium phosphide, indium arsenide, gallium arsenide, gold maleimide, gallium phosphide, hydroxysuccinimidyl gold, nickel-copper, nickel-palladium, palladium-cobalt, nickel-silicon, stainless steel, iron oxide, ferrite, titanium, Phynox, palladium/cobalt alloys, nitinol, titanium, titanium alloys, zirconium, gadolinium, aluminum oxide, dysprosium, cobalt alloys, nickel, gold, palladium, or tungsten or alloys thereof.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26 , where said matter is a metal nano- or micro-particle, a semiconducting nano- or micro-particle, a magnetic nano- or micro-particle, a polystyrene encapsulated metal particle, a buckminsterfullerene, or a liposome-encapsulated metal particle.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said radiofrequency energy has a frequency from about 100 kHz to 40 GHz.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein said electromagnetic field is inductively generated via an antenna or a series of antenna(e).  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said electromagnetic field transducer functions as said antenna.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said antenna(e) comprises at least one coil of electrical conductor.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said electrical conductor is solid wire or hollow tubing.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said antenna(e) is a single coil antenna, a double coil antenna or a solenoid antenna.  
     
     
         41 . A device for inductively heating biologically active molecules, comprising: 
 a radiofrequency power supply;    an electromagnetic field transducer; and    a means for inductively applying said radiofrequency energy to said biologically active molecules.    
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein said electromagnetic field transducer comprises matter with non-zero electrical conductivity.  
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein said matter is diamagnetic, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic.  
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein said matter is an ionomer, a conducting polymer, an alkali metal, a transition metal, a lanthanide, or a metalloid or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein said matter is colloidal or non-colloidal gold, silicon, cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, ruthenium, indium phosphide, indium arsenide, gallium arsenide, gold maleimide, gallium phosphide, hydroxysuccinimidyl gold, nickel-copper, nickel-palladium, palladium-cobalt, nickel-silicon, stainless steel, iron oxide, ferrite, titanium, Phynox, palladium/cobalt alloys, nitinol, titanium, titanium alloys, zirconium, gadolinium, aluminum oxide, dysprosium, cobalt alloys, nickel, gold, palladium, or tungsten or alloys thereof.  
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 41 , where said matter is a metal nano- or micro-particle, a semiconducting nano- or micro-particle, a magnetic nano- or micro-particle, a polystyrene encapsulated metal particle, a buckminsterfullerene, or a liposome-encapsulated metal particle.  
     
     
         47 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein, wherein the power supply generates radiofrequency energy from about 100 kHz to about 40 GHz.  
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein said means for inductively applying radiofrequency energy is an antenna.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein said antenna is said electromagnetic field transducer.  
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein said antenna comprises at least one coil of electrical conductor.  
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 50 , wherein said electrical conductor is solid wire or hollow tubing.  
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 48 , wherein said antenna is a single coil antenna, a double coil antenna or a solenoid antenna.  
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein said biologically active molecules are proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, or carbohydrates or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein said biologically active molecules are in vitro.  
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein said biologically active molecules are in a tissue or in a tissue system.  
     
     
         56 . A system for inducing a biochemical reaction comprising: 
 a radiofrequency power supply;    a means for inductively applying radiofrequency energy to the reaction, and    a reactive composition comprising: 
 at least one biologically active molecule; and  
 an electromagnetic field transducer associated therewith.  
   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein said biologically active molecules are proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, or carbohydrates or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein said biologically active molecules are in vitro.  
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein said biologically active molecules are in a tissue or in a tissue system.  
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 56 , further comprising a pharmaceutical, a biologic, other biologically active molecules, diagnostics, or biological markers or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         61 . The device of  claim 56 , wherein said electromagnetic field transducer comprises matter with non-zero electrical conductivity.  
     
     
         62 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein said matter is diamagnetic, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic.  
     
     
         63 . The system of  claim 61 , wherein said matter is an ionomer, a conducting polymer, an alkali metal, a transition metal, a lanthanide, or a metalloid or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         64 . The system of  claim 63 , wherein said matter is colloidal or non-colloidal gold, silicon, cadmium selenide, cadmium sulfide, ruthenium, indium phosphide, indium arsenide, gallium arsenide, gold maleimide, gallium phosphide, hydroxysuccinimidyl gold, nickel-copper, nickel-palladium, palladium-cobalt, nickel-silicon, stainless steel, iron oxide, ferrite, titanium, Phynox, palladium/cobalt alloys, nitinol, titanium, titanium alloys, zirconium, gadolinium, aluminum oxide, dysprosium, cobalt alloys, nickel, gold, palladium, or tungsten or alloys thereof.  
     
     
         65 . The system of  claim 61 , where said matter is a metal nano- or micro-particle, a semiconducting nano- or micro-particle, a magnetic nano- or micro-particle, a polystyrene encapsulated metal particle, a buckminsterfullerene, or a liposome-encapsulated metal particle.  
     
     
         66 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein, wherein the power supply generates radiofrequency energy from about 100 kHz to about 40 GHz.  
     
     
         67 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein said means for inductively applying radiofrequency energy is an antenna.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said antenna is said electromagnetic field transducer.  
     
     
         69 . The system of  claim 67 , wherein said antenna comprises at least one coil of electrical conductor.  
     
     
         70 . The device of  claim 69 , wherein said electrical conductor is solid wire or hollow tubing.  
     
     
         71 . The device of  claim 67 , wherein said antenna is a single coil antenna, a double coil antenna or a solenoid antenna.