Uv solid state detection and methods therefor

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for detecting molecules in a solid state using UV lights in a dry condition are provided. Interaction between a plurality of molecules, a conformational change of a molecule, a size difference between a plurality of molecules and a presence of a molecule can be detected in a dry environment by measuring a light absorption in at least one of light transmission mode and light reflection mode. In a preferred embodiment, the measurement of a light absorption is performed at a wavelength of ultraviolet light between 260 nm and 285 nm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for detecting a conformational change of a molecule, comprising:
 obtaining a first value of the molecule in a first condition, and a second value of the molecule in a second condition, wherein the first and second values are obtained in a dry state and comprise light absorption in at least one of light transmission mode and light reflection mode; and   comparing quantitatively the first and second values.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first condition is a reduced state wherein the molecule comprises a disulfide bond and the second condition is an oxidized state wherein the molecule comprises two thiol groups. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first condition comprises a post-translational modification of the molecule and the second condition comprises a naïve state of the molecule. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first condition comprises a folded state of the molecule, and the second condition comprises an unfolded state of the molecule. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first condition comprises a complex between the molecule and a complexing molecule, and the second condition comprises the molecule without the complexing molecule. 
     
     
         6 . A method for detecting a difference in size between a first molecule and a second molecule, comprising:
 obtaining a first value from the first molecule and a second value from the second molecule;   wherein the first and second values are obtained in a dry environment, and comprise light absorption in at least one of light transmission mode and light reflection mode; and   determining quantitatively a difference between the first and second values.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein light absorption is measured at a wavelength in an ultraviolet range. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising a step of determining a molecular attenuation coefficient for at least one of the first and second molecules. 
     
     
         9 . A method for quantitatively or qualitatively determining presence of a molecule, comprising:
 measuring light absorption of the molecule on a support in a dry environment in at least one of light transmission mode and light reflection, wherein the molecule does not include a label, to obtain a signal; and   comparing the signal against a background signal obtained from the support and in the absence of the molecule to quantitatively or qualitatively determine one of presence or absence of the molecule.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein light absorptin is measured at a wavelength in an ultraviolet range.