Method and apparatus using a nonlinear optical technique for detection of probe-target interactions in a field

摘要

A nonlinear optical technique, such as second or third harmonic or sum or difference frequency generation, is used to detect binding interactions, or the degree or extent of binding, in an applied external force field. The external field is used to create non-centrosymmetric region in a sample comprising the probes and/or targets. Targets and probes can be labeled with non-linear-active moieties, or modulators of the nonlinear active properties of these moieties. In one aspect of the present invention, the nonlinear optical technique detects a change in nonlinear activity in an applied external force field of a probe due to target binding. In another aspect of the invention, the nonlinear optical technique screens candidate probes by detecting a change in nonlinear activity in an applied external force field due to a probe-target interaction. In another aspect of the invention, the nonlinear optical technique screens candidate modulators of a probe-target interaction by detecting a change in nonlinear activity in an applied external force field in the presence of the modulator.