Enhanced Protein Structural Characterization using Microfluidic Modulation Spectroscopy

Eugene Ma, RedShiftBio

RedShiftBio has developed a powerful new tool for protein structural analysis based on Microfluidic Modulation Spectroscopy (MMS).This technology shows significant increases in sensitivity, dynamic range, accuracy and utility for determination of protein secondary structure, quantitation, similarity, stability and aggregation. The analyzer utilizes a tunable mid-infrared quantum cascade laser to generate an optical signal 1000X brighter than conventional sources used in FTIR spectroscopy. This also allows the use of simpler detectors without the need for liquid nitrogen. Additionally, the sample (protein) solution and a matching buffer reference stream are automatically introduced into a microfluidic flow cell, and the two fluids are rapidly modulated (e.g. 5 Hz) across the laser beam path to produce nearly drift-free background subtracted measurements.