Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Institut Pasteur

François Heslot

David Bensimon

Aaron Bensimon

The subject of the present invention is a process for aligning a macromolecule (macromolecules) on the surface S of a support, characterized in that the triple line S/A/B (meniscus) resulting from the contact between a solvent A and the surface S and a medium B is caused to move on the said surface S, the said macromolecules having a part, especially an end, anchored on the surface S, the other part, especially the other end, being in solution in the solvent A. The subject of the present invention is also a process for detecting, measuring the intramolecular distance of, separating and/or assaying a macromolecule in a sample in which a process of alignment according to the invention is used.

Process for aligning macromolecules by passage of a meniscus and applications

A product includes a surface on which a coupled complex is aligned, adherent, and stationary, obtained by a process that includes providing a support having a surface with a molecule with biological activity attached, contacting the surface with a sample containing a macromolecule to couple the macromolecule to the molecule on the surface, passing a meniscus over the coupled complex to align the coupled complex, and detecting the macromolecule in the coupled complex. The product is alternatively obtained by passing a meniscus over the molecule with biological activity prior to contacting the surface with a sample containing a macromolecule to couple the macromolecule to the molecule on the surface.

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Viroflay, France

François Heslot