Nano oscillators for label-free optical detection of molecular charge, mass, and binding kinetics

Nano oscillators are nanoparticles or single proteins tethered to a conductive surface and driven by an alternating electric field, which convert charge and hydrodynamic drag into quantifiable motion that is detectable by plasmonic or evanescent scattering imaging. This dynamic, charge-based readout circumvents the mass-sensitivity limits of established label-free platforms, enables multiplexed screening of small-molecule binding kinetics to membrane receptors, and enables digital single-protein analysis.