Biacore X100 tracks changes at the sensor surface as molecules bind and leave. When the flowing binding partner associates with the immobilized partner, the local refractive index changes and produces a response. During dissociation, the signal changes as bound molecules depart. The resulting sensorgram therefore contains time-resolved information rather than only an endpoint measurement.
Association and dissociation portions of a sensorgram are interpreted together to characterize an interaction. Association behavior reports how the flowing molecule binds to the surface-bound partner, whereas dissociation behavior follows what happens after the binding phase. Analysis of these phases provides binding kinetics and affinity, allowing comparisons among biomolecular interactions.
Because Biacore X100 does not require labels, the interacting molecules can be monitored directly through their surface response. The readout comes from the binding event and its effect on the refractive index rather than from a separate labeling signal. This capability supports real-time observation of association and dissociation during studies of molecular recognition.
A typical measurement begins with a sensor chip carrying one binding partner. The other partner is prepared in solution and passed across the surface under flow. The system records the response over time, generating a sensorgram for analysis. This workflow can be applied to proteins, nucleic acids, antibodies, or small molecules, depending on the interaction being studied.
The platform can examine interactions involving proteins, nucleic acids, antibodies, and small molecules. Researchers can use the same real-time binding framework to investigate molecular recognition while adapting the binding partners to the biological question. This breadth makes it useful for studying diverse interaction classes rather than a single type of biomolecule.
In biology, Biacore X100 measurements support target validation, assay development, and therapeutic characterization. They can also clarify molecular recognition by showing how strongly and how quickly partners associate and dissociate. These outputs help connect a measured interaction with the biological or development question that motivated the experiment.