Abstract: A sensor chip that includes: a fluorescence quenching surface; a nucleic acid probe that contains first and second ends with the first end bound to the fluorescence quenching surface, and is characterized by being able to self-anneal into a hairpin conformation; and a first fluorophore bound to the second end of the first nucleic acid molecule. When the first nucleic acid molecule is in the hairpin conformation, the fluorescence quenching surface substantially quenches fluorescent emissions by the first fluorophore; and when the first nucleic acid molecule is in a non-hairpin conformation, fluorescent emissions by the fluorophore are substantially free of quenching by the fluorescence quenching surface. Various nucleic acid probes, methods of making the sensor chip, biological sensor devices that contain the sensor chip, and their methods of use are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of identifying molecular beacons in which a secondary structure prediction algorithm is employed to identify oligonucleotide sequences within a target gene having the requisite hairpin structure. Isolated oligonucleotides, molecular beacons prepared from those oligonucleotides, and their use are also disclosed.

Abstract: A biological sensor which includes: a porous semiconductor structure comprising a central layer interposed between upper and lower layers, each of the upper and lower layers including strata of alternating porosity; and one or more probes coupled to the porous semiconductor structure, the one or more probes binding to a target molecule, whereby a detectable change occurs in a refractive index of the biological sensor upon binding of the one or more probes to the target molecule. Methods of making the biological sensor and methods of using the same are disclosed, as is a detection device which includes such a biological sensor.

Abstract: A reaction vessel and method of identifying a ligand having affinity for a target molecule are disclosed. The reaction vessel includes a first member defining a first chamber, the first chamber including an organic solvent and a plurality of reactants which form a combinatorial library of products; a second member defining a second chamber, the second chamber including a target molecule and an aqueous solvent immiscible in the organic solvent; and a semipermeable membrane separating the contents of the first chamber from the contents of the second chamber, wherein said semipermeable membrane is permeable to one or more products of the combinatorial library of products.

Abstract: The present invention related to an oligocycloalkanoid compound comprising formula (I) wherein m, n, and o are independently an integer from 0 to 2; A1 through A10 are independently a direct link, alkylene, alkylene-O—, carbonyl, oxygen, or sulfur; X and Y are independently hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, or in combination an electrophilic group; and R1 through R10 are independently hydrogen, hydroxy, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted or unsubstituted aryl, N-, S-, or O-heterocycles, fused or multi-ring aryl with or without hetero ring members, arylalkyl, arylalkenyl, arylalkynyl, alkylphenyl, alkenylphenyl, alkynylphenyl, alkoxy, alkenyloxy, alkynyloxy, substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy, substituted or unsubstituted arylalkoxy, alkylacyl, alkenylacyl, alkynylacyl, arylacyl, aroyl, alkylaroyl, aminoaroyl, aminoalkylacyl, aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, aminoalkynyl, amino, alkylamino, alkenylamino, alkynylamino, arylamino, dialkylamino, dialkenylamino, dialkynylamino, arylalkylamino, arylalk

Abstract: The present invention relates to one or more different types of calorimetric sensor agents and one or more different types of fluorescence quenching agents or substrates, as well as their combination and various uses thereof, including detection of target molecules in a sample.

Abstract: A biological sensor which includes: a porous semiconductor structure comprising a central layer interposed between upper and lower layers, each of the upper and lower layers including strata of alternating porosity; and one or more probes coupled to the porous semiconductor structure, the one or more probes binding to a target molecule, whereby a detectable change occurs in a refractive index of the biological sensor upon binding of the one or more probes to the target molecule. Methods of making the biological sensor and methods of using the same are disclosed, as is a detection device which includes such a biological sensor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combinatorial library which includes a plurality of at least six different complexes. Each of the complexes is formed of at least one complexing agent and at least two non-biopolymer ligands that are reversibly bonded to the complexing agent, and each different complex in the library has different ligands bonded to the complexing agent. Compositions that include these combinatorial libraries and receptors are also disclosed, as are methods for identifying a combination of non-biopolymer ligands which bind preferentially to a receptor. Methods for producing the combinatorial libraries are also described. The combinatorial libraries, compositions, and methods of the present invention permit the selection and amplification of non-biopolymeric molecules which are targeted to a particular receptor, where the selection and amplification criteria are based strictly on differences in binding affinity to a receptor.

Abstract: A reaction vessel and method of identifying a ligand having affinity for a target molecule are disclosed. The reaction vessel includes a first member defining a first chamber, the first chamber including an organic solvent and a plurality of reactants which form a combinatorial library of products; a second member defining a second chamber, the second chamber including a target molecule and an aqueous solvent immiscible in the organic solvent; and a semipermeable membrane separating the contents of the first chamber from the contents of the second chamber, wherein said semipermeable membrane is permeable to one or more products of the combinatorial library of products.