Abstract: A biochip device includes a waveguide, chromophore elements, a diffusing structure, and a sloping surface. The chromophore elements are disposed on a portion of the waveguide and are configured to emit fluorescence in response to excitation by guided light waves transmitted by the waveguide. The diffusing structure is configured to generate guided light waves in the waveguide when illuminated. The sloping surface is sloped relative to a plane of the waveguide and is configured to direct excitation light into the waveguide, and the sloping surface and the waveguide are configured to deflect the excitation light to the diffusing structure to generate guided light waves within the waveguide. The sloping surface may be a face of a prism attached to or integrated with the waveguide, or the sloping surface may be a chamfer formed at an edge of the waveguide.

Abstract: A biochip device includes a stratified structure, a light coupler, and an optofluidic portion. The stratified structure includes a top layer having a refractive index n1, a bottom layer having a refractive index n3, and an intermediate layer between the top and bottom layers having a refractive index n2. The light coupler optically couples a light source and the top layer to generate waves that are guided in a plurality of directions inside the top layer. The optofluidic portion is supported on a surface of the top layer and includes a hybridizing chamber containing a hybridizing solution and pads supported on the surface of the top layer and situated within the hybridizing chamber. Probe molecules are deposited on the pads. The refractive index n2 of the intermediate layer is greater than or equal to a highest index of refraction of the hybridizing chamber and the hybridizing solution.

Abstract: A biochip device comprising a substrate constituted by at least one plate of material forming a multimode planar waveguide and carrying chromophore elements suitable for emitting fluorescence in response to excitation by guided waves having an evanescent portion, the device being characterized in that it includes coupling means for coupling excitation light with the waveguide in the form of guided waves, the coupling means being substantially non-directional.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a luminescent particle comprising a nanoparticle of formula A1-xLnxVO4(1-y)(PO4)y??(I) in which A is selected from yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), and mixtures thereof; Ln is selected from europium (Eu), dysprosium (Dy), samarium (Sm), neodymium (Nd), erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb), and mixtures thereof; 0<x<1; and 0?y<1; characterized in that the nanoparticle on its surface has tetraalkylammonium cations in an amount such that said nanoparticle has a zeta potential, ?, of less than or equal to ?28 mV in an aqueous medium with a pH?5, more particularly with a pH?5.5, and with an ionic conductivity >100 ?S·cm?1. It also concerns a method for preparing such luminescent particles, a colloidal suspension of these particles, and the use thereof as a diagnostic agent, and also a diagnostic kit comprising such luminescent particles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an in vitro method for detecting and/or quantifying a biological or chemical substance of interest in a liquid sample, by a capillary action test using, as probes, photoluminescent inorganic nanoparticles, of formula A1-xLnxVO4(1-y)(PO4)y (II), in which Ln is selected from europium (Eu), dysprosium (Dy), samarium (Sm), neodymium (Nd), erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb), thulium (Tm), praseodymium (Pr), holmium (Ho) and mixtures thereof; A is selected from yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), lutetium (Lu), and mixtures thereof; 0<x<1; and 0?y<1, said method employing detection of the luminescence, with an emission lifetime shorter than 100 ms, of the nanoparticles, after one-photon absorption, by excitation of the matrix at a wavelength less than or equal to 320 nm. It also relates to a capillary action test device comprising, as probes, the aforementioned nanoparticles, as well as the use of such a method for purposes of in vitro diagnostics.

Abstract: A method which can be used to analyse oxidising species in a sample, including: placing the sample in contact with a first photoluminescent agent, and a second optically active agent, at least the first photoluminescent agent including nanoparticles doped with rare earth elements and being oxidisable, the luminescence of the first photoluminescent agent varying, at least at one first wavelength, with the amount of oxidising species, and the signal emitted by the second optically active agent being constant or varying, at least at one second wavelength other than the first wavelength, with the amount of oxidising species in a direction opposite to the luminescence of the first photoluminescent agent; energising the first and second agents in the sample; measuring the light intensity of the sample at least at the first and second wavelengths; and assessing the presence and/or the amount of oxidising species by interpreting the measured light intensities.

Abstract: A process for ultrasensitive in vitro detection and/or quantification of a substance of interest in a sample is performed by detecting the luminescence emission by photoluminescent inorganic nanoparticles. The process includes (i) use of photoluminescent particles comprising a photoluminescent inorganic nanoparticle consisting of a crystalline matrix having at least 103 rare-earth ions, and coupled to a targeting agent for the substance to be analyzed, under conditions conducive to their association with the sample substance to be analyzed; (ii) exciting the rare-earth ions of the particles by an illumination device having a power of at least 50 mW and an excitation intensity of at least 1 W/cm2; (iii) detecting the luminescence emission by the particles after single-photon absorption; and (iv) determining the presence and/or concentration of the substance by interpreting said luminescence measurement. This process can be used for in vitro diagnostic purposes and as an in vitro diagnostic kit.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a luminescent particle comprising a nanoparticle of formula A1?xLnxVO4(1?y)(PO4)y ??(I) in which A is selected from yttrium (Y), gadolinium (Gd), lanthanum (La), and mixtures thereof; Ln is selected from europium (Eu), dysprosium (Dy), samarium (Sm), neodymium (Nd), erbium (Er), ytterbium (Yb), and mixtures thereof; 0<x<1; and 0<y<1; characterized in that the nanoparticle on its surface has tetraalkylammonium cations in an amount such that said nanoparticle has a zeta potential, ?, of less than or equal to ?28 mV in an aqueous medium with a pH?5, more particularly with a pH?5.5, and with an ionic conductivity >100 ?S.cm?1. It also concerns a method for preparing such luminescent particles, a colloidal suspension of these particles, and the use thereof as a diagnostic agent, and also a diagnostic kit comprising such luminescent particles.

Abstract: A biochip device comprising a substrate constituted by at least one plate of material forming a multimode planar waveguide and carrying chromophore elements suitable for emitting fluorescence in response to excitation by guided waves having an evanescent portion, the device being characterized in that it includes coupling means for coupling excitation light with the waveguide in the form of guided waves, the coupling means being substantially non-directional.

Abstract: A biochip device comprising a substrate constituted by at least one plate of material forming a multimode planar waveguide and carrying chromophore elements suitable for emitting fluorescence in response to excitation by guided waves having an evanescent portion, the device being characterized in that it includes coupling means for coupling excitation light with the waveguide in the form of guided waves, the coupling means being substantially non-directional.

Abstract: A biochip device comprising a substrate constituted by at least one plate of material forming a multimode planar waveguide and carrying chromophore elements suitable for emitting fluorescence in response to excitation by guided waves having an evanescent portion, the device being characterized in that it includes coupling means for coupling excitation light with the waveguide in the form of guided waves, the coupling means being substantially non-directional.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer composite material comprising: a base layer a metallic layer consisting of an insulating matrix phase and of a metallic particles phase, said metallic particles being distributed in the insulating matrix, wherein a volume fraction ? being the ratio between the volume of metallic particles and the volume of the metallic layer corresponds to a critical volume fraction ?*+??, with 0<???5%, the critical volume fraction ?* being the volume fraction for which an increase of conductivity of the metallic layer as a function of the volume fraction ? has a maximum value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method which can be used to analyse oxidising species in a sample, comprising the steps which consist of: placing (12) the sample in contact with a first photoluminescent agent, and a second optically active agent, at least the first photoluminescent agent including nanoparticles doped with rare earth elements and being oxidisable, the luminescence of the first photoluminescent agent varying, at least at one first wavelength, with the amount of oxidising species, and the signal emitted by the second optically active agent being constant or varying, at least at one second wavelength other than the first wavelength, with the amount of oxidising species in a direction opposite to the luminescence of the first photoluminescent agent; energising (16) the first and second agents in the sample; measuring (18) the light intensity of the sample at least at said first and second wavelengths; and assessing the presence and/or the amount of oxidising species by interpreting (20) said measured l

Abstract: The present application concerns multimodal composite products for imaging, in particular for diagnostic imaging, and optionally for therapy, in particular composite products which are capable of being used as contrast agents, in particular in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or in imaging techniques such as, for example, in optical imaging, in the optical detection of oxidants, in positron emission tomography (PET), in tomodensitometry (TDM) and/or in ultrasound imaging, and optionally simultaneously for use in therapy. These products are based on a particle comprising or consisting of a portion provided with a contrast agent activity and/or a paramagnetic activity, and a portion provided with a luminescent activity and optionally an oxidant detection activity.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a transparent and birefringent mineral solid thin layer comprises the following steps: a) preparing a colloidal solution constituted by anisotropic mineral nanoparticles in suspension in a dispersion liquid; b) depositing the colloidal solution on a surface of a substrate by spreading as a thin layer while applying directional shear stress tangentially to the surface of the substrate so as to deposit the colloidal solution as a liquid thin layer on the surface of the substrate, the value of the shear stress and the concentration of mineral nanoparticles in the colloidal solution being determined in such a manner as to cause the anisotropic mineral nanoparticles to be aligned along the direction of the shear stress tangential to the surface of the substrate; and c) drying the liquid thin layer by evaporating the dispersion liquid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multilayer composite material comprising: —a base layer—a metallic layer consisting of an insulating matrix phase and of a metallic particles phase, said metallic particles being distributed in the insulating matrix, wherein a volume fraction ? being the ratio between the volume of metallic particles and the volume of the metallic layer corresponds to a critical volume fraction ?*+??, with 0<???5%, the critical volume fraction ?* being the volume fraction for which an increase of conductivity of the metallic layer as a function of the volume fraction ? has a maximum value.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a transparent and birefringent mineral solid thin layer comprises the following steps: a) preparing a colloidal solution constituted by anisotropic mineral nanoparticles in suspension in a dispersion liquid; b) depositing the colloidal solution on a surface of a substrate by spreading as a thin layer while applying directional shear stress tangentially to the surface of the substrate so as to deposit the colloidal solution as a liquid thin layer on the surface of the substrate, the value of the shear stress and the concentration of mineral nanoparticles in the colloidal solution being determined in such a manner as to cause the anisotropic mineral nanoparticles to be aligned along the direction of the shear stress tangential to the surface of the substrate; and c) drying the liquid thin layer by evaporating the dispersion liquid.

Abstract: The present application concerns multimodal composite products for imaging, in particular for diagnostic imaging, and optionally for therapy, in particular composite products which are capable of being used as contrast agents, in particular in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and/or in imaging techniques such as, for example, in optical imaging, in the optical detection of oxidants, in positron emission tomography (PET), in tomodensitometry (TDM) and/or in ultrasound imaging, and optionally simultaneously for use in therapy. These products are based on a particle comprising or consisting of a portion provided with a contrast agent activity and/or a paramagnetic activity, and a portion provided with a luminescent activity and optionally an oxidant detection activity.

Abstract: A biochip device comprising a substrate constituted by at least one plate of material forming a multimode planar waveguide and carrying chromophore elements suitable for emitting fluorescence in response to excitation by guided waves having an evanescent portion, the device being characterized in that it includes coupling means for coupling excitation light with the waveguide in the form of guided waves, the coupling means being substantially non-directional.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for making a substrate coated with a mesoporous photochromic film, comprising: a) preparing a precursor sol of a mesoporous film comprising an inorganic precursor agent, at least one organic solvent, water, at least one pore-forming agent and one hydrophobic precursor agent bearing at least one hydrophobic group; b) depositing a film of the precursor sol onto a main surface of a substrate; c) removing the pore-forming agent from the film resulting from the previous step at a temperature ?150° C.; d) impregnating the mesoporous film resulting from step c) with a solution comprising at least one photochromic agent. In an alternative embodiment, the photochromic agent is directly introduced into the precursor sol. In an alternative embodiment of the previous alternative embodiment, the precursor sol does not comprise any hydrophobic precursor agent but the photochromic film is made hydrophobic by a treatment subsequent to its preparation.