Abstract: The present invention discloses a biosensor for visual detection of an analyte, based on the light to heat conversion properties of metal nanoparticles: the analyte is visually detected by the color change in the support areas (where the analyte is present), produced as a result of the heat generated by the metal nanoparticles where they are irradiated with an external light source. Use of said biosensor in a method for the detection of analytes is also claimed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a biosensor for visual detection of an analyte, based on the light to heat conversion properties of metal nanoparticles: the analyte is visually detected by the color change in the support areas (where the analyte is present), produced as a result of the heat generated by the metal nanoparticles where they are irradiated with an external light source. Use of said biosensor in a method for the detection of analytes is also claimed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting substances or analytes form the analysis of one or several samples. The method comprises mixing the sample with a suitable liquid buffer, homogenizing said sample, adding reagents thereto, filtering it, injecting the sample into the incubation chamber, allowing the sample to react with a biosensor, washing the non-reacted sample excess and detecting the sample retained in the biosensor. The apparatus includes a sample homogenizer module with an ultrasonic piezoelectric device formed by a converter (49) and a horn (16); a sample processing module including a homogenization container (6) and a moving frame (17); a reagent and solution management module including a motorized syringe (60), a reaction module consisting of a support (50) forming a reaction chamber (51) and a data reading module including a laser diode (66) and a CCD camera (67).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for detecting substances or analytes form the analysis of one or several samples. The method comprises mixing the sample with a suitable liquid buffer, homogenizing said sample, adding reagents thereto, filtering it, injecting the sample into the incubation chamber, allowing the sample to react with a biosensor, washing the non-reacted sample excess and detecting the sample retained in the biosensor. The apparatus includes a sample homogenizer module with an ultrasonic piezoelectric device formed by a converter (49) and a horn (16); a sample processing module including a homogenization container (6) and a moving frame (17); a reagent and solution management module including a motorized syringe (60), a reaction module consisting of a support (50) forming a reaction chamber (51) and a data reading module including a laser diode (66) and a CCD camera (67).

Abstract: A method for the detection of minority genomes in virus quasispecies using DNA microchips. The method makes it possible to detect minority genomes, more particularly minority memory genomes, in a nucleic acids population of a virus quasispecie, which are present in a population of less than 50%, containing at least one mutation relative to the majority genomes of the quasispecie. The method involves the following steps: a) extracting the nucleic acid of the virus quasispecie form a sample susceptible of containing the virus quasispecie; b) amplifying at least one fragment of the nucleic acid of the virus quasispecie, and c) detecting and analyzing the existence of minority genomes using DNA microchip-base techniques. The method can be used in genetic diagnosis of viral diseases.