Abstract: A device for determining the presence and/or quantity of one or more analytes in a sample of human body fluid has a container for receiving a sample of body fluid, with an interior that is delimited by a base and by a circumferential surface. It further comprises at least one test strip and a holding element for receiving and holding the one or more test strips. The holding element is designed such that it has a shape corresponding and adapted to the peripheral circumferential surface of the container. The device further comprises an elongate sampling element having an absorbent sampler that takes up the sample of body fluid and by means of which the sample of body fluid is transferred into the container. The sampling element can include an indicator strip for determining whether the amount of liquid sample sufficient for carrying out an assay.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a construct for the detection of an analyte using surface enhanced spectroscopic techniques. The construct includes linked surfaces, where the link is formed by a linker providing a fixed inter-surface separation between the linked surfaces, wherein the linker is a linking compound, and at least one of the surfaces is the surface of a nanoparticle. The linking compound is suitable for interacting with the analyte. The linking compound may be a cucurbituril. The surface enhanced spectroscopic technique may be surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).

Abstract: A device (1) for use in the detection of binding affinities comprises a planar waveguide (2) arranged on a substrate (22). The waveguide (2) has an outer surface (21) and a plurality of incoupling lines (31) for coupling a beam of coherent light into the waveguide (2) such that a parallel beam of coherent light (62) propagates along the waveguide (2). The incoupling lines (31) are curved and have an increasing distance between adjacent incoupling lines (31). A divergent beam of coherent light (61) of a predetermined wavelength is coupled into the waveguide (2) such that it propagates along the waveguide (2). A plurality of binding sites (51) is attached to the outer surface (21) along at least one further plurality of diffraction lines arranged in an outcoupling section of the waveguide (2). These diffraction lines comprise a plurality of curved outcoupling lines (41) having a decreasing distance between adjacent outcoupling lines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system based on a multi-gate field effect transistor for sensing molecules in a gas or liquid sample. The said FET transistor comprises dual gate lateral electrodes (and optionally a back gate electrode) located on the two sides of an active region, and a sensing surface on top of the said active region. Applying voltages to the lateral gate electrodes, creates a conductive channel in the active region, wherein the width and the lateral position of the said channel can be controlled. Enhanced sensing sensitivity is achieved by measuring the channels conductivity at a plurality of positions in the lateral direction. The use of an array of the said FTE for electronic nose is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a sensor device (100) for the detection of clusters (C) of magnetic particles (MP) in a sample volume (111), particularly of clusters (C) consisting of two magnetic particles (MP) with different binding sites that are bound to a target molecule in a sandwich configuration. Output light (L2) originating from an interaction of input light (L1) with clusters (C) of magnetic particles (MP) is detected. Moreover, the magnetic particles (MP, C) are actuated by a magnetic actuation field (B), wherein said actuation is at least once interrupted by a pause. In this way a high output signal can be achieved that properly reflects the amount of specifically bound clusters (C).

Abstract: A method of making an assay device comprising providing micro-elements in the form of micro-particles or micro-length tube detection elements and thereafter with an automated tool, picking and placing the micro-elements into open-sided microfluidic channels in a body.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and devices for the detection of multiple analytes with a single signal are provided.

Abstract: Optical readers and alignment tools for detecting the level of an analyte. Described herein are small, disposable partially-encapsulated sensing chips for detecting an analyte level from a fluid sample (e.g., a blood sample) having an edge of the integrated sensing chip exposed to directly expose a plurality of excitation and a collection waveguides, as well as optical readers and methods of operating them. A fluid sample maybe applied to a sensing surface of the sensing chip in the housing so that an analyte level can be optically detected. Also described are methods of sensing an analyte using these devices and systems including an optical detector.

Abstract: A device for use in the detection of binding affinities comprises a planar waveguide (2) arranged on a substrate (3), and an optical coupler (4) for coupling coherent light (1) of a predetermined wavelength into the planar waveguide. The coherent light propagates through the planar waveguide (2) with an evanescent field (6) propagating along an outer surface (5) of the planar waveguide. The outer surface (5) of the planar waveguide comprises binding sites (7) thereon capable of binding target samples (8) to the binding sites (7) such that light of the evanescent field (6) is scattered by target samples (8) bound to the binding sites (7). The binding sites (7) are arranged along a plurality of predetermined lines (9) which are arranged such that the scattered light constructively interferes at a predetermined detection location with a difference in optical path length which is an integer multiple of the predetermined wavelength.

Abstract: A method and device for multiplexing and calibrating rapid quantification of biomolecules present in a nanofluidic biosensor composed by a nanoslit. A novel concept defining multiple different local structured areas containing biomarkers. Local structured areas can also be structured to decrease the biomarkers density in the nanoslit. Such enables the multiplexed quantification biomolecular interactions of interest in the same nanofluidic biosensor.

Abstract: An optical glucose sensor for detecting and/or quantifying the amount of glucose in a sample comprising: a sensing region comprising a boronic acid receptor for binding to glucose and a fluorophore associated with said receptor; an optical waveguide for directing incident light onto the sensing region; and a glucose-permeable barrier layer comprising a semi-permeable membrane having pores and a hydrophilic polymer within the pores of the semi-permeable membrane, the barrier layer overlying at least a part of the sensing region; wherein the sensor is adapted so that glucose enters the sensing region of the sensor through the glucose-permeable barrier layer, and an ROS-quenching agent is present in the sensing region and/or the glucose-permeable barrier layer.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a sensor chip for SPFS measurement, by which, irrespective of environmental conditions, fluctuations are low in characteristics such as signal, noise, or detection sensitivity, quantitative property can be ensured, and a highly precise and accurate SPFS measurement can be carried out. [Solution] A sensor chip for SPFS measurement which has a dielectric member having been produced by carrying out injection molding of a resin, when viewing from the metal thin film-formed surface side of the dielectric member and taking as b the distance of the side end surface position of the resin inlet to the position on the metal thin film-formed surface that is farthest from the side end surface position of the resin inlet, the center of a ligand immobilization part is located in the area between the 3b/8 position and the 6b/8 position from the side end surface position of the resin inlet.

Abstract: [Object] To provide a chemical sensor provided with a spectral filter excellent in spectral characteristic, a chemical sensor module, a chemical substance detection apparatus, and a chemical substance detection method. [Solving Means] A chemical sensor according to the present technology is provided with a substrate and a plasmon absorption layer. On the substrate, the photodetection unit is formed. The plasmon absorption layer is laminated on the substrate and has a metal nanostructure that generates plasmon absorbency.

Abstract: Embodiments of this invention include image-based systems and methods for detection of one or more analytes. A surface has identifiable analyte-specific capture particle(s) immobilised thereto at any point of an assay, to which different analytes attach due to the affinity of analyte-specific capture molecule(s) linked to the surface of the capture particle(s) for the analyte. Analyte-specific detector molecules with conjugated detection moieties are then attached to the analyte, and a computer assisted, image-based detection system captures images of the capture particles with or without attached analytes and detector molecules. By using different subsets of analyte-specific capture molecules, each subset having a characteristic identifiable feature; it is now possible to perform capture particle-based, rapid multiplex assays of biological and non-biological analytes without flow.

Abstract: Highly simplified lateral flow chromatographic nucleic acid sample preparation methods, devices, and integrated systems are provided for the efficient concentration of trace samples and the removal of nucleic acid amplification inhibitors. Methods for capturing and reducing inhibitors of nucleic acid amplification reactions, such as humic acid, using polyvinylpyrrolidone treated elements of the lateral flow device are also provided. Further provided are passive fluid control methods and systems for use in lateral flow assays.

Abstract: A chip for localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) biosensing and imaging having a glass coverslip compatible for use in a standard microscope and at least one array of functionalized plasmonic nanostructures patterned onto the glass coverslip with electron beam nanolithography. The nanostructures can be regenerated allowing the chip to be used multiple times. Also disclosed is a method for determining the fractional occupancy values for surface-bound receptors as a function of time for LSPR biosensing from the spectroscopic response of the array and modeling the photon count in each spectrometer channel, allowing for a functional relationship to be determined between the acquired spectrum and the fractional occupancy of binding sites on the array. Additionally disclosed is a method for the spatiotemporal mapping of receptor-ligand binding kinetics in LSPR imaging using the chip and projecting a magnified image of the array to a CCD camera and monitoring the binding kinetics of the array.

Abstract: A new signal amplification method exploiting the dense atom packing in metallic nanocrystals has been developed for detecting target substances. By dissolving nanocrystals to individual ions that are stoichiometrically converted to chromophores and quantified photometrically, extremely high signal amplification can be achieved. Signal amplification is fully determined by the total number of atoms in the nanocrystals bound to a single target molecule. The disclosed nanocrystal amplification method can be implemented with a rich selection of metal/metal oxide nanocrystals and metal-reactive chromogenic substrates. The chromogenic reactions can be either solution-based or surface-based and performed in aqueous or organic phase, supporting a variety of assay formats.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards characterizing liquids through the use of magnetic discs that rotate in response to dynamic magnetic fields. In some embodiments, a light beam is transmitted into the liquid while the magnetic discs rotate, and one or more parameters a light beam signal associated with the transmitted light beam are identified. Various characteristics of the liquid may be detected based on the one or more parameters of the light beam signal.

Abstract: Techniques for enhanced fluorescence include a Tamm substrate for a target optical frequency comprising a metal nanoscale layer deposited on a Bragg grating. The Bragg grating includes multiple dielectric layers including multiple high index of refraction layers alternating with multiple low index of refraction layers. The dielectric layers are parallel to the metal nanoscale layer; and, the thickness of each dielectric layer is about a fourth of a wavelength of the target optical frequency in the layer. The metal nanoscale layer is configured to host a fluorophore such that an S polarized emission from the fluorophore at the target optical frequency propagates out of the substrate perpendicular to the plurality of dielectric layers.

Abstract: A waveguide sensor capable of direct, real-time detection and monitoring of analytes in the vicinity of the waveguide surface without requiring the tagging or labeling of the analyte, is described. Analytic and numerical calculations have predicted that by locally detecting either changes in the evanescent field or changes in the light coupled out of the waveguide as a result of the presence of the analyte, high detection sensitivity will be able to be achieved.