Abstract: Viruses and other bioagents are of high medical and biodefense concern and their detection at concentrations well below the threshold necessary to cause health hazards continues to be a challenge with respect to sensitivity, specificity, and selectivity. Ideally, assays for accurate and real time detection of viral agents and other bioagents would not necessitate any pre-processing of the analyte, which would make them applicable for example to bodily fluids (blood, sputum) and man-made as well as naturally occurring bodies of water (pools, rivers). We describe herein a robust biosensor that combines the sensitivity of surface acoustic waves (SAW) generated at a frequency of 325 MHz with the specificity provided by antibodies and other ligands for the detection of viral agents.

Abstract: An optical biosensor, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a first layer, a second layer stacked on the first layer, a first grating coupler within the first layer and the second layer, and a second grating coupler within the first layer. The first grating coupler is configured to couple a light pattern provided to a front side of the optical biosensor. The second grating coupler is configured to output the light pattern coupled by the first grating coupler to a photoelectric conversion element on a rear side of the optical biosensor.

Abstract: A biosensor includes a flexible foil with an electrode layer positioned on the foil. An adhesive layer is positioned on the foil layer, and a first photo-definable hydrogel membrane is positioned over the electrode layer and the adhesive layer. A second photo-definable hydrogel membrane with an immobilized bio-recognition element is positioned over the first hydrogel membrane in contact with the electrode layer through an opening in the first hydrogel membrane.

Abstract: The invention provides a molecular affinity clamp. The architecture of the affinity clamp is modular with two biorecognition modules, each capable of binding a target motif. The first biorecognition module has a recognition domain that possesses inherent or natural specificity for the target motif. The second biorecognition module also has a recognition domain that binds the motif. The two biorecognition modules are tethered together either directly, e.g., via a peptide bond between the two modules, or indirectly, e.g., via a linker moiety or linker.

Abstract: A flow rate measurement apparatus includes a light oscillator; a thin metallic film which causes surface plasmon resonance by light output from the light oscillator; a focusing unit which fixes the thin metallic film and converts the output light of the light oscillator into incident light having a plurality of incident angles to focus the incident light at a location of a focal line in a straight line shape on the thin metallic film; a measurement part having antibody fixed areas to which an antibody is fixed and reference areas to which an antibody is not fixed, the antibody fixed areas and the reference areas being alternately arranged at a location along the focal line location on the thin metallic film; a light receiver which receives reflected light, at the focal line location, of the output light by surface plasmon resonance occurring at the focal line location, at each of the plurality of incident light angles; an SPR angle calculator which obtains a temporal change of an SPR angle in each of the anti

Abstract: The invention is to devices and method for rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by various assays including immunoassays incorporating a sample dilution feature for forming a diluted sample for analysis. The devices and methods also include a dilution verification feature for verifying the degree of dilution of the diluted sample. The devices preferably are capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field is provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for real-time measurement of the secretion of at least one compound by at least one individual cell, comprising: the culturing, in a liquid medium, of at least one cell in a culture chamber, at least one wall of which comprises at least one sensitive area, a sensitive area comprising a plurality of ligands, attached to a solid support, each ligand being able to bind specifically to the compound, and an element for real-time transduction of a signal produced by the binding of the compound to one of the ligands; the identification, in a sensitive area, of at least one spot producing a signal; the real-time measurement of the signal produced by the spot identified, representing the amount of compound secreted by an individual cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor device (100) and a method for the detection of magnetic particles (1) in a sample chamber (2) with a contact surface (11). The sensor device (100) comprises a sensor unit (120, 130) for detecting magnetic particles (1) in a target region (TR) and/or in at least one reference region on the contact surface. Moreover, it comprises a magnetic field generator (140) for generating a magnetic field that shall guide magnetic particles to the contact surface. With the help of these components, an “auxiliary parameter” is determined that is related to the magnetic particles (1) and/or their movement but that is independent of binding processes taking place in the target region between magnetic particles and the contact surface. The auxiliary parameter may for example be related to the degree of mismatch between the positions reached by the magnetic particles (1) under the influence of a magnetic field and the target region (TR).

Abstract: A label-free biosensor detection arrangement incorporating an external cavity laser (ECL) includes a tunable lasing element (e.g. an antireflection coated laser diode or semiconductor optical amplifier) and a narrow bandwidth resonant reflectance filter as the wavelength-selective element for the tunable lasing element. A sample is deposited on the surface of the resonant reflectance filter containing a biological material. The wavelength emitted by the external cavity laser is continuously tunable by binding interactions between the biological material and the resonant reflectance filter or adsorption of the biological material present in the sample on resonant reflectance filter. The narrow bandwidth resonance reflectance filter can take the form of photonic crystal (PC), a Bragg stack, or a Brag fiber reflection filter.

Abstract: A method of detecting a pathogen in a sample. The pathogen from the sample is captured with at least one recognition element. The sample is introduced to a paper-based microfluidic device having spaced electrodes disposed thereon. An impedance magnitude of the sample is measured across the spaced electrodes to detect a presence of the pathogen in the sample. A related paper-based microfluidic device and system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a biosensor includes forming an electrode layer on a flexible foil. An adhesive layer is positioned on the foil layer, and a first photo-definable hydrogel membrane is positioned over the electrode layer and the adhesive layer. A second photo-definable hydrogel membrane with an immobilized bio-recognition element is positioned over the first hydrogel membrane in contact with the electrode layer through an opening in the first hydrogel membrane.

Abstract: Among others, the present invention provides piezo-electric micro-devices for detecting at the microscopic level an electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, thermal, optical, acoustical, biological, chemical, physical, bio-chemical, bio-physical, physical-chemical, bio-physical-chemical, bio-mechanical, bio-electro-mechanical, electro-mechanical, or mechanical property of the biologic subject.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microfluidic system, method and kit for performing assays. The system may comprise a microfluidic device and a detector, wherein the assay yields results that may be read by a detector and analyzed by the system. The assay may comprise one or more chemical or biological reaction against, or performed on, a sample or multiple samples. The sample(s) may become larger and/or smaller during the performance of the assay. The sample(s) may be present within a vehicle, or on a carrier within a vehicle, in the microfluidic device, and wherein the vehicle may become larger and/or smaller during the performance of the assay. The assay may be a cascading assay comprising a series of multiple assays, wherein each assay may be the same or different, and wherein each assay in the series of multiple assays may further comprise one or more process or step.

Abstract: A cartridge (110) and a method process target components (T1, T2) of a sample fluid, for example the detection of cardiac markers in blood. The cartridge (110) includes a reaction chamber (114) with a hydrophilic reaction surface (115). A physical barrier (116,118) on the reaction surface (115), for example a protrusion, at least partially borders an investigation region (117,117?) which includes capture probes (CP1, CP2) that specifically bind to target components (T1, T2) of the sample fluid.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for accurately imaging chemiluminescence and other luminescence are disclosed. A compact, flat-bed scanner having a light-tight enclosure, one or more detector bars of linear charge-coupled device (CCD) or complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging chips, and high working numerical aperture (NA) optics scans closely over a sample in one direction and then the opposite direction. Averages or other combinations of intensity readings for each pixel location (x, y) between the two or more passes are averaged together in order to compensate for luminescence that varies over time. On-chip pixel binning and multiple clock frequencies can be used to maximize the signal to noise ratio in a CCD-based scanner.

Abstract: A sensing device (100) detects a target substance (2) in an investigation region (113). The sensing device (100) includes a sensing surface (112) with an investigation region (113) and a reference region (120). The sensing device (100) further includes a reference element (121) located at the reference region (120). The reference element (121) is adapted to shield the reference region (120) from the target substance (2) such that light reflected at the reference region (120) under total internal reflection conditions remains unaffected by the presence or absence of the target substance (2). This allows measuring a property, typically the intensity, of light reflected at the reference region (120) independent of the presence or absence of the target substance (2). This measured property of the reflected light can be used for performing a correction of light reflected at the investigation region (113).

Abstract: Container for sample preparation or processing, such as biomass culturing or processing, and optionally sample purification. In certain embodiments, the reactor is a bioreactor that includes a stirred cell device that simulates a tangential flow filter to reduce or eliminate clogging that can be caused by the solids generated. In certain embodiments, the solids comprise a precipitate or floc or beads, such as one that includes a polymer that binds the biomolecule(s) of interest, and impurities. In its method aspects, embodiments disclosed herein include purification and isolation of biomolecules of interest derived from cell culture fluids. The methods include carrying out sample preparation or processing in a container, culturing a biomass; generating solids by precipitating or flocculating a biomolecule of interest from the cultured broth; preventing the solids from settling in the container by agitation; and purification, such as by eluting the biomolecule of interest and filtering the same.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device and method allowing a trace amount of a target substance to be detected. A metallic nanoparticle assembly structure is formed of metallic nanoparticles assembled together and modified with a host molecule allowing the target substance to specifically adhere thereto. A metallic nanorod is modified with a host molecule allowing the target substance to specifically adhere thereto. The metallic nanorod is conjugated to the metallic nanoparticle assembly structure by the target substance. An extinction spectrum of localized surface plasmon resonance or a surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum induced in the metallic nanoparticle assembly structure and the metallic nanostructure is measured with a spectroscope. The target substance is detected based on that spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cartridge for analyzing a fluid sample. The cartridge provides for the efficient separation of cells or viruses in the sample from the remaining sample fluid, lysis of the cells or viruses to release the analyte (e.g., nucleic acid) therefrom, and optionally chemical reaction and/or detection of the analyte. The cartridge is useful in a variety of diagnostic, life science research, environmental, or forensic applications for determining the presence or absence of one or more analytes in a sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical imaging system communicatively connected to a microwave energy producing source wherein the combination provides for increases in chemical reaction times and the ability to monitor the reactions in real time with sufficient resolution to view the location of intracellular components labeled with luminescent molecules as well as interaction with other biomolecules and responses to localized environmental variables in living cells and tissues during the application of a microwave field.