Abstract: A detection method (200) detects analytes in a fluid sample. The detection method includes transporting magnetic and/or electric labels (5) after interaction between the sample fluid and a reagent towards a detection receptacle (1). The detection receptacle (1) is initially substantially magnetic and/or electric label (5) free. By transporting the magnetic and/or electric labels (5) after reaction, interference between unreacted reagents and magnetic and/or electric label-assisted detection can be reduced.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the analysis, including the serial analysis, of very small samples of tissue. The methods utilize a nanofluidic proteomic immunoassay (NIA) to quantify total and low-abundance protein isoforms in a small amount of lysate. NIA detection accurately measure oncoprotein expression and activation in limited clinical specimens, including isoforms that differ in post-translational modifications, such as phosphorylation, and the like. The NIA detection method combines isoelectric protein focusing and antibody detection in a nanofluidic system.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for the rapid determination of analytes in liquid samples by immunoassays incorporating magnetic capture of beads on a sensor capable of being used in the point-of-care diagnostic field.

Abstract: A method including: providing a sample with M components to be labeled, where M>2; labeling the components with N stains, where N<M so that at least two components are labeled with a common stain; obtaining a set of spectral images of the sample; classifying different parts of the sample into respective classes that distinguish the commonly stained components based on the set of spectral images; and determining relative amounts of multiple ones of the M components in different regions of the sample. Related apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for quantitatively determining a binding kinetic parameter of a molecular binding interaction are provided. Aspects of embodiments of the methods include: producing a magnetic sensor device including a magnetic sensor in contact with an assay mixture including a magnetically labeled molecule to produce a detectable molecular binding interaction; obtaining a real-time signal from the magnetic sensor; and quantitatively determining a binding kinetics parameter of the molecular binding interaction from the real-time signal. Also provided are systems and kits configured for use in the methods.

Abstract: A lateral-flow assay device includes a substrate having a sample addition zone and a wash addition zone downstream thereof along a fluid flow path through which a sample flows. The fluid flow path is configured to receive a wash fluid in the wash addition zone. A hydrophilic surface is arranged in the wash addition zone. Flow constriction(s) are spaced apart from the fluid flow path and arranged to define, with the hydrophilic surface, a reservoir configured to retain the wash fluid by formation of a meniscus between the hydrophilic surface and the flow constriction(s). The fluid flow path draws the wash fluid from the reservoir by capillary pressure. Apparatus for analyzing a fluidic sample and methods of displacing a fluidic sample in a fluid flow path of an assay device are also described.

Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising one, two or more microchannel structures (101a-h), each of which comprises a reaction microcavity (104a-h) intended for retaining a solid phase material in the form of a wet porous bed. Each of said one, two or more microchannel structures comprises the solid phase material in a dry state together with a bed-preserving agent comprising one or more compounds having bed-preserving activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to optical materials and applications of optical materials and, more particularly, to optical materials incorporating particles such as nanoparticles, methods of forming such materials, and applications of such materials in various devices, for example, for filters, displays, coatings for glare reduction, and the like. The present invention can provide control over fabrication dimensions at very small scale, for example, at the molecular scale rather than at a macroscopic scale. The invention also involves, in some cases, controlling the interaction of many wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation with these materials. The optical materials and devices of the invention may be constructed and arranged for a response to, control of, and/or interaction with essentially any electromagnetic radiation, electric field, and/or magnetic field.

Abstract: Nickel, iron and palladium thin films thermally evaporated onto glass supports are used to demonstrate surface plasmon coupled fluorescence (SPCF) and surface plasmon couple chemiluminescence (SPCC) over a broad wavelength range (400-800 nm) for potential assays or other detection systems. Nickel, iron and palladium thin films used in SPCF and SPCC convert otherwise isotropic emission into highly directional and polarized emission, an attractive concept for surface assays. The emission angles of detected emissions occur over a 10 degree range for tested emitted wavelengths.

Abstract: The present invention relates to surface plasmon-coupled bioluminescence, wherein bioluminescent emission from a bioluminescent chemical reaction couples to surface plasmons in metallized particles thereby enhancing the signal. Importantly, these plasmonic emissions emitted from metallic particles generated without an external excitation source but instead from induced electronically excited states caused by the bioluminescent chemical reaction.

Abstract: The invention features methods for rapidly and sensitively identifying molecular targets in medical, industrial, and environmental samples. The invention labels target molecules and then images them using large area imaging. Diagnostic tests based on the invention can be rapid, ultrasensitive, quantitative, multiplexed, and automated. A broad range of infectious agents (e.g., bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) and molecules (e.g., proteins, DNA, RNA, hormones, and drugs) can be detected by the methods. The invention enables rapid, ultra-sensitive, cost-effective, and portable assays. The ability of the invention to detect low levels of target molecules rapidly and cost-effectively results from the combination of high intensity labeling, formats that facilitate rapid reaction kinetics, and large area imaging based using either instrumentation made from off-the-shelf commercial components or no instrumentation at all.

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: 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 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: 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: 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: 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.