Abstract: The present invention relates to a prefunctionalized metallic nanoparticle (10) as a standardized basic building block of biofunctionalized nanoparticles (40), having a thiol-reactive metallic nanoparticle (12) that is prefunctionalized by a bifunctional molecule (20) that consists of an anchor component (22) and a short further-functionalization stub (24). Here, it is provided that the anchor component (22) comprises one or more dithiophosphate groups, and the short further-functionalization stub (24) is adapted for the attachment of a desired biofunctionalization (30) and is selected from the group consisting of i) an unmodified standardized oligonucleotide strand (26) having 2 to 18 bases for further-functionalization with biomolecules (30) having a terminal complementary strand (36) of the standardized oligonucleotide strand (26), and ii) a 2- to 18-base-long oligonucleotide strand (50; 60) that is modified with a terminal reactive group (52; 62) for biomolecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prefunctionalized metallic nanoparticle (10) as a standardized basic building block of biofunctionalized nanoparticles (40), having a thiol-reactive metallic nanoparticle (12) that is prefunctionalized by a bifunctional molecule (20) that consists of an anchor component (22) and a short further-functionalization stub (24). Here, it is provided that the anchor component (22) comprises one or more dithiophosphate groups, and the short further-functionalization stub (24) is adapted for the attachment of a desired biofunctionalization (30) and is selected from the group consisting of i) an unmodified standardized oligonucleotide strand (26) having 2 to 18 bases for further-functionalization with biomolecules (30) having a terminal complementary strand (36) of the standardized oligonucleotide strand (26), and ii) a 2- to 18-base-long oligonucleotide strand (50; 60) that is modified with a terminal reactive group (52; 62) for biomolecules.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a microfluidic cartridge (100) for detecting biomolecules in a sample solution, having a detection chamber (140) to which the sample solution is suppliable through a feed channel (124) and from which the analyzed sample solution is drainable through an outlet channel (126), a CMOS-based microchip (142) that comprises a sensor area (144) arranged in the detection chamber (140) and a contact area (146) that is fluid-tightly separated from the detection chamber (140), the sensor area (144) of the microchip (142) including an array of functionalized test sites (130) for electrochemically detecting biomolecules in the sample solution, and each test site (130) in the sensor area (140) being furnished with its own sigma-delta modulator (132) for the analog-to-digital conversion of electrical signals produced at the test sites (130) upon electrochemical detection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a swab system including a sample tube, which is closed at the front end and open at the rear end, and a swab. The swab has an elongated tubular swab rod, wherein the swab rod is provided with a sample-gathering means at the front end of the swab rod and a gripping piece at the rear end of the swab rod. The gripping piece closes the rear open end of the sample tube in an accurately fitting manner and is equipped with a closing cap for covering the gripping piece in a sealed manner. The gripping piece has an internal taper of a Luer connection, wherein the internal taper of the Luer connection has a fluid connection to the tubular swab rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to a swab system, comprising a sample tube, which is closed at the front end and open at the rear end, and a swab. The swab has an elongated, tubular swab rod, wherein the swab rod is provided with a sample-gathering means at the front end of the swab rod and a gripping piece at the rear end of the swab rod. The gripping piece closes the rear, open end of the sample tube in an accurately fitting manner and is equipped with a closing cap for covering the gripping piece in a sealed manner. The gripping piece has the internal taper of a Luer connection, wherein the internal taper of the Luer connection has a fluid connection to the tubular swab rod.

Abstract: A device is described to perform reactions, in which the device includes at least one test cell with a cavity to receive the test sample and at least a first, a second and a third spatially discrete regulatable temperature units. The three temperature units thus define three spatially discrete temperature areas. At least one means is provided to perform a rotary movement of the test cell. The cavity provided to receive the test sample can be moved across the three spatially discrete temperature areas, in which the cavity in one position of the test cell, remains in contact with a least two of the temperature areas.

Abstract: Described is a method for detecting nucleic acid oligomer hybridization events that comprises the steps providing a modified surface, the modification consisting in attaching at least one type of probe nucleic acid oligomer, providing at least one type of signal nucleic acid oligomer, the signal nucleic acid oligomers being modified with at least one detection label and the signal nucleic acid oligomers having a section that is complementary or largely complementary to the probe nucleic acid oligomers, providing a sample having target nucleic acid oligomers, bringing a defined quantity of the signal nucleic acid oligomers into contact with the modified surface, bringing the sample and the target nucleic acid oligomers contained therein into contact with the modified surface, detecting the signal nucleic acid oligomers and comparing the values obtained when detecting the signal nucleic acid oligomers with reference values.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), wherein Z represents a hydrocarbon with 2 to 28 C atoms, wherein Z can also comprise elements N, O, P, S, Si and halogen as heteroatoms, R1 and R2 are identical or different sulfur protecting groups, wherein both S atoms can also form a disulfide bridge and in said case R1 and R2 are not present; protecting group Y1 represents protecting group NH, protecting group NR4, protecting group O, CONH protecting group, protecting group OOC, protecting group S—S, —CH(protecting group O)2 or —CR5(protecting group O)2 or protecting group S; Y2 represents —OH, —NH2, —NHR3, —NR3R4, —COOH, —COCI, —COOCO—R6, —CONH2, —CONHR3, —COOR3, —SO3H, —SO3CI, —SH, —S—SR3, —CHO, —COR3, —C2H3O, halogen, —N3, —NH—NH2, —NCO, —NCS, wherein R3 represents alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl or a protecting group, wherein R3 can be identical or different in groups Y1 and Y2, R4 is s protecting group, wherein R4 can be identical or different in groups Y1 and Y2, and wherein R4 and R3 can be id

Abstract: Described is a substrate for use as a ligate carrier in a method for detecting ligate-ligand association events, having test sites 24 disposed on the substrate and having ligates 26 bound to the surface of the test sites 24, at least two types of test sites 24 being provided, the different types of test sites each being loaded with different types of ligates 26, the different types of ligates 26 detecting the respective complementary types of ligands, the ligands being present in an analyte solution in different concentration ranges in each case, and the test sites 24 exhibiting a characteristic loading parameter that permits detection of the ligands in their respective concentration range.

Abstract: Described is a method for detection of ligate-ligand association events, the method comprising the steps: providing a modified surface, the modification consisting in the attachment of at least one type of ligate; providing signal ligands; providing a sample having ligands; bringing a defined quantity of the signal ligands into contact with the modified surface and bringing the sample into contact with the modified surface; detecting the signal ligands; and comparing with reference values the values obtained from the detection of the signal ligands.

Abstract: An electrical substrate for use as a carrier of biomolecules in a method for electrochemical detection in an electrolyte solution exhibits an insulating support plate (12) bearing a conductive pattern (20; 20A-20C, 28) having conductor paths (20; 20A-20C) and connecting contact surfaces, and, disposed on the conductor paths (20; 20A-20C), test sites (24) for the application of biomolecules (26), the conductor paths (20; 20A-20C) exhibiting a metal core (14) made of a highly conductive base metal and an external gold layer (18), and the conductor paths (20; 20A-20C) being provided with a diffusion barrier layer (16) that prevents direct contact of the electrolyte solution with the metal core (14) during the electrochemical detection method.

Abstract: A method for wetting a substrate with a fluid and a substrate is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a substrate, providing a wetting fluid, applying a protective layer to the substrate, patterning the protective layer and applying the wetting fluid to exposed wetting areas on the subtrate without direct contact between a wetting apparatus and the substrate surface.

Abstract: A substrate for the controlled wetting of predetermined wetting sites with small fluid volumes comprises a support plate having a horizontal main surface for wetting with a fluid at predetermined wetting sites, and applied to the support plate, a flat protective layer that separates the main surface from the surroundings, the protective layer exhibiting, extending to the main surface of the support plate, vertical recesses that define the predetermined wetting sites on the support plate and include, leading to the vertical recesses, one or more supply channels having a reduced flat protective layer thickness for supplying the wetting fluid to the predetermined wetting sites.

Abstract: Described is a method for detection of nucleic acid oligomer hybridization events, the method comprising the steps: providing a modified surface, the modification consisting in the attachment of at least one type of ligate nucleic acid oligomer; providing signal nucleic acid oligomer ligands; providing a sample having nucleic acid oligomer ligands; bringing a defined quantity of the signal nucleic acid oligomer ligands into contact with the modified surface and bringing the sample and the nucleic acid oligmer ligands contained therein into contact with the modified surface; detecting the signal nucleic acid oligomer ligands; and comparing with reference values the values obtained from the detection of the signal nucleic acid oligomer ligands.

Abstract: A method is described for detecting nucleic acid oligomer hybridization events by fluorescence quenching, which comprises as a first step the provision of a modified surface. The modification of the surface consists in the binding of at least one type of modified nucleic acid oligomers 201, wherein said nucleic acid oligomers 201 are modified by at least one type of fluorophore 102 bound to it. The further steps of the inventive method are: providing a sample that includes nucleic acid oligomers, contacting said sample with the modified surface, adjusting a defined salt concentration of greater than 0.5 mol/l in the solution surrounding the modified nucleic acid oligomers, detecting the fluorescence of the fluorophore and comparing the detected fluorescence intensity with reference values.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the electrochemical detection of sequence-specific nucleic acid oligomer hybridization events. To this end single DNA/RNA/PNA oligomer strands which at one end are covalently joined to a support surface and at the other, free end, covalently linked to a redox pair, are used as hybridization matrix (probe). As a result of treatment with the oligonucleotide solution (target) to be examined, the electric communication between the conductive support surface and the redox pair bridged by the single-strand oligonucleotide, which communication initially is either absent or very weak, is modified. In case of hybridization, the electric communication between the support surface and the redox pair, which is now bridged by a hybridized double-strand oligonucleotide, is increased. This permits the detection of a hybridization event by electrochemical methods such as cyclic voltametry, amperometry or conductivity measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting organic molecules, especially biomolecules and polymers, in a probe substance, comprises a test system (300) comprising an array of test sites (T) to which the probe substance can be supplied, each test site having specific probe molecules (320), an illumination system (100) for optically illuminating a sub-array of test sites (T), and a detection system (400) for identifying those test sites (T) whose probe molecules (320) interact with the organic molecules (350) to be detected, the illumination system (100) comprising an array of independently addressable illumination sources (B) arranged such that to each test site (T) of the sub-array is assigned at least one illumination source (B) that illuminates substantially only it.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I), wherein Z represents a hydrocarbon with 2 to 28 C atoms, wherein Z can also comprise elements N, O, P, S, Si and halogen as heteroatoms, R1 and R2 are identical or different sulfur protecting groups, wherein both S atoms can also form a disulfide bridge and in said case R1 and R2 are not present; protecting group Y1 represents protecting group NH, protecting group NR4, protecting group O.

Abstract: A molecular electronic device for constructing nanoelectronic circuits comprises a redox-active moiety having an electron donor (D) and an electron acceptor (A), the electron donor and the electron acceptor (A) having a respective contact spot (K1, K2) for forming connections with other devices, and the contact spots (K1, K2) facilitating charge transport to the device and away from the device. In particular, the respective contact spot (K1, K2) of electron donor (D) and electron acceptor (A) is a permanent contact spot for mediating the charge transport across a permanent chemical bond, the contact spot respectively comprising one of the binding partners of the chemical bond. Multiple such devices can be combined via the contact spots to form a module or an electronic circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting organic molecules, especially biomolecules and polymers, in a probe substance, comprises