Abstract: Disclosed is an analyte detection method, including detecting an analyte in such a state that a complex composed of the analyte in a sample of interest, a particle capable of bonding to the analyte and a trapping substance capable of bonding to the analyte is formed on a substrate, wherein the analyte is detected on the basis of an index associated with a behavior of the particle.

Abstract: As a technique for detecting an influenza virus with an improved accuracy, there is provided a method for detecting an influenza virus in a biological sample by using a first probe, which is decomposed by an influenza virus-derived neuraminidase and a bacterium-derived neuraminidase to generate an optically detectable signal, and a second probe, which is decomposed by the bacterium-derived neuraminidase to generate an optically detectable signal and not decomposed by the influenza virus-derived neuraminidase.

Abstract: Provided is a method of enclosing a microscopic body in at least some of a plurality of cavities formed in the surface of a substrate, including the step of arranging an insertion member above the cavity-formed surface of the substrate, determining relative positions of the insertion member and the substrate by a support section provided on the insertion member such that the bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate face each other, thereby providing a solution introduction space between the bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate, and providing a solution discharge space that is in communication with the solution introduction space, the solution discharge space being located above the bottom surface of the insertion member, and between the substrate and the insertion member, within the substrate and/or within the insertion member.

Abstract: There is provided a method of detecting a microscopic body stored in a plurality of receptacles formed separately from each other. The method, which is provided as a technique for enclosing a to-be-detected substance such as nucleic acid, protein, virus, and cell by means of a simple operation in droplets of an extremely small volume and enabling highly sensitive detection, includes the steps of (1) introducing a solvent into a space between a lower layer part in which the receptacles are formed and an upper layer part facing a surface of the lower layer part in which surface the receptacles are formed, wherein the solvent contains the microscopic body; (2) introducing gas into the space to form a droplet of the solvent in the receptacles, wherein the droplet contains the microscopic body; and (3) detecting the microscopic body present in the droplet optically, electrically, and/or magnetically.

Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting pathogenic microorganisms in a biological sample, which is a technique that can be used to perform high-sensitivity detection of pathogenic microorganisms, such as influenza virus, etc.

Abstract: A high-density micro-chamber array has a translucent flat substrate, a hydrophobic layer in which a plurality of micro-chambers are provided, and a lipid bilayer membrane formed in each of the openings of the micro-chambers, wherein an electrode is provided in each of the micro-chambers, and when the side of the substrate on which the hydrophobic layer is provided is directed upward, the micro-chamber array is configured such that with at least one of the following A) and B) being met, light entering the substrate from below is transmitted through the substrate and penetrates into the micro-chambers' interiors, and light entering the substrate from the micro-chambers' interiors is transmitted through the substrate and escapes toward below the substrate. A) The electrode is provided on an inner side surface of each of the micro-chambers. B) The electrode is transparent and provided on a bottom surface of each of the micro-chambers.

Abstract: Provided is a technique that can be used to detect a pathogenic microorganism such as influenza virus with high sensitivity, and specifically, a method for detecting a reaction product, including reacting an enzyme with a substance serving as a substrate for a reaction involving the enzyme in a hydrophilic solvent that is in interfacial contact with a hydrophobic solvent, wherein the reaction product is produced directly and released from the substrate, and wherein the hydrophilic solvent contains at least one of a buffering substance or trimethylamine oxide (TMAO).

Abstract: This invention provides a technique enabling to detect target molecules of low concentration with high sensitivity. This invention includes (i) a step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent (42) containing beads (40),(41?) into a space (30) between (a) a lower layer section (10) including a plurality of receptacles (13) each of which is capable of storing only one of the beads (41),(41?) and which are separated from each other by a side wall (12) having a hydrophobic upper surface and (b) an upper layer section (20) facing a surface of the lower layer section (10) on which surface the plurality of receptacles (13) are provided; and (ii) a step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent (43) into the space (30), the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: A method for forming a lipid membrane vesicle includes: filling a chamber with a first aqueous solution by introducing it to a liquid flow path facing a microreactor chip hydrophobic layer main surface; forming a first lipid monolayer membrane in an opening part of the chamber filled with the solution; forming a second lipid monolayer membrane on a layer interface of the organic solvent formed on the main surface of the hydrophobic layer with a second aqueous solution by introducing the solution to the liquid flow path; allowing a first aqueous solution form in the chamber to alter to a spherical droplet covered with the first lipid monolayer membrane; and forming a lipid membrane vesicle by moving the droplet to a position of the second lipid monolayer membrane by applying a physical action, and by zipping the first lipid monolayer membrane covering the droplet and the second lipid monolayer membrane.

Abstract: Provided is a method of enclosing a microscopic body in at least some of a plurality of cavities formed in the surface of a substrate, including the step of arranging an insertion member above the cavity-formed surface of the substrate, determining relative positions of the insertion member and the substrate by a support section provided on the insertion member such that the bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate face each other, thereby providing a solution introduction space between the bottom surface of the insertion member and the cavity-formed surface of the substrate, and providing a solution discharge space that is in communication with the solution introduction space, the solution discharge space being located above the bottom surface of the insertion member, and between the substrate and the insertion member, within the substrate and/or within the insertion member.

Abstract: Disclosed is an analyte detection method, including detecting an analyte in such a state that a complex composed of the analyte in a sample of interest, a particle capable of bonding to the analyte and a trapping substance capable of bonding to the analyte is formed on a substrate, wherein the analyte is detected on the basis of an index associated with a behavior of the particle.

Abstract: A microreactor chip includes a substrate and a hydrophobic layer that is a layer provided on the substrate and made of a hydrophobic substance and is formed so that openings of a plurality of chambers are arranged regularly on a main surface of the layer. Each chamber is provided with a first lipid bilayer membrane and a second lipid bilayer membrane that are disposed with a gap therebetween in a depth direction so as to fractionate the chamber in the depth direction.

Abstract: A material film is formed as a thin film having a thickness of 1 ?m on a surface of a glass substrate. A plurality of micro-chambers having a diameter of 5 ?m are formed in the material film to be arrayed at a high density. The respective chambers filled with an aqueous test solution have openings that are liquid-sealed by a lipid bilayer membrane to provide a high-density micro-chamber array. Significant downsizing of the micro-chambers enhances a change in concentration by a reaction of one biomolecule in the chamber and thereby increases the detection sensitivity. In the configuration that a large number of micro-chambers are formed at a high density, even in the case of an extremely slow reaction of the biomolecule, the reaction proceeds in any of the chambers. This configuration accordingly enables the reaction of the biomolecule to be detected with high sensitivity.

Abstract: As a technique for efficiently sealing many substances, such as beads, nucleic acid, protein, virus, cells, and lipid membrane complex, into an array, the present invention provides a method for sealing a substance, including: (i) a step of introducing a first solvent containing a substance on a substrate on which a plurality of receptacles capable of storing the substance are formed separated from each other by a side wall; and (ii) a step of introducing a second solvent having a greater specific gravity than that of the first solvent onto the first solvent, the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting pathogenic microorganisms in a biological sample, which is a technique that can be used to perform high-sensitivity detection of pathogenic microorganisms, such as influenza virus, etc.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique enabling to detect target molecules of low concentration with high sensitivity. This invention includes (i) a step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent (42) containing beads (40),(41?) into a space (30) between (a) a lower layer section (10) including a plurality of receptacles (13) each of which is capable of storing only one of the beads (41),(41?) and which are separated from each other by a side wall (12) having a hydrophobic upper surface and (b) an upper layer section (20) facing a surface of the lower layer section (10) on which surface the plurality of receptacles (13) are provided; and (ii) a step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent (43) into the space (30), the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: This invention provides a technique enabling to detect target molecules of low concentration with high sensitivity. This invention includes (i) a step of introducing a hydrophilic solvent (42) containing beads (40),(41?) into a space (30) between (a) a lower layer section (10) including a plurality of receptacles (13) each of which is capable of storing only one of the beads (41),(41?) and which are separated from each other by a side wall (12) having a hydrophobic upper surface and (b) an upper layer section (20) facing a surface of the lower layer section (10) on which surface the plurality of receptacles (13) are provided; and (ii) a step of introducing a hydrophobic solvent (43) into the space (30), the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: A method of detecting a target molecule including binding, to first target molecules, specific binding substances which are capable of recognizing different epitopes and labeled with nucleic acid fragments, respectively, detecting the specific binding substances based on fluorescence signals of different fluorescence wavelengths from the nucleic acid fragments, and detecting the first target molecules based on the fluorescence signals that correspond to the specific binding substances, respectively.

Abstract: A technique for efficiently sealing many substances, such as beads, nucleic acid, protein, virus, cells, and lipid membrane complex, into an array is provided. The present invention provides a method for sealing a substance, including: (i) a step of introducing a first solvent containing a substance on a substrate on which a plurality of receptacles capable of storing the substance are formed separated from each other by a side wall; and (ii) a step of introducing a second solvent having a greater specific gravity than that of the first solvent onto the first solvent, the step (ii) being carried out after the step (i).

Abstract: A high-density micro-chamber array has a translucent flat substrate, a hydrophobic layer in which a plurality of micro-chambers are provided, and a lipid bilayer membrane formed in each of the openings of the micro-chambers, wherein an electrode is provided in each of the micro-chambers, and when the side of the substrate on which the hydrophobic layer is provided is directed upward, the micro-chamber array is configured such that with at least one of the following A) and B) being met, light entering the substrate from below is transmitted through the substrate and penetrates into the micro-chambers' interiors, and light entering the substrate from the micro-chambers' interiors is transmitted through the substrate and escapes toward below the substrate. A) The electrode is provided on an inner side surface of each of the micro-chambers. B) The electrode is transparent and provided on a bottom surface of each of the micro-chambers.