Abstract: To slow down the speed of a biopolymer passing through a nanopore during electrophoresis to such a speed that enables a monomer sequence analysis to be performed. A biopolymer analysis device includes two tanks 101a and 101b each capable of storing a solution containing a biopolymer and an electrolyte, a pair of electrodes 105a and 105b, a thin film 104 with a nanopore, and a three-dimensional structure 103 disposed on the thin film. The three-dimensional structure has a void that can store a solution, and the void forms a flow channel, the flow channel being adapted to allow the solution to pass therethrough from the nanopore to a portion above the three-dimensional structure, and having on its surface a functional group capable of adsorbing the biopolymer. Thus, when a voltage is applied, the three-dimensional structure is not re-dispersed in the solution at least in the range of a hemisphere having the nanopore as the center and having a biopolymer trapping length r as the radius.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a DNA transport control device having excellent reliability and durability, and a DNA sequencing device that uses the DNA transport control device. The present invention provides a DNA transport control device having a nanopore which allows for the passage of only the DNA strand of a single molecule, and a DNA sequencing device that uses the DNA transport control device. The DNA transport control device is characterized by the following: including a base material having openings and a thin film a block copolymer formed on the base material; the thin film including microdomains that are formed as a result of self-assembly of the block copolymer and that penetrate the thin film, and a matrix surrounding the microdomains; and the nanopore being formed from one opening in the base material and a single microdomain.

Abstract: To slow down the speed of a biopolymer passing through a nanopore during electrophoresis to such a speed that enables a monomer sequence analysis to be performed. A biopolymer analysis device includes two tanks 101a and 101b each capable of storing a solution containing a biopolymer and an electrolyte, a pair of electrodes 105a and 105b, a thin film 104 with a nanopore, and a three-dimensional structure 103 disposed on the thin film. The three-dimensional structure has a void that can store a solution, and the void forms a flow channel, the flow channel being adapted to allow the solution to pass therethrough from the nanopore to a portion above the three-dimensional structure, and having on its surface a functional group capable of adsorbing the biopolymer. Thus, when a voltage is applied, the three-dimensional structure is not re-dispersed in the solution at least in the range of a hemisphere having the nanopore as the center and having a biopolymer trapping length r as the radius.

Abstract: The present invention provides: a nucleic acid delivery controlling system in which a novel delay principle is utilized to greatly delay the nanopore passing rate of a nucleic acid strand, thereby enabling the stable analysis of a nucleotide sequence; a method for manufacturing the nucleic acid delivery controlling system; and a nucleic acid sequencing device.

Abstract: A nucleic acid analysis device which can determine a DNA sequence has a flowcell in which two or more DNA fragment clusters of two or more DNA fragments having identical nucleotide sequences are immobilized. At least a part of the flowcell is made of a transparent material. An irradiation unit irradiates a part in which the DNA fragment clusters are immobilized. The device has a lens for collecting fluorescence, and a light-detection element. A solution containing only dATP having a fluorescently modified phosphate terminal among four bases, a solution containing only dCTP having a fluorescently modified phosphate terminal among the four bases, a solution containing only dGTP having a fluorescently modified phosphate terminal among the four bases, a solution containing only dTTP having a fluorescently modified phosphate terminal among the four bases, and a buffer solution are sent sequentially to where the DNA fragment clusters are immobilized.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to provide a DNA transport control device having excellent reliability and durability, and a DNA sequencing device that uses the DNA transport control device. The present invention provides a DNA transport control device having a nanopore which allows for the passage of only the DNA strand of a single molecule, and a DNA sequencing device that uses the DNA transport control device. The DNA transport control device is characterized by the following: including a base material having openings and a thin film a block copolymer formed on the base material; the thin film including microdomains that are formed as a result of self-assembly of the block copolymer and that penetrate the thin film, and a matrix surrounding the microdomains; and the nanopore being formed from one opening in the base material and a single microdomain.

Abstract: A nucleic acid analysis device which can determine a DNA sequence has a flowcell in which two or more DNA fragment clusters of two or more DNA fragments having identical nucleotide sequences are immobilized. At least a part of the flowcell is made of a transparent material. An irradiation unit irradiates a part in which the DNA fragment clusters are immobilized. The device has a lens for collecting fluorescence, and a light-detection element. A solution containing only dATP having a fluorescently modified phosphate terminal among four bases, a solution containing only dCTP having a fluorescently modified phosphate terminal among the four bases, a solution containing only dGTP having a fluorescently modified phosphate terminal among the four bases, a solution containing only dTTP having a fluorescently modified phosphate terminal among the four bases, and a buffer solution are sent sequentially to where the DNA fragment clusters are immobilized.

Abstract: In a biomaterial analysis, erroneous detection of a particle emitting fluorescence is prevented, and highly sensitive and highly accurate optical detection in biomaterial analysis is performed. A flow cell (104) for biomaterial analysis includes: a light-transmissive upper substrate (310); an antireflective lower substrate (313); and an inner layer section interposed between the upper substrate (310) and the lower substrate (313) and including a flow path (311) in which a particle (312) configured to emit fluorescence is provided. A biomaterial analysis device includes: a flow cell (104) for biomaterial analysis as described above; and an irradiation unit configured to irradiate excitation light; and an optical detection unit (106) configured to detect fluorescence emitted by the particle (312).

Abstract: In an FET configuration having a channel with a small thickness, transistor characteristics vary for different FETs in the same array, and therefore when the same gate voltage is applied, the sensitivities of DNA detection may be insufficient. To this end, the change in the channel current when DNA passes through the nanopore is detected while applying an optimum gate voltage for each nanopore FET to attain a predetermined channel current value to a plurality of nanopore FETs disposed on the same substrate, and four types of bases constituting DNA are distinguished.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for easily identifying and detecting fluorescent material types captured in respective reaction regions of a substrate, particularly, a method and an apparatus for identifying and measuring the fluorescence intensities of a plurality of fluorescent materials using a small pixel count. The fluorescence intensities of four or more types of fluorescent materials are divided by a dividing section at ratios different at least for each fluorescence maximum wavelength range, and are detected by at least one detector including pixels for detecting the light fluxes divided at the different ratios. The type of the fluorescent material is determined on the basis of the ratio of the detected fluorescence intensity of the same detection portion, and the fluorescence intensity is measured.

Abstract: A fluorescence detector in which a sample substrate is provided with a structure unit comprising a prism or a diffraction grating. After excitation light falling on the sample substrate is totally reflected at a biomolecule-immobilized face that is located in the opposite side of the structure unit, the structure unit allows the emission of the reflected light therefrom. To ensure multiple visual field measurement, a sample substrate-driving unit is provided to scan the sample substrate.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a method for efficiently detecting an image with a smaller number of pixels. The invention relates to fluorescence analysis which uses a substrate having a plurality of regions for being capable of immobilizing biologically-related molecules in positions of lattice points of a lattice structure, and which causes the fluorescence from a certain lattice point to be wavelength-dispersed in a direction other than the direction toward the adjacent closest lattice point. According to an embodiment, for example, the number of pixels of a two-dimensional sensor required for fluorescence analysis of the regions with the biologically-related molecules immobilized can be set to several hundred times to fifty times smaller than that in the conventional case without degrading the measurement accuracy. This can achieve the improvement of throughput, reduction in price, and/or improvement of the operability of an analyzing device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention relates to observation of single molecule fluorescence while temperature of a sample solution is controlled by a temperature controller and intrinsic fluorescence of the temperature controller is avoided, in a total internal reflection microscope. The present invention relates to provision of an opening at areas of the temperature controller through which incident light and reflected light pass, and configuration adopting a material with intrinsic fluorescence lower than that of the other parts, in a total internal reflection microscope including a prism and the temperature controller. The present invention enables intrinsic fluorescence of the temperature controller to be suppressed, which allows highly sensitive fluorescence observation while controlling sample solution temperature with high precision. For instance, this in turn allows the throughput of single molecule DNA sequencing using a total internal reflection microscope to be improved.

Abstract: A device and method for fluorescence observation have good operability, high sensitivity, and high acid reliability. The device is used for fluorescence observation using evanescent light. The angle of incidence of the excitation light is adjusted so that the excitation light is totally reflected from the surface of a substrate irrespective of the angle of the substrate surface. The method includes a step of shining the excitation light on the observation substrate while continuously varying the angle of the excitation light with respect to the observation substrate. In addition, the method includes a step of sensing the shone excitation light via optical sensors, and a step of setting the angle of total reflection according to the result of the sensing by the optical sensors. In the present device and method, the direction in which the shone excitation light travels varies with the angle of incidence.

Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for easily identifying and detecting fluorescent material types captured in respective reaction regions of a substrate, particularly, a method and an apparatus for identifying and measuring the fluorescence intensities of a plurality of fluorescent materials using a small pixel count. The fluorescence intensities of four or more types of fluorescent materials are divided by a dividing section at ratios different at least for each fluorescence maximum wavelength range, and are detected by at least one detector including pixels for detecting the light fluxes divided at the different ratios. The type of the fluorescent material is determined on the basis of the ratio of the detected fluorescence intensity of the same detection portion, and the fluorescence intensity is measured.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide a method for efficiently detecting an image with a smaller number of pixels. The invention relates to fluorescence analysis which uses a substrate having a plurality of regions for being capable of immobilizing biologically-related molecules in positions of lattice points of a lattice structure, and which causes the fluorescence from a certain lattice point to be wavelength-dispersed in a direction other than the direction toward the adjacent closest lattice point. According to an embodiment, for example, the number of pixels of a two-dimensional sensor required for fluorescence analysis of the regions with the biologically-related molecules immobilized can be set to several hundred times to fifty times smaller than that in the conventional case without degrading the measurement accuracy. This can achieve the improvement of throughput, reduction in price, and/or improvement of the operability of an analyzing device.

Abstract: An object of the present invention relates to observation of single molecule fluorescence while temperature of a sample solution is controlled by a temperature controller and intrinsic fluorescence of the temperature controller is avoided, in a total internal reflection microscope. The present invention relates to provision of an opening at areas of the temperature controller through which incident light and reflected light pass, and configuration adopting a material with intrinsic fluorescence lower than that of the other parts, in a total internal reflection microscope including a prism and the temperature controller. The present invention enables intrinsic fluorescence of the temperature controller to be suppressed, which allows highly sensitive fluorescence observation while controlling sample solution temperature with high precision. For instance, this in turn allows the throughput of single molecule DNA sequencing using a total internal reflection microscope to be improved.

Abstract: A fluorescence detector in which a sample substrate is provided with a structure unit comprising a prism or a diffraction grating. After excitation light falling on the sample substrate is totally reflected at a biomolecule-immobilized face that is located in the opposite side of the structure unit, the structure unit allows the emission of the reflected light therefrom. To ensure multiple visual field measurement, a sample substrate-driving unit is provided to scan the sample substrate.

Abstract: An object of the present invention relates to selectively control an extension reaction within a desired area in a substrate. In the present invention, an oligo probe arranged with a caged compound at the terminal thereof is immobilized to a reaction field area in the substrate. After pouring a reaction solution into a flow cell including the reaction field area, the reaction field area alone is irradiated with light to associate the photodegradation-active protecting group at the terminal of the oligo probe that has been immobilized in the reaction field area and thus to selectively control initiation of a polymerase extension reaction. In the flow cell, a plural number of the reaction field areas are arranged at constant interval on the substrate. The flow cell immobilized to a moving stage is moved by a distance equal to the interval between the adjacent reaction field areas and then light irradiation is carried out to measure the extension reaction continuously.

Abstract: A fluorescent detection apparatus relates to an analysis technique for qualitatively detecting or quantifying biomolecules by producing an evanescent field on a surface of a substrate, exciting fluorescently labelled biomolecules on the substrate surface in the evanescent field, and detecting the resultant fluorescent light emitted from the biomolecules. The fluorescent detection apparatus has a configuration in which a well is provided in a surface opposing to a sample substrate of a prism, the well is filled with a matching liquid, and the matching liquid is filled between the sample substrate and the prism, thereby improving operability and providing a stable evanescent field.