Abstract: A molecular manipulator includes a light-sensitive molecule, including a double bond, which changes a cis-trans configuration of the double bond in response to illumination by light of a selected wavelength, and a probe, for example, a probe of a scanned-proximity probe microscope, to which the light-sensitive molecule is attached. A method of making the molecular manipulator includes covalently bonding the light-sensitive molecule to the probe. A method of moving a nanostructure includes controllably grasping, moving, and releasing the nanostructure with the molecular manipulator.

Abstract: Azo compounds of formula (I), wherein X stands for halogen, in particular for chlorine, or C1-C4alkoxy, in particular for methoxy, Y stands for —CH2— or —O—, R1 and R2, independently from each other, stand for hydrogen, C1-C8alkyl, or C6-C14aryl, which may be substituted up to three times with C1-C8alkyl, C1-C4alkoxy or halogen, a process for their preparation and their use as fluorescent compounds, in particular as solid fluorescent compounds, such as for special effect printing, sectrity printing or in the opto-electronic field.

Abstract: Amyloid binding compounds which are derivatives of Chrysamine G, pharmaceutical compositions containing, and methods using such compounds to identify Alzheimer's brain in vivo and to diagnose other pathological conditions characterized by amyloidosis, such as Down's Syndrome are described. Pharmaceutical compositions containing Chrysamine G and derivatives thereof and methods using such compositions to prevent cell degeneration and amyloid-induced toxicity in amyloidosis associated conditions are also described. Methods using Chrysamine G derivatives to stain or detect amyloid deposits in biopsy or post-mortem tissue are also described. Methods using Chrysamine G derivatives to quantify amyloid deposits in homogenates of biopsy and post-mortem tissue are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): Fm(—A1)(—Bn)(—Wo) wherein F is a colorant-signal molecule with a maximum absorption value ranging from 600-1200 nm; A is a &bgr;-amyloid plaque binding biomolecule; B is a &bgr;-amyloid plaque binding colorant; and W is a &bgr;-amyloid plaque binding hydrophilic low-molecular structural element. The invention also describes the use of these compounds in in vivo an din vitro diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease by means of near infra-red radiation (NIR radiation) as a constrasting agent in fluoresecence and transillumination diagnosis in the NIR range. Diagnostic agents containing said componenets are also disclosed.

Abstract: Amyloid binding compounds which are non-azo derivatives of Chrysamine G, pharmaceutical compositions containing, and methods using such compounds to identify Alzheimer's brain in vivo and to diagnose other pathological conditions characterized by amyloidosis, such as Down's Syndrome are described. Pharmaceutical compositions containing non-azo derivatives of Chrysamine G and methods using such compositions to prevent cell degeneration and amyloid-induced toxicity in amyloidosis associated conditions are also described. Methods using non-azo Chrysamine G derivatives to stain or detect amyloid deposits in biopsy or post-mortem tissue are also described. Methods using non-azo Chrysamine G derivatives to quantify amyloid deposits in homogenates of biopsy and post-mortem tissue are also described.

Abstract: We have discovered that the stability of a dilute peroxidase-containing solution is greatly enhanced by the addition of a specific substrate for the peroxidase, in the absence of peroxide. We provide a peroxidase-containing reagent consisting of a buffered aqueous solution comprising a peroxidase or a peroxidase conjugate and a specific substrate for the peroxidase, in the absence of peroxide. The peroxidase may be a free peroxidase but for assay purposes is preferably a peroxidase bound to a specific binding component of an assay, to form a peroxidase conjugate. The peroxidase conjugate is preferably a conjugate between a peroxidase and an antigen or an antibody, most preferably an antibody. The peroxidase is preferably horseradish peroxidase.

Abstract: A dry reagent test strip for determining the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample is described. The test strip has a matrix containing reagent detection chemistry, which includes an oxidase enzyme that can utilize the analyte as a substrate forming hydrogen peroxide, a benzidine dye precursor, a peroxidase enzyme, and an antipyrine compound. The addition of an antipyrine compound to the reagent detection chemistry provides a standard concentration graph which is substantially linear in a desired range of analyte concentration. The precision and accuracy of reading the test strip are enhanced.

Abstract: There are described novel yellow to red azo compounds of the formula I ##STR1## wherein each D independently of the other is the radical of an aromatic or heterocyclic diazo component, each Z independently of the other is hydrogen or a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl group or an acylamino group, Y is hydrogen or an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl group, X is either the direct bond or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylene, ##STR2## and n is a number from 2 to 6, preferably 2; and the substituent Y, in the case of an unsubstituted or substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl group, can also be bonded to the o-position relative to the N atom of the phenylene group to form a six-membered ring, or both Y substituents can be linked together to form a C.sub.1 -C.sub.

Abstract: Compounds of the formula ##STR1## in which X.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, --NL.sub.1 COM.sub.1, in which L.sub.1 is hydrogen or alkyl and M.sub.1 is alkyl or alkoxy, or is --NL.sub.1 P(O)(OG.sub.1).sub.2, in which G.sub.1 is alkyl, or is alkylsulfonamide or hydroxyl, Y.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, carbalkoxy, N-alkyl-substituted or N,N-dialkyl-substituted amino or --NL.sub.2 COM.sub.2, in which L.sub.2 is hydrogen or alkyl and M.sub.2 is alkyl or alkoxy, Z.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, --NL.sub.2 COM.sub.3, in which M.sub.3 is alkyl, or is carbalkoxy or halogen or represents those atoms which are required to form a ring with Y.sub.1, W.sub.1 is hydrogen, alkyl or alkoxy, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently of one another are hydrogen, halogen, cyano, nitro or --SO.sub.2 U.sub.3, in which U.sub.3 is alkyl or phenyl, R.sub.3 is hydrogen or alkyl or, if R.sub.4 is a direct chemical bond, the two radicals R.sub.3 together are a link member and R.sub.