An embodiment includes a package comprising: a cavity formed in a dielectric material; a beam in the cavity; an interconnect to couple the beam to a current source; a magnet coupled to the cavity; and a polymer, on the beam, having an affinity to an analyte; wherein (a) a vertical axis intersects the magnet, the cavity, and the beam; (b) in a first state the beam and the polymer, which is not coupled to the analyte, collectively have a first mass and resonate at a first resonant frequency when the beam conducts a first current; and (c) in a second state the beam and the polymer, which is coupled to the analyte, collectively have a second mass that is greater than the first mass and resonate at a second resonant frequency when the beam conducts a second current. Other embodiments are described herein.

Methods and devices for molecular imprinting include a molecular imprinting synthesis and matching a physiological pH of a template utilized in the molecular imprinting synthesis to achieve molecular imprinting. Molecular imprinting can be achieved by matching the physiological pH of the template used in a molecular imprinting synthesis. Furthermore, electrostatic charges can be complementary matched to the template, by obtaining crystallographic data of a protein template. Particularly, positively and negatively charged amino acids can be counted and matched by an oppositely charged monomer. For hydrophobic amino acids, isoleucin, leucin, and valine amino acids are counted. Since not all hydrophobic amino acids are exposed, the hydrophobic amino acid and hydrophobic monomer ratio can be determined experimentally by varying ratios from 1:1 to 1:10.

A polymer-based sensor for detecting agricultural analytes is disclosed, including stable polymer-based sensing films such as molecular imprinted polymers (MIPs) that can be incorporated in sensors for detecting herbicides and pesticides, as well as methods of making the sensing films.

A polymer membrane for cancer cell detection having a surface provided with a mold having a three-dimensional structure complementary to a portion of a steric structure of a cancer cell to be detected; a method of producing the same; and a cancer cell detection device including the polymer membrane are provided. The polymer membrane for cancer cell detection can be obtained, for example, by a producing method including: polymerizing monomers in presence of cancer cells to be detected, to form a cancer cell-containing polymer membrane having the cancer cells incorporated therein; and removing at least part of the cancer cells incorporated in the cancer cell-containing polymer membrane.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a molecular sensor that is specific for a target molecule having a saccharide or peptide region. The method comprises using the target molecule as a template and incubating the template with a receptor to form a template-receptor complex. A molecular scaffold is formed on a surface around the template-receptor complex such that the receptor and at least a portion of the template are embedded in the scaffold, and the template is removed to produce a cavity defined by the scaffold, such that the cavity is complementary to at least a portion of the saccharide or peptide region of the target molecule.

A highly sensitive technology enabling selective recognition of aflatoxins such as in contaminated cereal samples. Methods for the synthesis of AgNP-containing MIP membranes from the monomer mixtures containing both methacrylate monomers and oligomers as well as AgNOs solution in dimethylformamide enable the detection system. The AgNP were formed in the structure of the polymeric membranes during the pre-heating step followed by the UV-initiated polymerization. The highly selective sensor elements where MIP membranes are combined with the Ag nanostructures as signal amplifiers (LSPR-MIP nanochips) can be stored separately and used with a simple optical recognition system as selective elements of point-of-care sensor devices, even in in-field conditions. Composite plasmonic membranes provide both highly selective recognition of the target toxin and the generation of an enhanced optical signal, allowing aflatoxin B1 detection at ultralow concentrations.

A sensor for determining the presence of at least one target molecule in a sample is disclosed. The sensor includes a layer formed of high aspect ratio molecular structures (HARM-structures); and a blocking layer on the layer formed of HARM-structures, wherein the blocking layer is formed of a plurality of casein micelles, wherein: the casein micelles include primary amines, wherein at least part of the primary amines are functionalized with an amine-reactive crosslinker, and cavities are formed between the plurality of casein micelles. Further, a method for determining the presence of at least one target molecule in a sample is disclosed. Further, a process of preparing a sensor for determining the presence of at least one target molecule in a sample is disclosed. Further, a kit for determining the presence of at least one target molecule in a sample is disclosed.

A device for the detection of a food allergen includes a sensor having a printed circuit board and a chip comprising a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and a non-imprinted polymer (NIP); a reservoir comprising a liquid; and a chamber for mixing the liquid with a food.

A colorimetric sensor for detecting an analyte of interest in a fluid sample includes a photonic structure comprising a first receptor, wherein the photonic structure may be configured such that, when an analyte contacts the first receptor within the photonic structure, a refractive property of the photonic structure changes thereby to cause a detectable color change in the photonic structure. The first receptor may comprise an optical absorber indicator, wherein a second receptor is part of a structure of the optical absorber indicator, such that, when the analyte contacts the second receptor, the analyte causes a photo-induced electron transfer to induce a color change of the optical absorber indicator.

A colorimetric sensor for detecting an analyte of interest in a fluid sample includes a photonic structure comprising a first receptor, wherein the photonic structure may be configured such that, when an analyte contacts the first receptor within the photonic structure, a refractive property of the photonic structure changes thereby to cause a detectable color change in the photonic structure. The first receptor may comprise an optical absorber indicator, wherein a second receptor is part of a structure of the optical absorber indicator, such that, when the analyte contacts the second receptor, the analyte causes a photo-induced electron transfer to induce a color change of the optical absorber indicator.