A detection apparatus that includes (a) an array of responsive pads on a substrate surface; (b) an array of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array has a detection zone on the surface that includes a subset of at least two of the pads; and (c) an activation circuit to apply a force at a first and second pad in the subset, wherein the activation circuit is configured to apply a different force at the first pad compared to the second pad, and wherein the activation circuit has a switch to selectively alter the force at the first pad and the second pad.

A detection apparatus that includes (a) an array of responsive pads on a substrate surface; (b) an array of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array has a detection zone on the surface that includes a subset of at least two of the pads; and (c) an activation circuit to apply a force at a first and second pad in the subset, wherein the activation circuit is configured to apply a different force at the first pad compared to the second pad, and wherein the activation circuit has a switch to selectively alter the force at the first pad and the second pad.

A detector, and method, for detecting nucleic acids includes a transmitter adapted to transmit light at 260 nm over an area of illumination, a receiver adapted to receive light at 260 nm from the area of illumination, a comparator adapted to compare the amplitude of light received by the receiver to a background level and to produce a hot-spot signal indicative of the presence of a nucleic acid when the amplitude is attenuated relative to the background level, and a display adapted to display the hot-spot. Preferably, the detector further includes a photographic detector adapted to receive an optical background image over an area including the area of illumination, the display adapted to display the optical background image and the hot-spot within the optical background image.

A detector, and method, for detecting nucleic acids includes a transmitter adapted to transmit light at 260 nm over an area of illumination, a receiver adapted to receive light at 260 nm from the area of illumination, a comparator adapted to compare the amplitude of light received by the receiver to a background level and to produce a hot-spot signal indicative of the presence of a nucleic acid when the amplitude is attenuated relative to the background level, and a display adapted to display the hot-spot. Preferably, the detector further includes a photographic detector adapted to receive an optical background image over an area including the area of illumination, the display adapted to display the optical background image and the hot-spot within the optical background image.

A detector, and method, for detecting nucleic acids includes a transmitter adapted to transmit light at 260 nm over an area of illumination, a receiver adapted to receive light at 260 nm from the area of illumination, a comparator adapted to compare the amplitude of light received by the receiver to a background level and to produce a hot-spot signal indicative of the presence of a nucleic acid when the amplitude is attenuated relative to the background level, and a display adapted to display the hot-spot. Preferably, the detector further includes a photographic detector adapted to receive an optical background image over an area including the area of illumination, the display adapted to display the optical background image and the hot-spot within the optical background image.

An optical probe for a bio-sensor selectively conjugated to a target analyte and configured to retro-reflect incident light thereto is disclosed. The optical probe for the bio-sensor includes: a transparent core particle; a total-reflection inducing layer covering a portion of a surface of the core particle, the inducing layer is made of a material having a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the core; a modifying layer formed on the total-reflection inducing layer; and an analyte-sensing substance bound to the modifying layer, the sensing substance is selectively conjugated to the target analyte. This optical probe may serve as an excellent optical probe for both a non-spectral light source and a spectral light source.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for performing single-molecule detection using fabricated integrated on-chip devices. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for on-chip detection of an array of biological, chemical, or physical entities, comprising: (a) providing an array of light sensing devices; (b) immobilizing the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities on a substrate of the array of light sensing devices; (c) exposing the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities to electromagnetic radiation sufficient to excite the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities, thereby producing an emission signal of the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities; (d) using the array of light sensing devices, acquiring pixel information of the emission signal of the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities without scanning the array of light sensing devices across the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities; and (d) detecting the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities based at least in part on the acquired pixel information.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for performing single-molecule detection using fabricated integrated on-chip devices. In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for on-chip detection of an array of biological, chemical, or physical entities, comprising: (a) providing an array of light sensing devices; (b) immobilizing the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities on a substrate of the array of light sensing devices; (c) exposing the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities to electromagnetic radiation sufficient to excite the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities, thereby producing an emission signal of the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities; (d) using the array of light sensing devices, acquiring pixel information of the emission signal of the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities without scanning the array of light sensing devices across the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities; and (d) detecting the array of biological, chemical, or physical entities based at least in part on the acquired pixel information.

A method for characterizing the interaction between a protein and a small molecule by detecting a change in fluorescence emitted by a fluorescent dye and a nucleic acid structure which can be used in said method.

A method for characterizing the interaction between a protein and a small molecule by detecting a change in fluorescence emitted by a fluorescent dye and a nucleic acid structure which can be used in said method.