The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most 24 hrs of culturing) or no culturing of the pathogen. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a pathogen from a sample that involve obtaining a sample including a pathogen, conducting an assay that isolates the pathogen from the sample, culturing the isolated pathogen for at most about 24 hrs, and analyzing the pathogen.

A solid-phase support, formed by binding a chain polymer at least to the surface, wherein the chain polymer is a block polymer comprising a first block constituted from repetitions of a hydrophilic structural unit and a second block constituted from repetitions of a structural unit having a reactive functional group, a content ratio of the number of moles a of the reactive functional group contained in the chain polymer and the number of moles b of the whole structural unit contained in the chain polymer, (a/b), is from 0.03 to 0.25, and a density of the chain polymer occupying the surface of the solid-phase support is 0.1 polymers/nm.sup.2 or more.

Magnetic-optical iron oxide-gold core-shell nanoparticles are disclosed. Methods for making and using the nanoparticles are also disclosed.

The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most 24 hrs of culturing) or no culturing of the pathogen. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a pathogen from a sample that involve obtaining a sample including a pathogen, conducting an assay that isolates the pathogen from the sample, culturing the isolated pathogen for at most about 24 hrs, and analyzing the pathogen.

The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most 24 hrs of culturing) or no culturing of the pathogen. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a pathogen from a sample that involve obtaining a sample including a pathogen, conducting an assay that isolates the pathogen from the sample, culturing the isolated pathogen for at most about 24 hrs, and analyzing the pathogen.

The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a pathogen from the sample and allows for analysis of the pathogen with minimal (i.e., at most 24 hrs of culturing) or no culturing of the pathogen. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a pathogen from a sample that involve obtaining a sample including a pathogen, conducting an assay that isolates the pathogen from the sample, culturing the isolated pathogen for at most about 24 hrs, and analyzing the pathogen.

The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a bacterium from the sample, in which the assay isolates as low as about 1 CFU/ml of bacteria in the sample.

In one non-limiting aspect, the invention provides a method for detecting the quality of a biological molecule comprising forming a first mixture of ingredients comprising: (i) a first binding agent that specifically binds to a tag, wherein the first binding agent is attached to a solid support; (ii) a decoy comprising a first portion comprising the tag attached to a second portion comprising an anchor; (iii) a sensor attached to a second binding agent that specifically binds to the anchor; and (iv) a sample suspected of containing a high quality biological molecule comprising a tag, wherein the tag of the high quality biological molecule is accessible; allowing interaction of the ingredients such that the sensor provides an output signal.

A multiplex hand-held diagnostic biosensor, using two inflammatory salivary biomarkers, Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE) and Cathepsin-G, was constructed made to potentially detect Periodontitis at an early stage is described. The use of magnetic nanoparticle biosensor method used as a device was based on the measurement of proteolytic activity using specific proteases probes. The magnetic nanoparticle biosensor device is capable of specific and quantitative detection of HNE and Cathepsin-G in solution and in spiked saliva samples with a lower detection limit of 1 pg/mL and 100 fg/mL for HNE and Cathepsin-G, respectively.

The invention generally relates to conducting an assay on a sample that isolates a bacterium from the sample, in which the assay isolates as low as about 1 CFU/ml of bacteria in the sample.