A colorimetric sensor for detecting an analyte of interest that includes a metal layer disposed upon a substrate, a plurality of nanostructures, and a corresponding plurality of metal deposits spaced apart from the metal layer. The metal layer defines a plurality of holes, each nanostructure includes a first portion disposed within a respective hole, and each metal deposit is disposed upon a second portion of a respective nanostructure. The sensor also includes a molecularly imprinted polymer layer that may cover the metal layer, the nanostructures, and/or the metal deposits. The molecularly imprinted polymer layer defines a cavity shaped to receive the analyte of interest, and the sensor is configured such that, when an analyte contacts the molecularly imprinted polymer layer and becomes disposed within the cavity, an optical property of at least a portion of the sensor changes thereby to cause a detectable color change in and/or from the sensor.

An automated method of identifying a structure in a sample is disclosed. The method includes receiving at least one digital image of a sample wherein at least one localised structural property of the sample is visible in the image based on the colour of received light. The method involves processing the at least one image, based on the received colour information to selectively identify said structure. The method can include colour and/or morphology based image analysis.

A sample holder for use in an optical microscope is disclosed. The sample holder includes a plasmonic layer defining a periodic array of sub-micron structures wherein the periodic array of sub-micron structures comprise an array of separated plasmonic regions. The regions may be a circle, a torus, an ellipse, a cross, rectangle, square, line, strip. Methods of performing reflection and fluorescence microscopy using such a sample holder and other sample holders are also disclosed.

A system and a method for on-chip dilution of a calibration solution are provided. An exemplary system includes a microfluidic ejector chip. The microfluidic ejector chip includes a calibration reservoir to contain a calibration standard and a dilution reservoir to contain a dilution solvent. A first fluid control device couples the calibration reservoir to a mixing chamber, and a second fluid control device couples a dilution reservoir to the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber is fluidically coupled to a microfluidic ejector.

There are provided a learning apparatus, an operation method of the learning apparatus, an operation program of the learning apparatus, and an operating apparatus capable of further improving accuracy of prediction of a quality of a product by a machine learning model in a case where learning is performed by inputting, as learning input data, multi-dimensional physical-property relevance data, which is derived from multi-dimensional physical-property data of the product, to the machine learning model. In the learning apparatus, a first processor derives, as learning input data, multi-dimensional physical-property relevance data which is related to multi-dimensional physical-property data. A first processor inputs the learning input data to the machine learning model, performs learning, and outputs the machine learning model as a learned model to be provided for actual operation.

A plasmon resonance (PR) system and instrument, digital microfluidic (DMF) cartridge, and methods of using localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and droplet operations for analysis of analytes is disclosed. For example, a PR system is provided that may include a DMF cartridge that may support both fixed LSPR sensing capability and in-solution LSPR sensing capability for analysis of analytes. The DMF cartridge may include an electrode arrangement for performing droplet operations, wherein the droplet operations can be used for performing fixed LSPR sensing operations and in-solution LSPR sensing operations. Further, methods of using droplet operations in the DMF cartridge to perform fixed LSPR sensing operations and/or in-solution LSPR sensing operations are provided.

A device for the production of nanoparticles in situ for Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in a mobile measurement station includes a least a first block having a control system, an automatic titration and dosing system, containers for substances with a system supplying substances to a reactor, a chemical reactor with a substance stirring system, sensors for controlling the nanomaterial production process, a heating and process temperature control system, a system for conducting the produced material to the next block outside, a nanoparticle processing system to perform measurements. A related method produces nanoparticles in situ for Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in a mobile measurement station.

A spectroscopic analysis device includes a detector and a processor. The detector detects measurement light obtained by irradiating, with irradiation light, a sample that contains a contained substance disposed on a film on which surface plasmons are generated. The measurement light includes information on an optical spectrum of the sample, and the information includes a resonance spectrum of the surface plasmons and an absorption spectrum of the sample. The processor calculates: a peak wavelength in a wavelength band in which the resonance spectrum and the absorption spectrum are generated; a peak absorbance of the contained substance based on an absorption band of the contained substance; and a ratio of the contained substance to the sample based on the peak wavelength and the peak absorbance.

A method for preparing fluorescent-encoded microspheres coated with metal nanoshells is disclosed herein. By using SPG method, metal nano-material modified with a certain ligand is used as a new surfactant in the emulsification process, and different kinds and different amounts of fluorescent materials are doped into polymer microspheres to prepare fluorescent-encoded microspheres with different fluorescent-encoded signals and uniformly coated metal nanoshells in one step. The prepared fluorescent-encoded microsphere comprises a metal nanoshell, a polymer, and a fluorescent-encoded material. The fluorescent-encoded microsphere has a particle size of 1 μm˜20 μm, CV of less than 10%, which can be used for protein/nucleic acid detection. The preparation method has the advantages of simple process, high surface coating rate, good uniformity and controllable LSPR peaks, which can solve the problems of existing commonly used metal nanoshell coating methods such as low surface coating rate, poor uniformity, complex preparation process and uncontrollable local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks, etc.

Plasmonically-enhanced catalytic surfaces and accompanying optics are described herein. These elements facilitate efficient coupling of light energy into a photocatalytic system by way of a surface plasmon. Various compatible optical configurations are presented, with an emphasis on the broadband coupling of light into a single plasmon mode. In an example embodiment, dispersive optics are used to direct polychromatic light onto a grating-embossed SPR-active surface. Dispersive optics allow resonance to be achieved at a wide range of incident wavelengths. Energy then transfers from the excited plasmon to an adjacent photocatalyst. The plasmon mode thus acts as a “funnel” of broadband light energy to the catalytic materials. High-efficiency incoupling and outcoupling from the plasmon mode suggest overall enhancement of catalytic activity, and broad applicability is anticipated due to the inherent flexibility of the system. The catalytic surfaces and optical components can be fabricated as sheets or 3D arrays, justifying industrial-scale manufacturing.