A system for measuring analyte concentrations has porous-walled nanocontainers containing multiple magnetic nanoparticles, the magnetic nanoparticles coated with a selective binder that is analyte-responsive and binds a the analyte, an indicator substance releasable from the selective binder by the analyte, or an indicator substance cleavable by the analyte, apparatus for exposing the nanocontainers to a fluid potentially containing the analyte, and magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion sensing apparatus for detecting agglutination of the nanoparticles or binding of analyte to the nanoparticles. The system is used in a method comprising coating magnetic nanoparticles with a selective binder, encapsulating the magnetic nanoparticles in porous nanocontainers, exposing the nanocontainers to a fluid potentially containing analyte, using magnetic spectroscopy of Brownian motion sensing apparatus to detect agglutination or binding of the nanoparticles, and translating Brownian motion spectra to analyte concentrations.

The present invention provides for engineered molecular opsonins that may be used to bind biological pathogens or identify subclasses or specific pathogen species for use in devices and systems for treatment and diagnosis of patients with infectious diseases, blood-borne infections or sepsis. An aspect of the invention provides for mannose-binding lectin (MBL), which is an abundant natural serum protein that is part of the innate immune system. The ability of this protein lectin to bind to surface molecules on virtually all classes of biopathogens (viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans) make engineered forms of MBL extremely useful in diagnosing and treating infectious diseases and sepsis.

The present invention relates to containers for holding liquid samples. The containers may be useful for mixing a liquid sample or lysing cells in a liquid sample. The invention also relates to methods of using the containers of the invention.

A cartridge (110) and a method process target components (T1, T2) of a sample fluid, for example the detection of cardiac markers in blood. The cartridge (110) includes a reaction chamber (114) with a hydrophilic reaction surface (115). A physical barrier (116,118) on the reaction surface (115), for example a protrusion, at least partially borders an investigation region (117,117′) which includes capture probes (CP1, CP2) that specifically bind to target components (T1, T2) of the sample fluid.

A method of detecting a pathogen in a sample. The pathogen from the sample is captured with at least one recognition element. The sample is introduced to a paper-based microfluidic device having spaced electrodes disposed thereon. An impedance magnitude of the sample is measured across the spaced electrodes to detect a presence of the pathogen in the sample. A related paper-based microfluidic device and system are also disclosed.

A system and method wherein components of a reagent such as labeled antibodies are separated from a biologically active sensor surface by depositing the reagent on a carrier surface distinct from a sensor surface in a detection region. The present device provides a short, well-defined and controlled, pre-incubation time between the particles of interest in the sample fluid and the reagent, thereby increasing the reproducibility by providing all components in one detection region such as a detection chamber.

The invention relates to a carrier with a binding surface at which target components that comprise label particles, for example magnetic particles, can collect and optionally bind to specific capture elements. An input light beam (L1) is transmitted into the carrier and totally internally reflected at the binding surface. The amount of light in the output light beam (L2) and optionally also of fluorescence light emitted by target components at the binding surface is then detected by a light detector. Evanescent light generated during the total internal reflection is affected (absorbed, scattered) by target components and/or label particles at the binding surface and will therefore be missing in the output light beam (L2). This can be used to determine the amount of target components at the binding surface from the amount of light in the output light beam (L2, L2a, L2b). A magnetic field generator is optionally used to generate a magnetic field (B) at the binding surface by which magnetic label particles can be manipulated, for example attracted or repelled.

In at least one illustrative embodiment, a method for in-situ pathogen detection may comprise distributing one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors on a surface of a test object, wherein each of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors includes a biorecognition element configured to bind with a pathogen to cause a shift in a characteristic frequency of the associated measurement sensor; applying a varying magnetic field, using a test coil, to the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors distributed on the surface of the test object, wherein the test object is positioned outside of an inner volume defined by the test coil; detecting a frequency response of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors using the test coil, while applying the varying magnetic field; and determining whether the pathogen is present based on the detected frequency response of the one or more magnetoelastic measurement sensors.

A magnetic bead-based digital microfluidic immunoanalysis device and a method thereof are provided, which includes a lower plate, an upper plate disposed above the lower plate, a separating structure therebetween and a magnet disposed on the upper plate or the lower plate. The lower plate includes a first electrode layer including a plurality of channel electrodes with different sizes. A droplet containing few magnetic beads is adapted to be disposed on the lower plate and corresponding to the channel electrodes. The magnet attracts the magnetic beads to approach to the smaller one of the channel electrodes though a magnetic force, and when a voltage is applied to the first electrode layer, the droplet is divided to a detection portion with the magnetic beads and a waste-liquid portion without the magnetic beads respectively corresponding to the smaller one and the larger one of the channel electrodes through a dual-direction electrowetting-on-dielectric force.

The present invention relates to systems and methods that utilize a combination of immunoassay and magnetic immunoassay techniques to detect an analyte within an extended range of specified concentrations. In particular, a device includes a housing, a heterogeneous surface capture immunosensor within the housing and configured to generate a first signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in an upper concentration range, and a homogeneous magnetic bead capture immunosensor within the housing and configured to generate a second signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in a lower concentration range.