A light transmission structure is provided for use, in conjunction with a light source and detector, for selective detection of biomolecule interactions and/or absorption of infrared light. The light transmission structure includes a substrate having a bottom surface adapted to couple the light source and detector to the light transmission structure, a coupling and enhancing layer disposed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the substrate, a first near-critical angle anti-reflective coating (NCA-ARC) layer disposed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the coupling and enhancing layer, and a second NCA-ARC layer disposed on at least a portion of an upper surface of the first NCA-ARC layer. An upper surface of the second NCA-ARC layer is functionalized and textured so that transmitted incident light is scattered out of the light transmission structure. A difference in refractive index between adjacent NCA-ARC layers is less than about 0.01.

The present invention provides methods that are for acquiring various types of supplementary information used for diagnosis or treatment of prostate cancer, and that can be implemented in a less-invasive manner at a low cost. Provided are, by measuring the content of prostate specific antigen (PSA) having a β-N-acetylgalactosamine residue at a non-reducing terminal of a sugar chain in a specimen, and comparing the measured value with a threshold value, (1) a method for estimating whether a Gleason score (primary pattern and secondary pattern) is not less than or less than a prescribed value, (2) a method for estimating whether the pathological stage (pT) is not less than or less than a prescribed value, and (3) a method for acquiring information for assessment indicating diagnosis or treatment should be actively conducted because a GS at gross total removal is expected to be higher than a GS at biopsy.

A method for the detection and monitoring of surface fouling from the nanoscale as a predictive or real-time monitoring tool is provided. Also provided are devices for carrying out the method, and to uses of the method, in particular for optimising cleaning procedures of devices or components thereof fouled by flows of foulant.

A measurement chip including a prism, a metal film, and a capturing body is prepared. In a state in which a specimen is present on the metal film, scattered light obtained when first light which passes through the metal film and the specimen is scattered in the specimen when the first light is applied to the metal film from a prism side at a first incident angle smaller than a critical angle is detected. In a state in which a substance to be measured is captured by the capturing body and the specimen is not present on the metal film, a signal indicating an amount of the substance to be measured generated in the measurement chip when second light is applied to the metal film at a second incident angle not smaller than the critical angle from the prism side is detected. On the basis of a hematocrit value of the specimen determined from a light amount of the scattered light, a measurement value indicating the amount of the substance to be measured determined from the signal is corrected.

A plasmonic waveguide (10), a biosensor chip (100) and a system, wherein the plasmonic waveguide (10) is applied to the biosensor chip (100), and comprises a base (11) and a plasmonic structure (12) provided on the upper surface of the base (11); the plasmonic structure (12) comprises a plurality of plasmons (121) periodically arranged, the plasmons (121) being metal split rings, and the annular openings of the plasmons (121) being used for fixing antibody probes (122). The plasmon waveguide (10) is provided in the biosensor chip (100), the target biomolecules in the detection liquid flowing into a microfluidic channel (31) can be captured by means of the antibody probes (122), and the plasmonic waveguide (10) is used to enhance the signal strength of terahertz waves emitted to the biosensor chip (100), thereby enhancing the signal strength of the reflected terahertz waves detected by a terahertz analyzer (300), improving the detection sensitivity, the signal-to-noise ratio and the reliability.

A plasmon resonance system, instrument, cartridge, and methods for analysis of analytes is disclosed. A PR system is provided that may include a DMF-LSPR cartridge that may support both digital microfluidic (DMF) capability and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) capability for analysis of analytes. In some examples, the DMF portion of the DMF-LSPR cartridge may include an electrode arrangement for performing droplet operations, whereas the LSPR portion of the DMF-LSPR cartridge may include an LSPR sensor. In other examples, the LSPR portion of the DMF-LSPR cartridge may include an in-line reference channel, wherein the in-line reference channel may be a fluid channel including at least one functionalized LSPR sensor (or sample spot) and at least one non-functionalized LSPR sensor (or reference spot). Additionally, methods of using the PR system for analysis of analytes are provided.

A target substance detection device detecting a target substance using magnetic particles includes a detection chip, a light irradiation unit, and a magnetic field application unit, wherein the detection chip includes a light transmissive member having a sensing surface arranged on a surface constituting a top surface relative to a bottom surface, an inclined surface, and a main body portion capable of receiving light and guiding the light through the interior, the light transmissive member having a light directing structure in which the light applied from the top surface side and passed through the inclined surface is directed via the main body portion to the sensing surface under the condition of total reflection, the light irradiation unit is operable to irradiate the sensing surface with light under the condition of total reflection via the light directing structure, and the magnetic field application unit.

Detection system for detecting at least one extracellular vesicle in a microfluid, including a broadband light source, collimating and focusing optics, a spectrophotometer, a microfluid apparatus and an active sensing element positioned inside the microfluid apparatus, the active sensing element including a substrate, a thin metal layer deposited on the substrate and a dielectric waveguide layer deposited on the metal layer, the light source generating at least one incident beam of light in the near infrared region, the metal layer and the waveguide layer each include a plurality of waveguides, the collimating optics collimates the incident beam of light on the substrate via the coupler, the focusing optics receives at least one reflection of the incident beam of light and provides the reflection to the spectrophotometer, the active sensing element causes surface plasmon waves in the microfluid when the microfluid is injected into the microfluid apparatus and the spectrophotometer detects resonance wavelength shifts in the reflection according to the surface plasmon waves thereby detecting the presence of the extracellular vesicle in the microfluid.

Systems and methods are disclosed. An example method of determining the concentration of at least one analyte in a plurality of samples by sequentially subjecting each sample to an analysis cycle includes contacting the sample or a sample-derived solution with a sensor surface supporting a species capable of specifically binding the analyte or an analyte-binding species, detecting the amount of binding to the sensor surface, and regenerating the sensor surface to prepare it for the next analytical cycle, and based on the detected binding to the sensor surface determining the concentration of analyte in each sample using virtual calibration data calculated for each analysis cycle from real calibration data obtained by contacting the solid phase with samples containing known concentrations of analyte.

Systems and methods for determining the osmolarity of a sample are provided. Aspects of the subject methods include contacting a sensing surface of a surface plasmon resonance based sensor with a sample, and generating one or more data sets at at least two wavelengths over a time interval, wherein the data sets are used to determine the osmolarity of the sample. The subject methods find use in determining the osmolarity of a sample, such as a biological sample (e.g., a tear fluid), and in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of various diseases and disorders, such as, e.g., dry eye disease.