A micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) resonator device includes at least one functionalization material arranged over at least a central portion, but less than an entirety, of a top side electrode. For an active region exhibiting greatest sensitivity at a center point and reduced sensitivity along its periphery, omitting functionalization material over at least one peripheral portion of a resonator active region prevents analyte binding in regions of lowest sensitivity. The at least one functionalization material extends a maximum length in a range of from about 20% to about 95% of an active area length and extends a maximum width in a range of from about 50% to 100% of an active area width. Methods for fabricating MEMS resonator devices are also provided.

A micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) resonator device includes at least one functionalization material arranged over at least a central portion, but less than an entirety, of a top side electrode. For an active region exhibiting greatest sensitivity at a center point and reduced sensitivity along its periphery, omitting functionalization material over at least one peripheral portion of a resonator active region prevents analyte binding in regions of lowest sensitivity. The at least one functionalization material extends a maximum length in a range of from about 20% to about 95% of an active area length and extends a maximum width in a range of from about 50% to 100% of an active area width. Methods for fabricating MEMS resonator devices are also provided.

An indicator of a first type and an indicator of a second type are attached to a unit of a chemical component in a sample to form a first multi-indicator complex. The first multi-indicator complex includes the unit of the chemical component, the indicator of the first type, and the indicator of the second type. The indicator of the first type and the indicator of the second type have different discernible characteristics. An image of the sample, including the first multi-indicator complex corresponding to the unit of the chemical component, is captured by an image sensor. Based on a first image of the sample, a count is generated of multi-indicator complexes that include an indicator of the first type and an indicator of the second type, including the first multi-indicator complex. Based on the count, a presence or a level of the chemical component in the sample is identified.

An indicator of a first type and an indicator of a second type are attached to a unit of a chemical component in a sample to form a first multi-indicator complex. The first multi-indicator complex includes the unit of the chemical component, the indicator of the first type, and the indicator of the second type. The indicator of the first type and the indicator of the second type have different discernible characteristics. An image of the sample, including the first multi-indicator complex corresponding to the unit of the chemical component, is captured by an image sensor. Based on a first image of the sample, a count is generated of multi-indicator complexes that include an indicator of the first type and an indicator of the second type, including the first multi-indicator complex. Based on the count, a presence or a level of the chemical component in the sample is identified.

A method for exchange imaging of at least two targets in a sample includes (a) incubating a sample with at least two or more target-recognizing antibodies, each bound to a corresponding monovalent tight antibody binder-docketing moiety (MTAB-DM) reagent capable of binding monovalently to the target-recognizing antibodies, (b) applying at least two imager moieties corresponding to the MTAB-DM, either in series, in batches, or in parallel, and (d) imaging the at least two imager moieties either in series, in batches, or in parallel.

A method for exchange imaging of at least two targets in a sample includes (a) incubating a sample with at least two or more target-recognizing antibodies, each bound to a corresponding monovalent tight antibody binder-docketing moiety (MTAB-DM) reagent capable of binding monovalently to the target-recognizing antibodies, (b) applying at least two imager moieties corresponding to the MTAB-DM, either in series, in batches, or in parallel, and (d) imaging the at least two imager moieties either in series, in batches, or in parallel.

[Problem ] Provided is a means for detecting and quantifying a biological substance of interest with an improved accuracy by inhibiting non-specific adsorption of fluorescent nanoparticles and thereby reducing the background noise in immunostaining with fluorescent nanoparticles. [Means for Solution] Immunostaining is carried out upon diluting fluorescent nanoparticles with a fluorescent nanoparticle diluent which contains 1 to 5% (W/W) of a protein having a molecular weight of 40,000 or higher (e,g., BSA) and 1 to 3% (W/W) of a protein having a molecular weight of less than 40,000 (eg ., casein) and, when casein is used as a low-molecular-weight protein, it is preferred that the κ-casein content in the casein is 10% (W/W) or less and the ratio of α-casein and β-casein (α-casein:β-casein) contained in the casein is 40:60 to 60:40 ( taking the total amount of α-casein and β-casein as 100).

A method for avoiding the influence of a blood sample on a measurement error in a latex agglutination immunoassay. The measurement error caused by a blood sample in a latex agglutination immunoassay can be reduced by a method which includes a step of bringing the sample into contact, in a liquid phase, with latex particles carrying a substance having a specific affinity for an analyte in the presence of imidazole.

A method for determining a biological response of a target (41, 42) to a soluble candidate substance includes the steps: introducing a soluble candidate substance into a laminar flow of a buffer liquid (2) to form a candidate substance solute (3) having an initial concentration profile (31); dispersing the initial concentration profile (31) to form a dispersed concentration profile (32); directing the dispersed concentration profile (32) into a detection channel (12) to form a final symmetrical concentration profile (33) therein; introducing a target into the detection channel (12) to obtain a combined concentration profile including a constant target concentration profile overlying the final symmetrical concentration profile (33); holding in the detection channel (12) at least one half of the combined concentration profile; and optically scanning the combined concentration profile to detect an optical signal representative of the biological response of the target to the soluble candidate substance.

A method for determining a biological response of a target (41, 42) to a soluble candidate substance includes the steps: introducing a soluble candidate substance into a laminar flow of a buffer liquid (2) to form a candidate substance solute (3) having an initial concentration profile (31); dispersing the initial concentration profile (31) to form a dispersed concentration profile (32); directing the dispersed concentration profile (32) into a detection channel (12) to form a final symmetrical concentration profile (33) therein; introducing a target into the detection channel (12) to obtain a combined concentration profile including a constant target concentration profile overlying the final symmetrical concentration profile (33); holding in the detection channel (12) at least one half of the combined concentration profile; and optically scanning the combined concentration profile to detect an optical signal representative of the biological response of the target to the soluble candidate substance.