A functionalised particle, wherein the particle has a first optical spectral signature in a first structural configuration of the particle and a second optical spectral signature in a second structural configuration of the particle.

The present invention provides metallic nanocluster (NC)—antibody (Ab) conjugate, wherein the NC has an average size lower than 3 nm and the conjugate: (a) comprises one single NC, (b) the antibody maintains the binding ability; and (c) has a catalytic activity selected from peroxidase-like and photocatalytic activity.

The invention also provides a process for the preparation of the conjugate as well as compositions, kits and uses in therapy and diagnostics.

Advantageously, the conjugate of the invention shows improved catalytic activity, providing a remarkable improved immunoassay's sensitivity.

An isolated Methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) variant may include an MBD core domain having at least 60% sequence homology relative to any one of SEQ ID Nos. 1-45 and comprising at least one amino acid substitution relative to the corresponding wildtype MBD in various positions. The isolated MBD variant or the conjugate may be used for determining the methylation state of cytosine residues and/or oxidation state of 5-methylated cytosine residues in a CpG dinucleotide of interest and its complement in a DNA molecule or for the enrichment of DNA molecules comprising a CpG dinucleotide of interest and its complement. At least one cytosine nucleobase in the CpG dinucleotide may be modified to be 5-methylcytosine (mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), 5-formylcytosine (fC), or 5-carboxylcytosine (caC).

An isolated Methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) variant may include an MBD core domain having at least 60% sequence homology relative to any one of SEQ ID Nos. 1-45 and comprising at least one amino acid substitution relative to the corresponding wildtype MBD in various positions. The isolated MBD variant or the conjugate may be used for determining the methylation state of cytosine residues and/or oxidation state of 5-methylated cytosine residues in a CpG dinucleotide of interest and its complement in a DNA molecule or for the enrichment of DNA molecules comprising a CpG dinucleotide of interest and its complement. At least one cytosine nucleobase in the CpG dinucleotide may be modified to be 5-methylcytosine (mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (hmC), 5-formylcytosine (fC), or 5-carboxylcytosine (caC).

The invention relates to a method for sensing target molecules in an analyte solution, a sensor for sensing target molecules in an analyte solution and a measurement system for sensing target molecules in an analyte solution. The method comprises providing a capture surface, wherein a plurality of capture molecules are arranged on the capture surface, each of the capture molecules being configured to bind to at least one of said target molecules. The method further comprises exposing the capture surface to the analyte solution to allow target molecules to bind to the capture molecules arranged on the capture surface. The capture surface is then exposed to a solution containing detection molecules, wherein each of the detection molecules contains an electrochemically active nanoparticle and is configured to bind to one of said target molecules bound to a capture molecule, thereby allowing said electrochemically active nanoparticles to bind to the capture surface through formation of a bond between the respective detection molecule comprising said nanoparticle and one of said target molecules bound to one of said capture molecules arranged on the capture surface. The method further comprises releasing nanoparticles that are bound to the capture surface and, after releasing said nanoparticles from the capture surface, determining an electrical signal at a detection electrode caused by electrochemical reactions of said nanoparticles released from the capture surface.

The present invention provides a sensor for detecting a bioanalyte, comprising: a substrate; a pair of terminal electrodes disposed on the substrate in mutually spaced apart and opposing relation; and a non-insulating sensing element applied to a surface of the substrate, between and in electrical contact with the pair of terminal electrodes wherein the sensing element provides a conduction path between the terminal electrodes, wherein the sensing element comprises an oxygen-deficient metal oxide layer and a bioanalyte binding site, and wherein when a voltage is applied across the sensor, an electrical signal is generated that is proportional to a change in conductance of the sensing element corresponding to binding of a bioanalyte to the bioanalyte binding site.

An immunochromatographic strip for use in detecting a test substance in a sample by immunochromatography, including: a labeled body-containing section containing a blocked labeled antibody in which a labeling substance and an antibody capable of binding to a test substance are immobilized on a water-soluble carrier made of a water-soluble polymer.

An immunochromatographic strip for use in detecting a test substance in a sample by immunochromatography, including: a labeled body-containing section containing a blocked labeled antibody in which a labeling substance and an antibody capable of binding to a test substance are immobilized on a water-soluble carrier made of a water-soluble polymer.

A chemiluminescence immunochromatographic detection assay, comprising a solid membrane, a capture agent, a chemiluminescent conjugate, a testing buffer, a chemiluminescent reaction solution and a chemiluminescent reader. The capture agent is coated on the solid membrane, the chemiluminescent flows through the solid membrane and absorbed in a water absorbent structure, and the target analyte is captured and immobilized by capture agent on the solid membrane, and the uncapped chemiluminescent conjugate is cleaned up by testing buffer through the solid membrane, The complex of chemiluminescent conjugate and target analyte be immobilized on the solid membrane and placed for the quantitative detection of the light by the chemiluminescent reaction solution and the chemiluminescent reader, and complete the quantitative detection. This technology is suitable for chemiluminescent immunochromatographic detection of various analyte immune analysis, and is characterized as high efficiency, convenience, accuracy and high speed in important clinical application.

A quartz crystal microbalance coated with functionalized nanoparticles used to detect molecule-nanoparticle interactions to assist with characterization of difficult to predict molecule-nanoparticle interactions for novel ligand chemistries and, particularly, mixed ligand nanoparticles exhibiting different ligand morphologies, in order to quantify nanoparticle-molecule interactions independently from more complex solvation requirements.