The invention is concerned with methods for producing a useful and highly uniform optical component which is useful in the construction of an optical sensor. Also discussed are the optical component itself, an optical sensor comprising the optical component, a process for producing the optical sensor and a process for detecting and/or quantifying the amount of an analyte in a sample using the optical sensor.

Systems and indicators for determining the presence or absence of specific environmental, exposure, or biological conditions are provided. Indicators include a plurality of sensors, each sensor independently having a biological or chemical sensing modality to detect one or more analytes of interest. Analytes of interest include nucleic acids (e.g., DNA, RNA, etc.), proteins, peptides, and other amino acid chains and may come from a subject or the microbiome of a subject. The signals from the plurality of sensors may be processed to provide a readily understandable readout concerning a health condition or predisposition of a subject, such as cancer and exposure to coronavirus. The signals from the plurality of sensors may be colorimetric (e.g. a color change in response to the presence or absence of an analyte), and a plurality of colorimetric signals may be combined to provide a readily understandable colorimetric output. Indicators may be wearable.

Disclosed herein are polymeric dyes, their preparation, and their uses. Some embodiments relate to their use for detecting biological activity in samples, such as the presence of bacteria in blood.

Presented herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for single analyte detection or multiplexed analyte detection based on amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (“alpha”) technology, but using hollow polymer fiber optics doped with ‘acceptor bead’ dye (e.g., thioxene, anthracene, rubrene, and/or lanthanide chelates) or ‘donor bead’ dye (e.g., phthalocyanine) that carry a signal generated by the dopant via singlet oxygen channeling.

The present invention relates to a method for in situ sensing of water stress in a plant by contacting a plant with a biosensor, where the biosensor comprises a material capable of giving a detectable response to changes in local water potential in the plant and detecting the detectable response thereby sensing water stress in the plant. The invention further relates to a method for determining water potential in a substance, a biosensor, a system for determining water potential in a substance, a method for determining water potential in a substance, a water potential measurement computing device, and a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions for determining water potential in a substance.

A sensor (e.g., an optical sensor) that may be implanted within a living animal (e.g., a human) and may be used to measure an analyte (e.g., glucose or oxygen) in a medium (e.g., interstitial fluid, blood, or intraperitoneal fluid) within the animal. The sensor may include a sensor substrate, electrode or housing, an analyte indicator covering at least a portion of the sensor, and one or more optical signal stabilizing additives in an environment of the sensor.

Presented herein are methods, systems, and apparatus for single analyte detection or multiplexed analyte detection based on amplified luminescent proximity homogeneous assay (alpha) technology, but using hollow polymer fiber optics doped with acceptor bead dye (e.g., thioxene, anthracene, rubrene, and/or lanthanide chelates) or donor bead dye (e.g., phthalocyanine) that carry a signal generated by the dopant via singlet oxygen channeling.

A polymer matrix composite comprising a porous polymeric network; and a plurality of indicator particles distributed within the polymeric network structure; wherein the indicator particles are present in a range from 1 to 99 weight percent, based on the total weight of the indicator particles and the polymer (excluding the solvent); and wherein the polymer matrix composite has a density of at least 0.05 g/cm.sup.3; and methods for making the same. The polymer matrix composites are useful, for example, as sensors.

A sensor can include a nanostructure in a housing configured to contact a sample.

The present disclosure discloses an optochemical sensor for determining a measurand correlating with a concentration of an analyte in a measuring fluid, comprising: a housing having an immersion region configured for immersing in the measuring fluid; a removable cap having a sensor spot, the removable cap removably arranged at the immersion region of the housing, wherein the sensor spot is disposed on a circumferential face; a radiation source disposed in the housing for radiating excitation radiation into the removable cap, wherein a deflection module is disposed in the removable cap as to deflect excitation radiation radiated into the removable cap; a radiation receiver disposed in the housing for receiving received radiation emitted by the sensor spot; and a sensor circuit disposed in the housing and configured to control the radiation source, receive signals of the radiation receiver, and generate output signals based on the signals of the radiation receiver.