A novel detection system and method is presented, where a two-bead receptor method is used for capturing pathogens, with one type of bead being magnetic and having a size of 3 microns or smaller, and the other type being polymeric and having a size of 3 microns or larger. The first type is used to concentrate a pathogen; the latter is used to create a detectable signal. Fast sensitive detection is achieved by collecting the optical signal created by the distortion of a homeotropically aligned chromonic azo dye in the presence of captured pathogens.

The method for analyzing biomolecules, includes the steps of: immobilizing biomolecules to be analyzed on surfaces of magnetic microparticles; reacting labeled probe molecules with the biomolecules to be analyzed; collecting and immobilizing the microparticles on a support substrate; and measuring a label on the support substrate. Since single-molecule immobilized magnetic microparticles are used in the present invention, the number of biomolecules can be counted, and since hybridization and an antigen-antibody reaction are performed with the microparticles having biomolecules immobilized thereon dispersed, the reaction can be rapidly performed. Further, the type and the abundance of biomolecules of interest can be determined at a single molecular level, so as to evaluate, in particular, the absolute concentration of biomolecules.

An object of the present invention is to find a component which can prevent non-specific flocculation of sensitized or unsensitized insoluble carrier particles contained in an immunoassay reagent when the reagent is frozen, to thereby provide means for preventing degradation of the immunoassay reagent. The component which can prevent non-specific flocculation of insoluble carrier particles is the following ω-aminocarboxylic acid (1) [wherein n is an integer of 2 to 6]. The invention provides an immunoassay reagent containing insoluble carrier particles and ω-aminocarboxylic acid (1), and a method for preventing degradation of an immunoassay reagent by using ω-aminocarboxylic acid (1). ##STR00001##

Provided is a solid phase carrier which has high water dispersibility, allows facilitated binding of a ligand to a reactive functional group, and exhibits suppressed non-specific adsorption, and with which, in the case of using the solid phase carrier by having a ligand bound thereto, for example, detection of a target substance can be carried out with high sensitivity and low noise. Disclosed is a solid phase carrier having bound thereto a polymer including a structural unit represented by the following Formula (1) and a structural unit represented by the following Formula (2):

##STR00001##

wherein in Formula (1), R.sup.1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and R.sup.2 represents an organic group having a zwitterionic structure,

##STR00002## in Formula (2), R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group R.sup.4 represents —(C═O)—O—*, —(C═O)—NR.sup.6—* (wherein R.sup.6 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; and the symbol * represents a position of bonding to R.sup.5 in Formula (2)), or a phenylene group; in a case in which R.sup.4 represents —(C═O)—O—*, R.sup.5 represents a hydrogen atom, or an organic group having a reactive functional group, and in a case in which R.sup.4 represents —(C═O)—NR.sup.6—* or a phenylene group, R.sup.5 represents an organic group having a reactive functional group, provided that R.sup.5 is not an organic group having a zwitterionic structure.

This disclosure relates to polymer coatings with desirable anti-fouling properties. In certain embodiments, polymers are coated on particles which allow for conjugation with targeting moieties. In certain embodiments, the particles are nanoparticles with targeting moieties that bind with tumor associated antigens.

A biochip substrate which is free from cross-contamination due to spot spreading or contact with spots adjacent to each other, and a biochip using the same. A biochip substrate on which multiple valleys for immobilizing biological substances are formed so as to prevent cross-contamination due to spot spreading or contact with spots adjacent to each other, and a biochip using the same are provided. Moreover, it is found out that a desired binding in a target molecule contained in a test sample occurs at a detectable level in a solution system even in the case where a valley have such a small capacity as 1 nL to 10 nL.

The present disclosure provides methods and/or kits for detecting an analyte in a sample. Some embodiments provide a method for detecting a non-nucleic acid analyte in a sample using a solid substrate comprising a bound immobilisation agent and an antibody capture agent and a detectable agent, which can bind to the analyte. The antibody capture agent comprises, at a plurality of sites, a ligand for the immobilisation agent. A complex between the analyte, the antibody capture agent and a detectable agent is formed and immobilised on the solid substrate by binding between the immobilisation agent and the ligand. In some embodiments, the ligand and the immobilisation agent are a binding pair comprising a peptide tag and an anti-peptide tag antibody.

The present disclosure relates to characterization of biological samples. By way of example, a biological sample may be contacted with a plurality of probes specific for targets in the sample, such as probes for immune markers and segmenting probes. Acquired image data of the sample may be used to segment the images into epithelial and stromal regions to characterize individual cells in the sample based on the binding of the probes. Further, the biological sample may be characterized by a distribution, location, and type of a plurality of the characterized cells.

Genetic fusions of proteins, for example single-domain antibodies (sdAbs), with a positively-charged domain enhanced immobilization of active protein in a desired orientation.

This invention provides, and in certain specific but non-limiting aspects relates to: —assays that can be used to predict whether a given ISV will be subject to protein interference as described herein and/or give rise to an (aspecific) signal in such an assay (such as for example in an ADA immunoassay). Such predictive assays could for example be used to test whether a given ISV could have a tendency to give rise to such protein interference and/or such a signal; to select ISV's that are not or less prone to such protein interference or to giving such a signal; as an assay or test that can be used to test whether certain modification(s) to an ISV will (fully or partially) reduce its tendency to give rise to such interference or such a signal; and/or as an assay or test that can be used to guide modification or improvement of an ISV so as to reduce its tendency to give rise to such protein interference or signal; —methods for modifying and/or improving ISV's to as to remove or reduce their tendency to give rise to such protein interference or such a signal; —modifications that can be introduced into an ISV that remove or reduce its tendency to give rise to such protein interference or such a signal; —ISV's that have been specifically selected (for example, using the assay(s) described herein) to have no or low(er)/reduced tendency to give rise to such protein interference or such a signal; —modified and/or improved ISV's that have no or a low(er)/reduced tendency to give rise to such protein interference or such a signal.