The invention provides a novel method of preparing a capture phase for detecting and/or quantifying a target biological entity, said capture phase including a biological ligand for the biological entity, said biological ligand being covalently bonded to an amphiphilic polymer and being immobilized on a solid support, the method being characterized in that the biological ligand is immobilized on the solid support by bringing the solid support into contact with a dispersion of micelles formed by a plurality of chains of the amphiphilic polymer, said micelles carrying a plurality of molecules of the biological ligand on the surface thereof. The invention also provides corresponding capture phases and associated detection methods and kits.

The invention provides a novel method of preparing a capture phase for detecting and/or quantifying a target biological entity, said capture phase including a biological ligand for the biological entity, said biological ligand being covalently bonded to an amphiphilic polymer and being immobilized on a solid support, the method being characterized in that the biological ligand is immobilized on the solid support by bringing the solid support into contact with a dispersion of micelles formed by a plurality of chains of the amphiphilic polymer, said micelles carrying a plurality of molecules of the biological ligand on the surface thereof. The invention also provides corresponding capture phases and associated detection methods and kits.

In situ-generated microfluidic capture structures incorporating a solidified polymer network, methods of preparation and use, compositions and kits therefor are described. Microfluidic capture structures may be advantageously used for assays performed within the microfluidic environment, providing flexibility in assaying micro-objects such as biological cells. Assay reagents and analytes may be incorporated within the microfluidic capture structures.

In situ-generated microfluidic capture structures incorporating a solidified polymer network, methods of preparation and use, compositions and kits therefor are described. Microfluidic capture structures may be advantageously used for assays performed within the microfluidic environment, providing flexibility in assaying micro-objects such as biological cells. Assay reagents and analytes may be incorporated within the microfluidic capture structures.

A method for measuring TAT complexes in a sample separated from a living body includes measuring TAT by performing latex immunoagglutination reaction under a condition of pH 5.8 to 6.6 using a TAT assay reagent. The TAT assay reagent includes a first antibody bound to a first latex particle, which binds to the antithrombin part of the TAT complex and recognizes the complex, and a second antibody bound to a second latex particle, which binds to the thrombin part of the TAT complex and recognizes the complex.

The present invention relates to composite particles, coated particles, a method of producing composite particles, a ligand-containing solid phase carrier, and a method of detecting or separating a target substance in a sample. The above described composite particles each contains an organic polymer and inorganic nanoparticles, wherein the content of the inorganic nanoparticles in the composite particles is more than 80% by mass, and wherein the composite particles have a volume average particle size of from 10 to 1,000 nm.

The present invention relates to composite particles, coated particles, a method of producing composite particles, a ligand-containing solid phase carrier, and a method of detecting or separating a target substance in a sample. The above described composite particles each contains an organic polymer and inorganic nanoparticles, wherein the content of the inorganic nanoparticles in the composite particles is more than 80% by mass, and wherein the composite particles have a volume average particle size of from 10 to 1,000 nm.

Systems and methods for improved measurement of absorbance/transmission through fluidic systems are described. Specifically, in one set of embodiments, optical elements are fabricated on one side of a transparent fluidic device opposite a series of fluidic channels. The optical elements may guide incident light passing through the device such that most of the light is dispersed away from specific areas of the device, such as intervening portions between the fluidic channels. By decreasing the amount of light incident upon these intervening portions, the amount of noise in the detection signal can be decreased when using certain optical detection systems.

Systems and methods for improved measurement of absorbance/transmission through fluidic systems are described. Specifically, in one set of embodiments, optical elements are fabricated on one side of a transparent fluidic device opposite a series of fluidic channels. The optical elements may guide incident light passing through the device such that most of the light is dispersed away from specific areas of the device, such as intervening portions between the fluidic channels. By decreasing the amount of light incident upon these intervening portions, the amount of noise in the detection signal can be decreased when using certain optical detection systems.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a monoclonal antibody that is useful in specifically assaying tartrate resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b). A hybridoma producing a monoclonal antibody against TRACP-5b, said monoclonal antibody showing higher reactivity with TRACP-5b than with tartrate resistant acid phosphatase 5a (TRACP-5a) and, therefore, being specific to TRACP-5b, is obtained by cell fusion using, as an antigen, human recombinant TRACP-5b purified from silkworm silk gland. By using this monoclonal antibody, TRACP-5b in a specimen can be highly sensitively and specifically detected.