A method of producing a reaction unit includes (a1) preparing a first substrate which is a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and of which at least the first surface is composed of polypropylene, and which has one or more through-holes that penetrate from the first surface to the second surface, and a second substrate which is a substrate having a first surface and a second surface and of which at least the first surface is composed of at least one selected from the group consisting of cycloolefin polymers and cycloolefin copolymers, and which has a track region in which concave parts and convex parts are alternately formed on the first surface; (b1) applying a photocurable composition around an opening of the through-hole on the first surface of the first substrate; (c1) emitting light to the photocurable composition applied around the opening of the through-hole to form a cured resin layer in which the photocurable composition is cured; and (d1) forming a well having the track region as a bottom surface and the through-hole as a side surface, which is a well formed by bringing the cured resin layer formed on the first surface of the first substrate into close contact with the first surface of the second substrate after the process (c1).

The present invention relates to novel compounds useful as sensors for the rapid and specific determination of the FKBP12 protein, a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPlase), the levels of which in the biological fluids of a subject change if the subject is affected by pathological conditions, in particular neurodegenerative diseases, such as the Parkinson's disease and the Alzheimer's syndrome, tumour pathologies, autoimmune diseases, or if that subject is in a phase of acute rejection after organ transplantation.

The present invention relates to novel compounds useful as sensors for the rapid and specific determination of the FKBP12 protein, a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPlase), the levels of which in the biological fluids of a subject change if the subject is affected by pathological conditions, in particular neurodegenerative diseases, such as the Parkinson's disease and the Alzheimer's syndrome, tumour pathologies, autoimmune diseases, or if that subject is in a phase of acute rejection after organ transplantation.

In an electrochemical lateral flow immunological test method, flow of a sample solution is controlled. As a result, the reaction time is short and quantitative measurements and electrical measurements can be performed with excellent sensitivity and high accuracy, and the invention provides a sensor employed in the method. Electrode portions, electrically conductive portions for transferring electric current from the electrode portions, and connecting portions connected to an electrical measuring instrument for measuring the electric current values are arranged on a supporting body including a resin sheet, pads and the like disposed by partial lamination on the supporting body. A sample solution flows over the plurality of pads, and electrochemical detection is performed by controlling the flow at the position of the electrode portions. Furthermore, the flow is controlled by a flow rate control pad, a flow passage portion fiber pad, and flow rate control protruding portions.

The invention relates to a system comprising superparamagnetic or anhysteretic nanoparticles (NPs) functionalised with an antibody, and a thin-film-type substrate of metal or an oxide thereof, functionalised with the same antibody; and to a method for detecting a biological analyte, such as a cell, protein, microorganism or similar, preferably a pathogenic microorganism, and even more preferably Listeria. The method comprises: (a) obtaining a control signal from a substrate (magnetic or not) coated with a thin film of metal or an oxide thereof, preferably gold, which can be functionalised with an antibody, the control signal being a magnetoresistance signal, a total magnetisation signal or a signal of the magnetisation curve; (b) mixing superparamagnetic or anhysteretic NPs functionalised with the antibody, with a liquid sample to analyse and confirm the presence or absence of the biological analyte, the NPs and the liquid sample making contact for 10-90 minutes; (c) dripping the dispersion obtained in step (b) onto the substrate of step (a), and then washing to remove NPs that are not chemically anchored to the surface of the biological analyte; (d) leaving the substrate to dry and re-measuring a signal in the same way as carried out in step (a); and (e) counteracting the control signal obtained in step (a) and the signal obtained in step (d), and in the absence of differences between the two measurements, confirming the absence of the biological analyte in the sample, the amount of microorganisms being directly proportional to the signal measured.

The invention relates to a system comprising superparamagnetic or anhysteretic nanoparticles (NPs) functionalised with an antibody, and a thin-film-type substrate of metal or an oxide thereof, functionalised with the same antibody; and to a method for detecting a biological analyte, such as a cell, protein, microorganism or similar, preferably a pathogenic microorganism, and even more preferably Listeria. The method comprises: (a) obtaining a control signal from a substrate (magnetic or not) coated with a thin film of metal or an oxide thereof, preferably gold, which can be functionalised with an antibody, the control signal being a magnetoresistance signal, a total magnetisation signal or a signal of the magnetisation curve; (b) mixing superparamagnetic or anhysteretic NPs functionalised with the antibody, with a liquid sample to analyse and confirm the presence or absence of the biological analyte, the NPs and the liquid sample making contact for 10-90 minutes; (c) dripping the dispersion obtained in step (b) onto the substrate of step (a), and then washing to remove NPs that are not chemically anchored to the surface of the biological analyte; (d) leaving the substrate to dry and re-measuring a signal in the same way as carried out in step (a); and (e) counteracting the control signal obtained in step (a) and the signal obtained in step (d), and in the absence of differences between the two measurements, confirming the absence of the biological analyte in the sample, the amount of microorganisms being directly proportional to the signal measured.

The present invention relates to analyte detection devices and methods of using such devices to detect minute quantities of a target analyte in a sample. In particular, the invention provides a method of detecting a target analyte in a sample comprising mixing the sample with a first detection conjugate and a second detection conjugate in solution, wherein the first and second detection conjugates comprise metallic nanostructures coupled to binding partners that are capable of specifically binding to the target analyte if present in the sample to form a complex between the first detection conjugate, the analyte, and the second detection conjugate, wherein a change in an optical signal upon complex formation indicates the presence of the target analyte in the sample. Methods of preparing nanostructures and nanoalloys, as well as nanostructures and nanoalloys conjugated to binding partners, are also described.

The present invention relates to analyte detection devices and methods of using such devices to detect minute quantities of a target analyte in a sample. In particular, the invention provides a method of detecting a target analyte in a sample comprising mixing the sample with a first detection conjugate and a second detection conjugate in solution, wherein the first and second detection conjugates comprise metallic nanostructures coupled to binding partners that are capable of specifically binding to the target analyte if present in the sample to form a complex between the first detection conjugate, the analyte, and the second detection conjugate, wherein a change in an optical signal upon complex formation indicates the presence of the target analyte in the sample. Methods of preparing nanostructures and nanoalloys, as well as nanostructures and nanoalloys conjugated to binding partners, are also described.

This disclosure provides methods and devices for determining a quantitative estimate of syndecan-1 levels in a mammalian subject suspected of internal hemorrhaging. The method includes applying a blood sample from the subject to a hand-held assay device capable of providing optical quantitation of the amount of syndecan-1 in the sample, measuring, by means of said assay device, an analyte signal value correlated to a concentration of the syndecan-1 in the blood sample and comparing the analyte signal value to a minimum threshold, wherein an analyte signal value less than the minimum threshold indicates that the subject is not internally hemorrhaging, and an analyte signal value above the minimum threshold indicates the subject is internally hemorrhaging. The methods and devices are adapted to rapidly assess internal hemorrhaging and hemorrhagic shock in a patient outside of hospital settings.

This disclosure provides methods and devices for determining a quantitative estimate of syndecan-1 levels in a mammalian subject suspected of internal hemorrhaging. The method includes applying a blood sample from the subject to a hand-held assay device capable of providing optical quantitation of the amount of syndecan-1 in the sample, measuring, by means of said assay device, an analyte signal value correlated to a concentration of the syndecan-1 in the blood sample and comparing the analyte signal value to a minimum threshold, wherein an analyte signal value less than the minimum threshold indicates that the subject is not internally hemorrhaging, and an analyte signal value above the minimum threshold indicates the subject is internally hemorrhaging. The methods and devices are adapted to rapidly assess internal hemorrhaging and hemorrhagic shock in a patient outside of hospital settings.