An example system includes an array of retaining features in a microfluidic cavity, an array of thermally controlled releasing features, and a controller coupled to each releasing feature in the array of releasing feature. Each retaining feature in the array of retaining features is to position capsules at a predetermined location, the capsules having a thermally degradable shell enclosing a biological reagent therein. Each releasing feature in the array of releasing features corresponds to a retaining feature and is to selectively cause degradation of the shell of a capsule. Each releasing feature is to generate thermal energy to facilitate degradation of the shell. The controller is to selectively activate at least one releasing feature in the array of thermally controlled releasing features to release the biological reagent in the capsules positioned at the retaining feature corresponding to the activated releasing feature.

Synthetic macromolecular conjugate for selective interaction with proteins has a synthetic copolymer, and at least one binding group and at least one further group selected from an affinity tag and an imaging probe, and at least one binding group and at least one further group being bound via covalent bond to the synthetic copolymer. The macromolecular conjugate is suitable in particular for identification, visualization, quantification or isolation of proteins and/or cells.

Zwitterionic luminescent polymeric nanoparticles, which include at least one luminescent dye and at least one random copolymer, and the method of preparing the zwitterionic luminescent polymeric nanoparticles. Also, the use of these zwitterionic luminescent polymeric nanoparticles in the medical field and in the biological research field for in vitro or in vivo detection or tracking of a target biological molecule.

The invention relates to assay methods and kits for assessing autoimmune diseases in a human subject. In embodiments, the present disclosure provides assay methods and kits for diagnosing a subject with or predicting that a subject will develop Type 1 diabetes. In embodiments, the present disclosure provides assay methods and kits for assessing responsiveness of a subject having Type 1 diabetes to treatment with alefacept. In embodiments, the present disclosure provides assay methods and kits for diagnosing a subject with systemic lupus erythematosus. In embodiments, the present disclosure provides assay methods and kits for determining if a subject is at risk of a systemic lupus erythematosus flare. In embodiments, the present disclosure provides assay methods and kits for diagnosing a subject with celiac disease.

An object of the present invention is to provide a standard substance for quantification of PSA having a specific sugar chain that can be used in a general purpose quantification, wherein the standard substance has less unbalanced sugar chain expression patterns, can be manufactured with high reproducibility, and enables the quantification of patient's sample comprising a high concentration of PSA, and preparation method therefor, standard solution for PSA quantification, and PSA quantification method. The standard substance comprises a compound having the structure of a PSA with a sugar chain represented by any of the following formulae A to D, and is isolated and purified from a natural product, chemically or enzymatically altered from a natural product, or the compound is artificially synthesized.

An object of the present invention is to provide a standard substance for quantification of PSA having a specific sugar chain that can be used in a general purpose quantification, wherein the standard substance has less unbalanced sugar chain expression patterns, can be manufactured with high reproducibility, and enables the quantification of patient's sample comprising a high concentration of PSA, and preparation method therefor, standard solution for PSA quantification, and PSA quantification method. The standard substance comprises a compound having the structure of a PSA with a sugar chain represented by any of the following formulae A to D, and is isolated and purified from a natural product, chemically or enzymatically altered from a natural product, or the compound is artificially synthesized.

A substance that can be a substitute for amylospheroids (ASPD) and a method for analyzing ASPD are provided. Viewed from one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a substance in which amyloid-β protein (Aβ) is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent that has a spacer arm length of between 4 Å and 50 Å inclusive or a cross-linking agent that has, as a spacer arm, not less than 1 and not more than 13 groups that are an oxyethylene group(s) (—CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O—) and/or an oxypropylene group(s) (—CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.3O—). Viewed from another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for analyzing ASPD using the substance as a reference material.

A substance that can be a substitute for amylospheroids (ASPD) and a method for analyzing ASPD are provided. Viewed from one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a substance in which amyloid-β protein (Aβ) is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent that has a spacer arm length of between 4 Å and 50 Å inclusive or a cross-linking agent that has, as a spacer arm, not less than 1 and not more than 13 groups that are an oxyethylene group(s) (—CH.sub.2CH.sub.2O—) and/or an oxypropylene group(s) (—CH.sub.2CH.sub.2CH.sub.3O—). Viewed from another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for analyzing ASPD using the substance as a reference material.

A detection method includes forming a complex by binding a target substance and a dielectric particle modified by a single-domain antibody that is bindable to the target substance, separating the complex and an unbound particle in a fluid with dielectrophoresis, the unbound particle being the dielectric particle not forming the complex, and detecting the target substance contained in the separated complex with an imaging element.

The present invention relates to novel antibody frameworks with advantageous properties.