Hitachi, Ltd.

Cornell Research Foundation Inc.

Lamdagen Corporation

Hiroyuki Takei

Aaron Lewis

Zhongping Chen

Takeshi Sakamoto

Ryo Miyake

Kenko Uchida

Shigenori Togashi

Norio Shimizu

Tetsuro Miyamoto

Daniele Gerion

Randy Storer

Michael Himmelhaus

The present invention provides a method of detecting changes in the refractive index at the surface of a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) detection system. The method includes generating an insoluble product from an enzymatic substrate using an immobilized enzyme, wherein the insoluble product accumulates at a LSPR supporting surface. The method also includes detecting changes in the reflected or transmitted light of the surface arising from the presence of the insoluble product using LSPR.

Enzymatic assay for LSPR

In a measuring apparatus for biomolecule interaction, a fine particle sensor surface is dipped in a buffer solution in a reaction vessel to conduct spectral measurement by way of optical fibers. The buffer solution in the reaction vessel is made to enter an upper reaction vessel and discharged from a flow channel. Air is injected from a flow channel to inject a specimen from the discharge port to the reaction vessel. Then the specimen is sucked into the reaction vessel and brought into contact with the sensor surface where a ligand and an analyte in the specimen are bonded. Bonding is measured by a spectrophotometer through the optical fibers. A buffer solution is injected from the injection flow channel into the reaction vessel and the specimen is discharged out of the flow channel. The dissociation process in which the biomolecules are dissociated along with lowering of the concentration is measured.

Measuring apparatus for interaction of biomolecule

The invention provides a biochemical sensor with probes uniformly caught in each section. The probes used for detecting a substance of interest are caught in advance on particles, and the particles are fixed in each of sections arranged in form of lattice using a chemical patterning method on the surface of a baseplate. In each section, the particles attached with probes caught on the surface are fixed in single layer and tightly packed. The quantity of the particles fixed on the baseplate is determined by using a light scattering from the particles or by labeling the particles in advance with fluorescent substance. Therefore, the number of probes caught in each section of individual biochemical sensor is determined so as to allow the substance of interest to be detected with high accuracy.

Biochemical sensor and biochemical testing system using the same

A highly sensitive sensor and measuring apparatus are provided by using a sensitive change in the reflection spectrum of metal microparticles present on a metal surface according to a change of dielectric constant in the surrounding area.

Sensor and measuring apparatus using the same

A rhodopsin family protein is inserted into an etalon type cavity having partially reflecting mirrors as principal components having a reflectivity of 50% to less than 100% for light having a wavelength in the 650-800 nm region and a transmissivity of 30% or more for light having a wavelength in the 400-600 nm region to form a photo-controlled spatial modulator. By utilizing a change in the refractive index by light of the photo-sensitive protein, near infrared light of a stronger intensity can be controlled by weaker visible light, and the information contained in the light signal on a two-dimension plane can be rapidly controlled by a light signal of weaker intensity of another two-dimension plane by using an optical switch of a simple construction.

Photo-controlled spatial light modulator

A stable, image-retaining, optically switchable film produced from a purple membrane in a high-pH polyvinyl alcohol solution forms an optical memory for data storage. The film, when dry, can be exposed to light to convert BR molecules to their M state, which is stable, and which allows long-term image storage. The image can be erased by exposing the film to yellow light to thereby switch all the molecules to the M state, and then a reverse image can be obtained using blue light. By controlling the location and wavelength of the incident light, pixels can be selected and exposed for information storage.

Growing community of inventors

Hatoyama, Japan

Hiroyuki Takei