An evanescent wave sensor (100) includes a ligand (102) bound to a sensor substrate (104) via a ²-hydroxy-linker moiety. Methods of making evanescent wave sensors (100) include contacting a first reactive moiety which has an epoxy-ring moiety with a second reactive moiety which has an amino moiety or a thiol moiety. Methods in which an evanescent wave sensor (100) is contacted with a sample, and binding of analytes in the sample to the sensor (100) is assessed by evanescent wave detection are also disclosed. Kits and systems for performing the methods are also disclosed.
